Hook up cable question for a newbie

[Daytona73]

Hello, as the title suggests I am venturing into the MH/Campervan world for the very first time. I have been doing plenty of research and I am still unsure what length/width hook cable I need because there seems to be a lot of conflicting information. For info I am only planning to travel around the UK. The general consensus seems to point towards getting a 25m x 2.5mm cable. The electric appliances I plan to use are a low watt kettle, a microwave and the other electric appliances that come with the van i.e the fridge, boiler, TV and lights etc. I imagine a 25m x 2.5mm cable would be quite bulky and heavy although if this is what's required it's not a problem, I just want to make sure I purchase the right items. My question is would a 25m x 1.5mm cable be just as sufficient or would even a shorter 15m cable at either 2.5mm or 1.5mm be fine? I appreciate any advice/recommendations. Thank you

 

[oldiesontour]

2.5 best choice as for length you can always buy 2 shorter ones. A 10m and a 15m or any combination of available lengths and simply plug them together if when needed

 

[gus-lopez]

 

[pappajohn]

In the UK I would use a 2.5mmsq cable.
Most UK sites are 16amp whereas in Europe it's 6amp or even less so 1.5mmsq is adequate.
25mtr is standard but cutting it to a15mtr plus 10mtr with new plug/socket is normal.
ALWAYS uncoil the lead fully to prevent overheating which is where the shorter leads come in handy.

 

[Revolvor]

2.5 best choice as for length you can always buy 2 shorter ones. A 10m and a 15m or any combination of available lengths and simply plug them together if when needed

Apparently some campsites forbid connecting two short leads, though I have done and never been challenged.

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[oldiesontour]

Apparently some campsites forbid connecting two short leads, though I have done and never been challenged.

Never been challenged and probably majority on here carry 2 leads

 

[Mr porky]

We carry a long one and a short one,
We he'd been challenged by a warden at a camc site as our electric socket is not fixed but a length of cable from the electric box with a blue 16amp commando plug on the end and they said it equated to a conector, that isn't allowed.
I challenged this and said that they should ban all morelos from camc sites then.
Not other action was taken.

 

[prb]

CMC Site rules forbid the joining of cables:

"j. Please make sure all electrical equipment complies with current British standards and regulations. Only single cables are to be used - no joints or splitters are allowed. We are responsible for the safety of electrical points up to the socket outlets. Cables, plugs and all equipment connected to them are the guests’ responsibility."

I don't think I have ever needed more than 15m on a UK site.
Welcome to the mobile world!

 

[Whippet93]

2.5 best choice as for length you can always buy 2 shorter ones. A 10m and a 15m or any combination of available lengths and simply plug them together if when needed

Although some sites don't allow joining two cables.

 

[oldiesontour]

CMC Site rules forbid the joining of cables:

"j. Please make sure all electrical equipment complies with current British standards and regulations. Only single cables are to be used - no joints or splitters are allowed. We are responsible for the safety of electrical points up to the socket outlets. Cables, plugs and all equipment connected to them are the guests’ responsibility."

I don't think I have ever needed more than 15m on a UK site.
Welcome to the mobile world!

Brilliant logic the lead is your responsibility but you can't plug two together...so we are looking after our members,but it's your responsibility because we will allow you to plug a 1.5 mm lead into a 16amp hook up

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[Kannon Fodda]

Currently on a C&CC site and need a 25m length hook up lead to reach the point from my van (might just have got away with 20m). As using electric for the van's heating / hot water, fridge, etc I suspect at times I could be drawing closer to the 16A available. On that basis 2.5mm cable is needed or resistance on the length compared to current loading would be too high.

I do have a shorter 10m lead, 1.5mm, which I might use in summer when the loads on the cable will be a lot less as no heating. Invariably though the 10m is never quite long enough and I'll always need that extra metre or two. Always seems to be a faff to get the longer lead, especially coiling it up again, but reality is it's a few extra seconds. In reality might as well ditch the 10m.

 

[Tonks]

I have a small VW campervan and I carry a 25m, 2.5mm cable. It’s not that heavy and I can manage it fine. I coil it and store it in a Duckback cable bag.
This week I was on a very nice campsite with nicely spaced pitches. My ehu point was on a post on the far side of the neighbouring pitch. I used almost all my cable to reach it. On a CL I once only just managed to connect, thanks to the longer cable. Personally I don’t want to carry two shorter cables, and I don’t find the single one any problem.

 

[LostInSpace]

We also carry one of these. Sits there unused for most of the time.
But when you need one, it is worth its weight in gold.

 

[Daytona73]

Thanks everyone, I appreciate you all taking the time to provide some advice.

 

[hja]

We have a 25m cable. As others have said there are sites where you can’t join cables together, rightly or wrongly that’s their rules. There are certainly sites where we have needed 25 m if we wished to hook up.

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[Pausim]

The Caravan and Motorhome Club recommend a 25m length of cable because their outlets can be up to 20m from the pitch and they do not allow joiners or splitters. I have been challenged on this but this was many years ago and since then I have always carried a 25M cable. I also have a 10m cable which is often long enough but not always.

Most cables and connectors are IP44 rated which means they are splash proof but not rated for use where they might end up lying in a puddle. I believe this is the C&MC objection to joins. On a few occasions I have joined my 2 cables together without a problem on sites where you are free to pitch wherever you like.