So how do you know how many amps you’re using? Some equipment will quote the Amps used but most will quote Watts. Now who remembers from their school days what all these terms actually mean? Amps, or Amperes to use the proper name, is a measurement of current. Volts is a measurement of electrical pressure and Watts is a measure of power. To calculate Watts you multiply Volts by Amps, so 2A at 230V equals 460W. e full 16A supply would support 3680W – a little over three-and-a-half kilowatts.
But why does anyone need to know this? Over New Year we stayed on a site using mains hook-up to provide power for heating, battery charging and running the fridge. On the second day, our neighbour called on us to say that their electricity supply had gone off, so I duly reset the trip on the hook-up bollard for them. Within seconds of the power being restored, though, it tripped off again. But it wasn’t the RCD blowing – it was the 16A circuit breaker.
Looking into our neighbour’s motorhome I immediately spotted the reason. ey were running their Truma Ultraheat system on the electric setting at 2000W and had then plugged in an electric kettle. is wasn’t a lowwattage travel kettle, but an ordinary domestic one. e total combined power draw would be 5kW, which needs 21A at 230V, hence why the circuit breaker tripped.
Denne historien er fra April 2017-utgaven av Practical Motorhome.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Denne historien er fra April 2017-utgaven av Practical Motorhome.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
CREATE A HANDY SHELF
Ingenuity can turn garage clutter into useful additional storage space in your van
CREATE A TILED KITCHEN
Nigel Donnelly discovers it is entirely possible to achieve a sharp-looking kitchen refurb for less than 50
BUYING SECONDHAND
There are bargains to be had if you know where to look and can avoid the pitfalls of buying used. Former salesman Peter Rosenthal shows you what to watch for
Motorhome DASH CAMS
John Sootheran explores the big brother’ world of dash cams with motorhomers in mind
Motorhome SAT NAVS
State-of-the-art satellite navigation for motorhomers? Yes, it does exist. John Sootheran investigates
PILOTE P720U EXPRESSION
A superb washroom and generous storage are the main attractions in this smart four-berth
TALE OF THE LIZARD
Charming fishing villages and beautiful coastline are among the many attractions of Britain's southernmost point, Victor Charles discovers
JERSEY? SURE!
Superb beaches, fascinating history and Royal potatoes – what’s not to love about this island nation?
ANOTHER ILE WITH APPEAL
The Ile de Ré, nestling halfway down the west coast of France, has in recent years become something of a prime destination for motorcaravanners in the know.
TAKE ME TO THE RIVER
Caroline Mills journeys through Périgord in search of one of France’s most popular tourist destinations, the Dordogne