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Most campsite provides two types of camping, with and without electricity.
Camping using electricity is known as EHU (electrical hook up), a 10 amp (2300 watts) or 16 amp (3680 watts) supply. To connect, you will need a 3-pin UK socket mains connector kit with a 15m orange extension lead attached to a 240V site plug. The kit is a double-poled circuit breaker and 25 Amp residual current device protecting you and your equipment.
What is an EHU for a tent?
Electrical hook-up is known as EHU and is a way to connect to electricity when camping or caravanning.
You cannot just plug your kettle or heater into an electrical point on the campsite. You will need a 3-way socket mains connector kit to plug into the campsite connection point.
What do you need to use electricity when camping?
To use electricity supplied by campsites when camping, you will need a 3-socket mains connector kit.
- The 3-socket mains connector kit includes
- 3-pin UK sockets
- Available with USB sockets
- Orange extension lead 15m connected to a 240V site plug
- Fully protected splash-proof design
- Complies with BS standards
- 10 Amp double poled circuit breaker
- 25 Amp residual current device protecting you and your equipment
- The design allows the 3-socket mains connector to be hung or clipped onto tent poles and not laid on the floor.
Do campsites charge for electricity, or is it free?
Campsites will charge for connecting to electricity. When you book a pitch on a campsite, you can select a pitch with or without electricity.
On average, the price for 7-nights for two adults and two children is about £30 – £40. There are no additional costs for electricity used during your camping holiday, and you will pay in advance when you book your pitch.
How do you use an EHU connector?
Most tents have a gap sealed by velcro where you can thread through the electrical mobile mains connector kit and extension lead. These are low to the ground and have a picture of a plug with a zip-to seal.
- Before connecting the site plug, place the 3-pin mains socket and extension lead securely and safely inside your tent.
- Make sure the extension cable is not coiled or tied
- Thread the site mains 3-pin plug through the gap in your tent wall
- Gently pull through sufficient orange cable
- Align the 3-pin plug and insert it into the allocated campsites connection point
- Test your connection by switching the socket extensions on and testing with an electrical item
- Zip or seal the entrance where the power cord is threaded through.
Is it safe to use electricity inside your tent?
Using an electrical hook-up whilst camping must be treated with respect as every other potential danger.
3 socket extensions have a built-in safe trip. The RCD (Residual current device) avoids a fatal electric shock and provides some protection against fires.
The campsite will provide safety-tested electrical power points, but the following precautions must be followed once connected.
- EHU is not placed directly on the ground. It can either be clipped or hung to your tent poles.
- Uncoil or unfold the extension cable as heat can build up, which is a potential fire hazard.
- Tidy extension leads to avoid any trip hazards.
- Keep away from water.
- Avoid using electricity overnight or only essential items like a camping fridge.
- If you do not require electricity usage during the night or away from your tent, you can switch the sockets off quickly with a switch. You do not need to disconnect each time.
- If the inside of your tent is wet, stop using it and disconnect it immediately.
I use a Eurohike connector to connect our electrical appliances during camping trips. There are other brands available, but Eurohike is a well-known brand. They are, on average, £35 to £45 from Amazon and Go Outdoors. They are sold with just the connector to the campsite power supply and the extension lead with plug sockets. However, I advise against these.
What amps does a campsite use, and what does it mean?
Many campsites have a rating of 10 amps, which is a total of 2300 watts usage simultaneously. Some campsite grounds have grading to 16 amps, which is 3680 watts.
If you use more than 2300 watts at one time, you will trip the electrical supply for yourself and any other camper using the same connection point.
When camping, you can use low-watt electrical items to a total of 2300 watts and must not exceed this value.
How to check how many appliances you can use when camping
While camping, checking the different electrical items you can use simultaneously to avoid tripping the connection is essential.
If your appliance shows KW (Kilowatts), you convert to watts by X 1000.
2KW X 1000 = 1000 Watts
How to calculate amps formula
Watts / Volts = Amps
How to calculate the watts formula
Volts x Amps = Watts
Wattage, volts and amp comparison chart for camping electrical items
Below is a table of everyday items you can use for camping. Electrical item watts and volts vary, so you must check the electrical items you will use before your camping trip.
| Electrical Item | Wattage | Volts | Amp |
| Tower 40CM Family Size Multi-Cooker | 1500 W | 230 V | 6.52 Amps |
| Travel Kettle 0.85 litres | 1000 W | 240 V | 4.16 Amps |
| Kettle from home 1.7 Litres (3KW – 3000W) | 3000 W | 240 V | 12.40 Amps |
| Toaster – 2 Slice | 800 W | 240 V | 3.33 Amps |
| Toaster – 4 Slice | 1850 W | 240 V | 7.7 Amps |
| Heater – 2 adjustable settings for hot and cold | Warm – 1000 W Cold – 2000 W | 240 V 240 V | 4.16 Amps 8.33 Amps |
| Electric air pumps for blowing up beds | 150 W | 240V | 0.62 Amps |
| Travel Hairdryer | 1800 W | 240 V | 7.5 Amps |
| UK Thermoelectric Cooler with Cooling and Warming Function, Gray, 24 litres, 230V / 12V DC UK version | 3-pin plug only 58 W | 230 V | 0.25 Amps |
Conclusion
Camping with electricity does make your life easier. When we camp for a night, we don’t worry about EHU. But if we are camping for more than one night, especially for a week, we always have EHU.
Having the freedom to recharge your phone, keep food cold, boil a kettle and maybe watch TV makes your camping trip more pleasurable. During colder nights, especially if you have children, you will want to use a fan heater to remove the cold chill from the air during the evenings or mornings.
