Site electricity usage - recharging electric cars???

[jockaneezer]

First time I ever came across metered electric was in Germany, I had no idea what the cost would be, so erred on the "frugal" side. Four nights stay and we'd consumed 60cents worth !

 

[Wack]

Ehu shouldn't be supplied.

Open a campsite in the UK with no EHU and you'll be closed in a month , how would teenagers cope , their parents might have to interact with them

 

[Tombola]

The only site I use in UK has no ehu,no dump no showers,but toilet and water. No rubbish facilities all must be taken away.No music of any sort allowed or tv s that can by heard outside. Tends to be full most weekends?

And has swings and roundabouts, maybe a see saw, or possible bowling green, plus the ice cream man comes when its sunny, the only down side is everyone on a saturday and sunday walking the dog, or pushing the prams across your pitch.

how much
I like a bit of solitude tbh, and being fully self sufficient for as long as I like, having no facilities doesnt worry me.

 

[gus-lopez]

First time I ever came across metered electric was in Germany, I had no idea what the cost would be, so erred on the "frugal" side. Four nights stay and we'd consumed 60cents worth !

Last time i use a site in Portugal it was 4 people for 7 nights with ehu for£8.& still open today.

Open a campsite in the UK with no EHU and you'll be closed in a month , how would teenagers cope , their parents might have to interact with them

They wouldn't be coming as nowhere to charge the phones.

And has swings and roundabouts, maybe a see saw, or possible bowling green, plus the ice cream man comes when its sunny,

No nothing at all.

the only down side is everyone on a saturday and sunday walking the dog,

Dogs allowed on a lead but there is the village green next door along with a cricket pitch.

how much

£7pp . Ideal solo.Too dear if wife is with me.

 

[nicholsong]

We do our MHoming 'off grid', including the very ocassional time that we have been on a campsite.

So why am I commenting you may ask?

Firstly to point out what I consider the minimum services that are needed for MH touring, which are -

Water
Black waste dump
Grey waste dump
Gas(but that is obtained off-site by most people)

We carry two cassettes, as can anyone, and we only need those services about every 5-6 days, although we sometimes will avail ourselves before that if we are heading for a remote area.

These can be obtained at a variety of places, without staying overnight. -

Aires/Stellplatz - more usually on the Continent, but now sometimes in UK.
Motorway and main road service areas
Campsites for a short day stop for a modest fee, easier at small private ones.
All the above can be used while in transit without staying the night.

Never mind the electricity argument alone, we would not be keen on paying for all the other services such as toilets/showers, dog areas, pools etc. (and pegs to help one park ), which all cost the campsite to install and maintain.

My point is that for those that do not want to pay for facilities they do not use, then the above are alternatives.

On the electricity point, particularly for charging electric cars, I think that somehow that has to be charged to the user. A petrol/diesel Toad does not get free fuel, so why should an electric one?

We have several other reasons for not wanting to use campsites, but charging for facilities that one does not use adds to the reasons, which is a matter of principle for us, not money.

Geoff

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[Lenny HB]

We have several other reasons for not wanting to use campsites, but charging for facilities that one does not use adds to the reasons, which is a matter of principle for us, not money.

 

[Beltie]

My logic is that you are camping. It is inconvenient for site owners as well as expensive to install. The general public,regardless of what you charge, will always take liberties. If you don't supply it you won't have problems.

Or customers!

 

[Gromett]

The only site I use in UK has no ehu,no dump no showers,but toilet and water. No rubbish facilities all must be taken away.No music of any sort allowed or tv s that can by heard outside. Tends to be full most weekends?

That is fine, and it is your choice to use a site like that.


But to then say

Ehu shouldn't be supplied.

Which appeared to me to be saying that EHU's should be banned and not provided to anyone seems a bit of a stretch to me?

 

[Lenny HB]

Which appeared to me to be saying that EHU's should be banned and not provided to anyone seems a bit of a stretch to me?

Might make converters build vans fit for purpose.
I can't see the point of having a Motorhome that needs to be plugged into the mains to be able to use it.

 

[Gromett]

Might make converters build vans fit for purpose.
I can't see the point of having a Motorhome that needs to be plugged into the mains to be able to use it.

You do know we live in England where it is not always sunny?

I used to be able to go for months without a hookup when I first went fulltiming, between a B2B, solar panel and a generator I was set. But come winter, a hookup was essential.

You would need to define "fit for purpose"... Your idea of purpose and mine are likely to diverge massively.

The facts are CL's that have no hookups do less business than those with. So the demand is there.

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[TheBig1]

regardless of what sites do, people will always still try and steal electricity. We had a caravan on a seasonal pitch for a couple of years. Because people kept on overusing the supplied electricity. So at great expense the owner fitted meters to each bollard. More than once we turned up to find the cable unplugged, spoilt food in the fridge and another van (through the hedge behind) had plugged into the meter I was happily paying for. It is theft pure and simple and this was pointed out to the other van owner, who after the 3rd time being caught was kicked off the site

A site we use once or twice a year has card meters on every bollard that the owner tops up every few days. ALL no paid for EHU points have a padlock on. This must be the best option

 

[Puddleduck]

Can you not run off of solar or is there not enough to keep up? I charge most of my wife's stuff in the van parked outside at home here as it costs nothing with the amount of sun & cheaper than using electric in the house.

