Shore-power connections around Europe

[dinwood]

What shore power connectors do we need to take with us? I've already come across 3 types within the UK - will we encounter others as well? We're doing the Biscay route & then a multi-year voyage to cover as much of the med as possible (finances permitting!).

 

[Eeyore]

16amp, 32amp and two pin will cover most needs. I made adaptors to fit my standard 16amp lead.

 

[rivonia]

Hello Eeyore. good to see you on site. Where does one buy all these connectors can you get them on route. As you know I shall come via the French rivers/canals

 

[ccscott49]

Wherever you go, the marina will either rent you a connection or sell you one, we have five different connectors, which cover us now wherever we go, (In Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Italy) so far!!!

 

[BobnLesley]

As with Eeyore, we've found it to be 16amp(50%), 32amp(5%) and two pin(40%) cover most places; the other 5% has been odd marinas etc. with their own one-off connections and invariably these have been provided. Aside from the plugs, be sure to carry one of the three-light plug-in mains polarity testers.
http://www.campingandleisure.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=6_21&products_id=197

 

[kalessin]

A splitter/two-way adapter to allow two users to use the same connection (assuming their needs were modest) would have been useful on the French canals, where some stopping places only had a couple of sockets available.

 

[BobnLesley]

The 16/32 amp waterproof 3-pin plugs (blue ones) will be found in any Caravan Shop and most Chandleries, before you leave the UK; the 2-pins are the 'normal' EU domstic plug - which'll cost you 50p in the first Supermarket or Ironmongers you come across in France.

 

[Gypsy]

Others have advised how easy it is to pick up the most common connectors, 16A, 32A and 2pin (hopefully with earth) but before you wire up your own adaptors make sure you are familiar with the correct pin connections for Active/Neutral/Earth and the cable colour code. The advice to get a "polarity" tester is also good and seconded. Better to have these things sorted out before you lash up an adaptor in a hurry or in failing light.

 

[Eeyore]

Fidelis - it seems your question has already been answered by others! The 16A and 32A connectors are available at any chandlery in UK (and elsewhere), I don't know about the 'normal 50p EU domestic 2-pin plug'.....get a proper rubber covered shore lead plug, sold in the French chandleries. I have several adaptors which I made by using a short length of cable, fitted at one end with my required 16A plug, and the other with either 32A or 2-pin continental. I also have an adaptor wired 'incorrectly' in order to reverse the polarity should it be needed after testing as in previous posts. Having them already made avoids the obvious dangers of hurried lash ups.

 

[Anonymous]

I think your question has already been answered well. I would add that if you use a lot of electricity (kettle, water heater, other kitchen stuff, heaters) then a mains ammeter near to the galley is very useful. Saves you tripping out the mains every five minutes! I bought mine from RS Components - it is a moving iron AC ammeter 0-50A (I have a large generator) which is non-linear (as moving iron meters are) giving you an excellent scale between 10A and 20A. One of the most useful things I've ever fitted to the boat. You could add a matching voltmeter, which would be nice, but not essential.

 

[sailinglegend420]

You'll be amazed how many modern/new marinas have reverse polarity wiring problems, but when you tell them they just 'ain't bovvered'. If there'e a fault on a boat or a piece of equipment then the live can be connected to the earth - and hence the water. A lot of deaths from people swimming in marinas have now been attributed to electric shock. Make sure your polarity is correct.!

 

[rivonia]

A big thanks to everyone all points taken note of. Will definatley get the polarity tester.

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

A further useful tip is to carry or make a two-way adaptor so that you can get on the power pillar when all the outlets are taken

 

[blueglass]

forget electric kettles - they trip out the supply with such regularity it will drive you mad!

 

[Anonymous]

We liveaboard and use our electric kettle all the time. No problem for the last eight years in UK, France, Portugal, Spain, and Italy, except when we have an electric heater on and we forget - we don't often forget as we have an ammeter by the galley. Maybe you have a dodgy kettle?

 

[blueglass]

To be honest I think it was one of those high speed kettles and just drew too much power.

 

[maxi77]

I agree, we use the lower wattage kettles with no problems, if you want to be really safe caravan shops sell sub 1Kw versions, take time to boil but if the lecky is included who cares.

 

[Anonymous]

Ours is a normal kitchen kettle made by Braun, rated 2280W and draws 10A. Most marina supplies these days supply 15A and trips will stand 20A for quite a fair time - 30 seconds at least, could be some minutes. So a normal domestic kettle shouldn't be a problem unless you use it with electric heaters at the same time. In our 4.5 years of living aboard full time I don't think we've tripped the electricity more than three or four times and we always use the normal domestic kettle. I can't see the problem - we wouldn't want to fiddle around with the gas kettle when we are in 'cottage mode'.

 

[blueglass]

the kettle was 2 KW and it WAS a problem in the UK and even bigger problem in the med. we are all electric and could get away with it if lucky, but only if everything else including immersion heater etc switched off. easier to boil ordinary kettle on the hob.

 

[charles_reed]

Most European sockets are 16amp (round blue), you also need to take a 32-16 amp convertor and several female 16-amp plugs. You can then make them up with local plugs as you go along.