Electrical hookup cables

[bike_the_planet]

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

RCDs work by monitoring and comparing the amount of current flowing in both the Live and Neutral conductors. In the event of a shock there will be less current in one of these compared to the other, and will cause the RCD to trip.

Whether a device is earthed (3-pin) or double-insulated (2-pin) is irrelevant, although a faulty 3-wire device would cause the RCD to trip also. So an RCD offers protection whether you have a device that's fitted with a safety earth or not.

Another power-source option is a hub dynamo. The Schmidt SON 28 is officially rated at 3W but can produce more. It should be possible to charge a netbook up over a few hours riding.

Solar devices are too small to offer any charging potential, particularly in Europe.

Cheers

 

[rich p]

Never having used electrics on tour, and maybe never will, is the electricity a flat rate charge or by the amount used?

 

[psmiffy]

It is a variable feast – I have not had to think about electricity until last year when I took the netbook on tour and didn’t realise that at many campsites that electricity was included in the fee whether you wanted it or not – obviously if you want electricity you need to pitch the tent in reasonable proximity to a hook up.

Where I have paid for electricity I have never paid more than 4€ a night and with two exceptions in Germany it has always been on the basis of per night. I found that with the limited amount of electrical gear I was carrying that connecting up two or three times a fortnight was more than enough.

The exceptions being a couple of campsites in Germany where the touring pitches had coin operated hook ups – a 50c coin buying more than enough electricity for my needs.

On a couple of occasions I have been offered the hire of a long extension lead but have never had to go for it.

On quiet sites I have made use of plug outlets in toilet facilities and on a number of occasions I have just plugged into an outlet near my tent without saying anything to anyone for the limited time I needed to charge things.

For the twenty weeks I was away last year it cost me less (including the extension plug) than a third of what the useless solar panel I tried a few years ago cost me – and much less than a quarter of what it would cost for a B&M ewerk (assuming I already had a hub dynamo).