We can and do run from a solar charged batteries if we can. If we use nothing else in the van the batteries will run the essential equipment for two to three days without obtaining a boost charge. Living in Scotland and mostly being in Scotland or the north of England (family reasons) we can't rely on enough sun (especially in the winter) to keep enough charge in the batteries - using lights means less electric for the medical equipment, the same if we charge phones or kindles / tablets. In the winter it tends to get light around 9 am and dark between 3 or 4 pm so even on a bright day we tend to take more out of the batteries than can be replaced so the answer has to be EHU. Solar struggles if the pitch is shaded by trees.

I know there are other solutions but for us EHU is the most convenient.

At home we have a 4Kw solar array and a large storage battery so rarely use mains electric in the summer. The winter is another scenario.

Open a campsite in the UK with no EHU and you'll be closed in a month , how would teenagers cope , their parents might have to interact with them

We were on a site a couple of weeks ago and for 3 years he didn't have EHU and was struggling - thought he might close up but then put EHU on a couple of pitches and they were always fully booked when the site was open. Now every pitch has EHU and he is fully booked every weekend for the rest of the year and very busy during the week.

 

[martin2603]

I am still a little puzzled as to where all this extra power is coming from to charge all the EV s that we are supposed to be buying. I assume the cost of charging will have trebled buy the Autumn when the new price increase is applied. No doubt when everyone plugs in their EV s at the CAMC Sites all the lights will go out!

The theory is good but what about reality?

 

[63720]

I am still a little puzzled as to where all this extra power is coming from to charge all the EV s that we are supposed to be buying. I assume the cost of charging will have trebled buy the Autumn when the new price increase is applied. No doubt when everyone plugs in their EV s at the CAMC Sites all the lights will go out!

The theory is good but what about reality?

On a cold windless night in winter the energy is coming from fossil fuels of course. Who'd have predicted we would be using coal fired vehicles now.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

think in the future there will be legislation that forces all EV's to support V2G as well.

V2G? What is it please?

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[funflair]

V2G? What is it please?

Vehicle to Grid technology that uses car batteries as part of grid storage.

 

[Off da Grid]

The day will come when the leccy is extra. Pay for what you use.
If your gonna need all the toys your used to at home, stay at home.
Moho’s should be fitted with solar as standered
With the increase in WiFi on sites, it would be possible to equip each bollard with WiFi enabled sockets and monitoring gear to control the use.
We only use ehu if it’s there to run the fridge and hot water boiler when we need it to save on the gas.
We can go off grid power wise in the summer indefinitely, solar looks after the rest, even when the van is not in use.
I can’t figure why caravans are not fitted with solar, so many of them have nackered leasure batteries after the winter layoff.
With more roof space they could be self sufficient in power with no need for hook up.

 

[Spriddler]

I can’t figure why caravans are not fitted with solar,

Except for the Traveller community I doubt that many caravanners (want to) pitch where there isn't EHU as they generally stop in one place for lengthy periods. I wouldn't be keen to wild camp towing a caravan.
The battery on my son's caravan only has to operate the motor mover.

 

[Gromett]

The day will come when the leccy is extra. Pay for what you use.
If your gonna need all the toys your used to at home, stay at home.
Moho’s should be fitted with solar as standered
With the increase in WiFi on sites, it would be possible to equip each bollard with WiFi enabled sockets and monitoring gear to control the use.
We only use ehu if it’s there to run the fridge and hot water boiler when we need it to save on the gas.
We can go off grid power wise in the summer indefinitely, solar looks after the rest, even when the van is not in use.
I can’t figure why caravans are not fitted with solar, so many of them have nackered leasure batteries after the winter layoff.
With more roof space they could be self sufficient in power with no need for hook up.

You are just talking for yourself and your situation.

It is not necessarily about toys and even if it was, what is wrong with that? If that is what someone wants for their holiday why should you be the one to deny them this just because you don't?

You may be able to go off grid indefinitely in the summer but not everyone can and not all the time. 5 cloudy days and pretty much any solar set up would be knackered without a B2B or very large battery bank.

Caravans are weight limited and cause enough drag on the vehicle already. They are not designed for off grid usage.


I really don't get why a handful on here seem to be determined to deny others access to hookup just because they don't want it themselves.

If you don't want electric then look for campsites that either don't have hookups or they are optional. Stop trying to say having hookup is a bad thing or they should be scrapped.

 

[John Barrett]

And speaking if I was one they wouldn't be getting any.

But if you can exclude the ones who want 'live at home' benefits all the better.


The only site I use in UK has no ehu,no dump no showers,but toilet and water. No rubbish facilities all must be taken away.No music of any sort allowed or tv s that can by heard outside. Tends to be full most weekends?

Where do you keep your sackcloth and ashes, Gus?

