Electrical hookup cables

[andym]

I'm thinking about taking a netbook on tour next year in Italy. So I'm thinking what about an electrical hookup cable? (Otherwise it's lurking around the campsite bathroom).

I was thinking something like this - only 3m rather than 10m. Sorry can't post an image - anyway, IP54 socket (ie nice little cover that flips over the plug), IEC60309 IP 44 splashproof plug, orange cable (three-core 1.25mm). I know there are different sockets in France/Belgium and Germany but most of the Italian sites I've seen have the IEC60309 sockets.

Does anyone else use one? Am I thinking along the right lines?

I've bought an inline RCD but I'm now wondering whether it's a bit over the top given that so far as I could see most sites have RCD circuit breakers at the hookup post.

Any thoughts?

[edit - blue text unintentional!]

 

[newb]

makes sense to me mate, its not overkill to use the rcd, you can never be too careful. Best to have the protection in case of rain, never mind what IP rating the socket has.

If its for you laptop though, why not just get a power invertor for your car to charge the laptop when your out and about? Would work out cheaper as you can get them from ebay for £10.

Just realised that you said that it was for when you are on tour next year....I bet your going on the bike making my invertor suggestion a waste of typing time lol

 

[psmiffy]

or like this - didn't manage to find anything it would not fit in western Europe - I was never brave enough (or needed to) use it when it was raining though

edit - when ebay link finally opened - and while I could never be accused of being a weight weenie I might point out that you could do without the 3m of heavy, heavy duty cable

 

[andym]

or like this - didn't manage to find anything it would not fit in western Europe - I was never brave enough (or needed to) use it when it was raining though

edit - when ebay link finally opened - and while I could never be accused of being a weight weenie I might point out that you could do without the 3m of heavy, heavy duty cable

Yes I've already got one like the picture in your page - except with a UK three-pin socket on the end. and it may well be that I should just keep things simple and stick with that (and only ever use it when it's dry) The only problem is that the laptop power adapter has a lead of about a metre so I'm kind of tethered to the power outlet while the laptop charges or while I use it. So I was thinking maybe get something that I'd have a reasonable shot of being able to run to the tent from the power outlet (hence the 3-metres of cable).

How did you manage?

Newb - yes unfortunately no car to charge from. and if I didn't have to carry it up every hill, fitting an RCD wouldn't be an issue.

 

[psmiffy]

I mainly just parked the tent close to the power point - helps that I have a tent with a front and a back door - the lead to the transformer is a 1.5m and the lead to the computer is also 1.5m - I actually bought a very light 3m ext and carried it for 9000km without using it - a four block would of been useful sometimes but really over the top - I just prioritised what I wanted charging and when - camera battery first, then netbook -easy enough overnight- last phone - generally was communicating using email so the phone lasted ages - the ASUS I carried has a very good battery life - never actually got to a point where I could not use anything due to it being dead even when I had been wild camping for a few nights

THe RCD thing - I looked at that that and decided no - only use the hook up when it was dry and nothing I was carrying had an earth - is the latter point right

 

[andym]

THe RCD thing - I looked at that that and decided no - only use the hook up when it was dry and nothing I was carrying had an earth - is the latter point right

Ah I'm well out of my depth there. I think even if the device itself is earthed there might still be a danger of coming into contact with a live conductor. An RCD may be more of an issue for people in caravans or trailer tents using kettles etc.

I suspect that it's probably not a good idea to use electrical stuff in the wet even if you have an RCD.

 

[ufkacbln]

Ah I'm well out of my depth there. I think even if the device itself is earthed there might still be a danger of coming into contact with a live conductor. An RCD may be more of an issue for people in caravans or trailer tents using kettles etc.

I suspect that it's probably not a good idea to use electrical stuff in the wet even if you have an RCD.

I use something called a "Mini Gorilla" as a backup and it will charge lots of things including a netbook. Smaller than a paperback, and very versatile.

It can be charged whilst in a pub, restaurant, or in your case from the campsite.

I ran my netbook and other items for a week using this and overnight charging.

