Electricity and Gas overseas

• Approximately 80% of campsites in Europe will have the same three pin CEE17 hook-up that we have here in the UK. If the campsite has two pin hook-ups they are normally able to lend or hire an adaptor, however, they will only have a limited number available.
• We would recommend purchasing a continental two pin adaptor before you travel. Most caravan/motorhome accessory suppliers will stock adaptors.

• You will find that European campsites have lower amps that you find in the UK. Caravan and Motorhome Club campsites in the UK have an average of 16 amp electricity, the majority of campsites that we work with overseas have 3 to 10 amp.
• If you are staying on a campsite that has 6 amp hook-ups you would not be able to use all three electrical items at the same time.
• Check out the ampage at your chosen campsite before you go.  It can also vary pitch to pitch. Don’t overload the system by using too many appliances at once, this can trip the circuit breaker or cause other Issues.
• Most European campsites use a 230v power supply which is slightly lower than the 240v standard in the UK.

• Some campsites use electricity metering  - this information can be found on the campsite page on our website, under general information. To determine the power requirements of your appliances, convert watts to amps by dividing by 230 (e.g., a 1000W heater uses 4.35 amps). 
• You will find extra charges on our web pages for the campsites and on your confirmations.

Reversed polarity can be found on nearly all campsites outside of Ireland and the UK.

What is reversed polarity?

• This occurs when electricians on European campsites swap the live and neutral wiring around in the bollard where you hook up. Instead of the electricity entering your caravan down the live wiring it enters down the neutral wiring instead.

Does this mean my appliances won’t work?

• No, reversed polarity will not stop your appliances from working or damage them, but it does mean that if you switch off your lights, kettle, iron or any appliance in your caravan the wiring behind the socket will still be live.

What can I do about it?

• You can buy a polarity tester from most caravan/motorhome accessory shops for around £10.00. You plug the tester into any socket in your caravan once you have hooked up, and it will tell you if you have reversed polarity, if the test is positive there are a few options:
  • Try another socket (you could find a hook-up post that has four sockets and only one or two have reversed polarity).
  • Buy a spare connector before leaving home, switch the live and neutral wires around, and mark it clearly as "reversed".
  • You can switch the live and neutral wires around when you arrive on site (very easy to do) just remember to swap them back before you return to the UK.
  • In some cases you can turn the plug the other way up (if you are using a two pin adaptor) and this will sometimes reverse the polarity back to normal.

A lot of caravanners are happy to use their electrical equipment when reversed polarity is present without any concerns, however, you should take note of the following:

• If you want to replace a light bulb, disconnect from the main bollard beforehand, as even though you have turned the light switch off, the wiring behind the light fitting will still be live.
• If you switch off electrical sockets the wiring behind the socket will still be live, if you want to do any work on your electrics disconnect from the main bollard first.

• Always use a purpose-built lead for bringing electricity to your motorhome
• Consider investing in solar panel system, a generator or a leisure battery for off-grid power.
• Conserve power, turn off unnecessary lights, unplugging devices and minimizing the use of high energy appliances.
• Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector in your van. Test it weekly and replace before it’s recommended expiry date.

Ferry companies require that you adhere to their rules when carrying gas onboard your campervan. It’s a good idea to check before your travel.

General information:

• Check quantity limits  - most operators allow maximum of 2 or 3 butane propane cylinders.
• Weight limits apply  - check with your operator. 
• Store cylinders away from heat/ignition sources.
• LPG and LNG can be transported provided they are standard manufactured models on most ferry operators.  LPG vehicles, including those with dual fuel systems, are not allowed on LeShuttle.
• Switch off Gas cylinder.
• Cylinders must be less than 80% full when travelling.
• Declaration  - you must declare you have LPG on board your motorhome when you arrive.

• It is not possible to exchange or re-fill Calor gas bottles outside of the UK, so if you are not able to take enough gas for your trip you can either hire or purchase gas locally.
• Gas bottles that you hire or purchase overseas will not be exchangeable when you return to the UK.
• Campingaz is available and exchangeable in nearly all European Countries (including the UK), but the largest bottle available is only 2.8kg. You can find Campingaz stockists at www.campingaz.com.
• We advise all our members to carry a Campingaz adaptor/regulator because if you do run out of gas, you should be able to find a Campingaz supplier wherever you are in Europe.
• For help and advice regarding adaptors and regulators please contact www.gaslow.co.uk or call on 01509 842 365.

• LPG is stored in an underslung gas tank or an internal LPG gas cylinder on a campervan. 
• Please note that LPG cannot be transported on Leshuttle.
• Availability for purchase varies from country to country.  Information can be found on the Gaslow website https://www.gaslowdirect.com/lpg-near-me/ and https://www.mylpg.eu/
• An LPG warning sticker should be displayed.  These can be purchased cheaply from various online stockists.