Multiple mains hookup connections to one van

[EssexBoy]

Hi All

My aunt & uncle have posed me an interesting question about using their 15A electric barbeque/grill thing on a campsite that only has 10A hookups...

I have suggested they probably need a Victron inverter/charger and some suitable batteries for it to work sensibly, but they asked me if it was possible to (pay for &) use two 10A hookups to supply a total 20A max... I didnt know what to say, it sounds very wrong, but I couldn't say why... any ideas please?

Thank you

Steve

 

[autorouter]

I've never actually tried a trick like that, but I think either it will work or it will go badly wrong. The mains supply comes into the site as a 3-phase supply. Each hookup point is connected to one of the phases, and neutral. If the two hookup points are wires from the same phase, they will add together nicely and your barbecue will work. If they are from different phases, you will get 400 volts difference between them, which could be interesting, to say the least. I would imagine that two sockets on the same post would be on the same phase, and if there are three or more on a post they could easily be different phases. But that's only a guess. Are you feeling lucky? Or you could check with a multimeter, between the live pins of the two hookup points. Most meters can measure up to 600V AC at least. It should register either about zero volts or about 400V.

 

[gus-lopez]

no it isn't possible. regardless of how many hook ups you have 10A is the maximum allowed to be drawn

 

[SpeedyDux]

It doesn't appear to be practical even if you pay for 2 adjacent pitches that share the same EHU bollard. I wouldn't recommend trying that. You would still get 2x 10 Amps not 20 Amps. Neighbours and wardens won't thank you for causing a power outage.

 

[Toady]

I am no expert but my Victron inverter/charger would operate well is such circumstances. As long as you have sufficient battery storage to cope.

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[Bessy765]

Yes we have a Victron 12/2000/80 inverter charger, 2 x 100 amp Lithium batteries and 700 watts of. Solar. We were on a site in Brugge over Christmas where the hook up was limited to 6 amps. We just set the incoming to 6 amps and let the inverter do the rest. Used what ever power we needed up to 2 kw and just let the 6 amp supply over time to replenish the batteries. Obviously with the limits or the batteries ability to provide the extra as required.

 

[EssexBoy]

I've never actually tried a trick like that, but I think either it will work or it will go badly wrong. The mains supply comes into the site as a 3-phase supply. Each hookup point is connected to one of the phases, and neutral. If the two hookup points are wires from the same phase, they will add together nicely and your barbecue will work. If they are from different phases, you will get 400 volts difference between them, which could be interesting, to say the least. I would imagine that two sockets on the same post would be on the same phase, and if there are three or more on a post they could easily be different phases. But that's only a guess. Are you feeling lucky? Or you could check with a multimeter, between the live pins of the two hookup points. Most meters can measure up to 600V AC at least. It should register either about zero volts or about 400V.

Ahhh... yes... the phases... 400+ volts wouldnt be good would it... I said I knew it was wrong, but not why

Thank you so much...

 

[EssexBoy]

Thanks everyone for the replies... has put my mind at rest I'l see if my aunt/uncle want splash the cash now for an inverter/charger & batteries etc....

 

[Lenny HB]

Also they don't worry which way round live and neutral are connected to the socket, so you could get a big flash bang wollop.

 

[Pausim]

Do they make 15A barbecue grill things? This would be too much for the standard 13A socket and therefore unusable in most places. Perhaps I am just confused.

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[Richard n Ann]

Do they make 15A barbecue grill things? This would be too much for the standard 13A socket and therefore unusable in most places. Perhaps I am just confused.

Good point I suspect it's less than 15a

 

[autorouter]

Do they make 15A barbecue grill things? This would be too much for the standard 13A socket and therefore unusable in most places. Perhaps I am just confused.

Only unusable in UK, unless you use a round blue plug which is 16A. The European domestic standard '2-pin' plug is 16A, with a 16A trip. The UK 13A plug is different from the European standard in that respect. Even the differently-shaped plugs like the Danish, Italian and Swiss types are 16A. That's why the standard round blue plug is 16A as well.