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[eddie]

The day will come when the leccy is extra. Pay for what you use.
If your gonna need all the toys your used to at home, stay at home.
Moho’s should be fitted with solar as standered
With the increase in WiFi on sites, it would be possible to equip each bollard with WiFi enabled sockets and monitoring gear to control the use.
We only use ehu if it’s there to run the fridge and hot water boiler when we need it to save on the gas.
We can go off grid power wise in the summer indefinitely, solar looks after the rest, even when the van is not in use.
I can’t figure why caravans are not fitted with solar, so many of them have nackered leasure batteries after the winter layoff.
With more roof space they could be self sufficient in power with no need for hook up.

The majority of the guest on our campsite want hook up and we are happy to cater for it

I understand that you have absolutely no idea about running a campsite but the cost of the equipment your imagining exists would be prohibitive

In/on our camper we have a 6Kva factory fitted Onan generator, 3 x 175w of solar, a 220amp alternator, which charges the 2 x 120 amp Lithium batteries, via a 120 Buck Boost DC-DC charger (B2B) with, large inverter charger.

End of Spring through to beginning of Autumn we don’t bother hooking up, unless we intend to use the Air Con

My camper is geared for 220 volt, three large domestic TV’s all synchronised through. HDMI mains distribution unit and mains surround sound, the outside one being brilliant for sports events.

Dyson hairdryer for my wife is a must, along with lots of mains cooking gadgets that I keep in the camper, at 30’ we have no space or payload issues

I get it that you don’t understand what we enjoy, but equally in the same way we don’t care what you do, in what you do it in, or where you do it and that the brilliant thing about choice and freedom

 

[GirlyVanGirly]

nicholsong I don't have room to store a spare cassette. Doubt that there are many PVC owners that would want to sleep with one either!

All I need on site is black and grey dump, fresh water. A shower would be a bonus, mine is so tiny! Happy to go without EHU and it should be metered imo, make people think twice about heating up the awning!

 

[Lenny HB]

I really don't get why a handful on here seem to be determined to deny others access to hookup just because they don't want it themselves.

Because in the UK sites want to charge you for EHU regardless of it you want it or not. It's much better in mainland Europe where EHU is an option you don't have to have if you don't want it.

 

[Gromett]

Because in the UK sites want to charge you for EHU regardless of it you want it or not. It's much better in mainland Europe where EHU is an option you don't have to have if you don't want it.

I have never had any trouble finding sites where EHU was optional. Perhaps you are not looking hard enough?

It is a choice. The campsite owner has a choice to offer it, and make it optional. You have a choice to use a campsite or not based on that optional availability.

I choose not to use campsites that allow children. It doesn't mean I want all campsites to ban children.

 

[eddie]

Because in the UK sites want to charge you for EHU regardless of it you want it or not. It's much better in mainland Europe where EHU is an option you don't have to have if you don't want it.

That tells us two things

One market has dictated that it wants hook up, given the proliferation of hook up on sites rather than say 20 years ago

And two, it's Sunnier and Warmer in most of Europe

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[John Barrett]

That tells us two things

One market has dictated that it wants hook up, given the proliferation of hook up on sites rather than say 20 years ago

And two, it's Sunnier and Warmer in most of Europe

AND usually a darn site cheaper! Pun intended...

 

[nicholsong]

nicholsong I don't have room to store a spare cassette. Doubt that there are many PVC owners that would want to sleep with one either!

All I need on site is black and grey dump, fresh water. A shower would be a bonus, mine is so tiny! Happy to go without EHU and it should be metered imo, make people think twice about heating up the awning!

I had not realised that PVCs do not have any outside lockers.

Then the only difference for you is 2-3 days not 5-6 days. All my other comments stand.

 

[Lenny HB]

One market has dictated that it wants hook up, given the proliferation of hook up on sites rather than say 20 years ago

So those of us that don't want it have to pay for those that do.

 

[Landy Andy]

You don’t like, don’t go. Simple.

Each site can do what they want, and provide what they think/know their customers want. Most people want EHU. Motorhomes are a small part of the campsites business. Tents want EHU, caravans want EHU, and probably at least 50% of motorhomes want EHU.

The fairest way is a meter per pitch, but that will cost the site, and they much prefer taking money than spending it.

 

[Jamesh]

The majority of the guest on our campsite want hook up and we are happy to cater for it

I understand that you have absolutely no idea about running a campsite but the cost of the equipment your imagining exists would be prohibitive

In/on our camper we have a 6Kva factory fitted Onan generator, 3 x 175w of solar, a 220amp alternator, which charges the 2 x 120 amp Lithium batteries, via a 120 Buck Boost DC-DC charger (B2B) with, large inverter charger.

End of Spring through to beginning of Autumn we don’t bother hooking up, unless we intend to use the Air Con

My camper is geared for 220 volt, three large domestic TV’s all synchronised through. HDMI mains distribution unit and mains surround sound, the outside one being brilliant for sports events.

Dyson hairdryer for my wife is a must, along with lots of mains cooking gadgets that I keep in the camper, at 30’ we have no space or payload issues

I get it that you don’t understand what we enjoy, but equally in the same way we don’t care what you do, in what you do it in, or where you do it and that the brilliant thing about choice and freedom

Roughing it then!!

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