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What the amperage numbers mean.
European mains runs at 230 volts. The sum is simple: Watts = Amps x 230. That gives you the maximum load you can draw before the bollard trips. Keep it in mind whenever you plan what to switch on.
What runs at each amperage
How common motorhome appliances behave: a low-amp supply happily runs lights, phone charging, the TV and the fridge on electric, around 100 to 300 watts each. A travel kettle, heating on 1 kW and a roof A/C while running, all around 1,000 watts, are fine on their own on 6A but will trip the bollard the moment you add a second appliance. A domestic kettle, hairdryer, 2 kW heating and the A/C startup surge all need 10A as a minimum, and run comfortably only at 16A.
Air conditioning and the startup surge.
The running draw of a roof A/C can sit within 6 amps, but the surge when the compressor kicks in is usually enough to trip a sensitive bollard. On low-amp pitches, leave it switched off.
What to expect, country by country.
As a general rule, the further north you travel, the more amps you can expect. Southern Europe is tight. Eastern Europe is a mixed bag.
Metered electricity.
In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, electricity is usually charged by the kilowatt-hour on top of the pitch fee. If you plan to heat on mains, factor that into your daily budget.
How to avoid tripping the breaker.
Draw too much and the campsite bollard trips first, not your motorhome. Your own consumer unit is typically rated at 10 or 16 amps, which means on a 6-amp pitch the bollard is always the weak link. On UK sites the breaker is on the bollard and you can reset it yourself. On many French and Spanish sites the cabinet is locked, so you have to find the warden. Decide what you are going to run before you plug in.
Switch to low-wattage appliances
A travel kettle rated under 1,000 watts is one of the most useful things you can pack. Camping-spec toasters and hairdryers work on the same principle. A 900-watt kettle takes a little longer to boil than the one on your kitchen worktop, but it will not knock you off a 6-amp supply.
Use gas for heating, fridge and hot water
Your fridge, heating and water heater almost certainly run on gas as well as electric. On a low-amp pitch, switch them over to gas and keep the mains supply for charging batteries and smaller appliances. Our guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe covers keeping cylinders topped up across borders.
Stagger what you run
Turn the heater down while the kettle boils. Do not run the hairdryer with the fridge on mains. It sounds obvious, but most tripped bollards come down to two appliances on at the same time. Stagger them and you will almost never have a problem.
Victron MultiPlus PowerAssist (the premium answer)
Many regular European travellers fit a Victron MultiPlus inverter-charger. Its PowerAssist function lets you cap your shore-power draw at, say, 5 amps. The moment you pull more than that, the unit quietly makes up the difference from your leisure batteries, then tops them back up when demand eases. The bollard never sees a spike. It costs roughly 800 to 1,500 GBP fitted, which is not a small sum, but it removes the problem entirely.
Cables, plugs and adapters.
Most European campsites use the CEE blue 3-pin plug, IEC 60309, the same standard as UK sites. Your normal UK hook-up cable plugs straight into the bollard and works without any fuss.
Smaller and older sites still use domestic wall sockets, so carry a continental 2-pin adapter. You want one with a female CEE blue socket on one end and a 2-pin plug on the other, compatible with both:
- French Type E. The earth pin protrudes from the wall.
- German Schuko, Type F. The earth clips on the side of the socket.
Most adapters sold in the UK cover both types, so one is enough. Budget 15 to 25 GBP.
25 metres with a 2.5mm core is the sensible minimum. Shorter cables will not reach the bollard on a large pitch. Thinner cores run warm under load. Stick with 2.5mm.
Checking amperage before booking
Booking sites do not always make amperage obvious, but the better ones include it if you know where to look. ACSI Eurocampings, at eurocampings.co.uk, is reliable and consistent, with amperage shown clearly on search filters and site pages. Pitchup, at pitchup.com, lists amperage under pitch facilities. Stopover apps do not always have it filled in, so check recent user reviews and photos of the bollard. If you are travelling in winter and relying on mains heating, only book sites that clearly state 10A or 16A. Do not assume.
Reverse polarity, and why it matters.
What reverse polarity is.
Reverse polarity means the Live and Neutral wires have been swapped at the campsite socket. It is most common in France and Spain, either because continental plugs can go in either way round, or because an older site was wired incorrectly.
UK motorhome consumer units switch only the Live wire. If polarity is reversed, your Neutral becomes the live conductor. Appliances stay electrically live even with the switch off. Changing a bulb or pulling a fuse on a reversed supply can give you a serious shock. Test before you touch anything.
How to handle it
- Carry a plug-in socket tester, 5 to 10 GBP. Once connected to the bollard, plug it into any mains socket inside the van. It will flag reverse polarity straight away.
- Carry a reverse polarity crossover cable, 15 to 25 GBP. This is a short lead with Live and Neutral swapped at one end. Fit it between the bollard and your hook-up cable to correct the problem.
- Retest once the crossover is in. Some sites need it at the bollard end, others at the motorhome end. The tester tells you which, and removes any guesswork.
The questions people ask most.
What amperage are European campsite hook-ups?
It varies considerably. UK sites are 16A as standard. France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro are usually 6A to 10A, with some rural sites as low as 3A or 4A. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Denmark are generally 10A to 16A. Always check the listing before you book.
Can I use a kettle on a 6A hook-up?
Not your one from home. A standard UK kettle draws 2,000 to 3,000 watts. The ceiling on a 6A supply is 1,380 watts, so it will trip the bollard the moment you switch on. A travel kettle rated under 1,000 watts works fine on 6A, provided nothing else heavy is running at the same time. Pack one before you go.
What is reverse polarity and is it dangerous?
Reverse polarity is when the Live and Neutral wires have been swapped at the campsite socket. It comes up regularly in France and Spain. UK motorhome consumer units switch only the Live wire, so when polarity is reversed, appliances stay electrically live even with the switch turned off. That is a genuine safety risk. Carry a socket tester and a reverse polarity crossover cable.
Do I need a different cable for European campsites?
Your standard UK CEE blue cable plugs straight into most European bollards. You will also want a continental 2-pin adapter for older sites that still use domestic Schuko or French Type E sockets. Use a 25 metre cable with a 2.5mm core as your minimum.