One downside to the mains lead though is the cost as electrical hookups are charged for in most cases. The last campsite I used charged £3 extra for a hookup.

 

[psmiffy]

One downside to the mains lead though is the cost as electrical hookups are charged for in most cases. The last campsite I used charged £3 extra for a hookup.

Last year over a period of 135days I spent less on electricity than a third of what it would of cost me to buy a mini gorilla

 

[andym]

I use something called a "Mini Gorilla" as a backup and it will charge lots of things including a netbook. Smaller than a paperback, and very versatile.

It can be charged whilst in a pub, restaurant, or in your case from the campsite.

I ran my netbook and other items for a week using this and overnight charging.

One downside to the mains lead though is the cost as electrical hookups are charged for in most cases. The last campsite I used charged £3 extra for a hookup.

I started thinking about a hook-up after having my battery charger swiped from a campsite toilet in Italy - not to mention a solar charger swiped while I was in Spain.

Thanks for reminding me about the minigorilla though - I must ponder that as an option. Unfortunately a minigorilla is eminently swipeable, so i'd be very nervous about leaving it in a campsite bathroom.

My experience with high-speed chargers for general AA batteries is that they only seem to charge the battery to 70 per cent or so of capacity.

My other reason for starting to think about getting a cable hooup was that in Italy you generally pay the same inclusive price for a pitch as everyone else - I remembered a post from psmiffy about his cable and I did start to think 'well if I'm paying for electricity anyway why not make use of it?'. Yep, the economics are different in countries like France where electricity is optional.

 

[smith4188]

My other reason for starting to think about getting a cable hooup was that in Italy you generally pay the same inclusive price for a pitch as everyone else - I remembered a post from psmiffy about his cable and I did start to think 'well if I'm paying for electricity anyway why not make use of it?'. Yep, the economics are different in countries like France where electricity is optional.

What's the deal elsewhere in Europe outside of Italy and France? Do the campsites generally offer electricity and, if so, does the same connector work for them too?

 

[psmiffy]

The connector worked everywhere I went in Europe last year - charges for electricity varied but were never more than 3€/night - often inclusive but a bit random country by country - best deal was on some sites in Germany 50c in a slot - never actually used up a whole 50c - wifi was actually the thing that cost at the campsites - stupidly expensive in France, Italy, Austria not so bad in Scandinavia and dirt cheap in Czech

as a way of getting electricity I just found it to be easiest - not too say that when I have a few spare pennies that I will not be investing in a hub dynamo and a Ewerk - I just hope that i live long enough to break even on the investment

 

[smith4188]

The connector worked everywhere I went in Europe last year - charges for electricity varied but were never more than 3€/night - often inclusive but a bit random country by country - best deal was on some sites in Germany 50c in a slot - never actually used up a whole 50c - wifi was actually the thing that cost at the campsites - stupidly expensive in France, Italy, Austria not so bad in Scandinavia and dirt cheap in Czech

as a way of getting electricity I just found it to be easiest - not too say that when I have a few spare pennies that I will not be investing in a hub dynamo and a Ewerk - I just hope that i live long enough to break even on the investment

Thanks for that. Have you (or others) camped in any more out-of-the-way places, like Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia or Turkey?

 

[psmiffy]

Thanks for that. Have you (or others) camped in any more out-of-the-way places, like Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia or Turkey?

Only Estonia and Poland - Camping in these countries was a bit erratic - but yes the plug fits when you can find them

 

[andym]

My experience with wifi is that prices can vary hugely. In Spain and France there were a fair number of sites offering free wifi. Italy has a particular problem in that it's illegal to simply offer wifi so anyone can just connect and go - which means that a lot of campsites (and hotels) don't offer wifi, or when they do it's via a third-party company offering a proxy service which can be good or can be really truly awful.

 

[3tyretrackterry]

might not be relevant depending on the location of the tour but some campsites may hire out hookup leads at a small cost. i know the Camping ans caravanning club do at some of their sites in the uk.If there is more than one person touring then a shared hookup lead may be one solution ie it is carried by a different person everyday
HTH
Ian