Power Consumption

[mikey4444]

I'm afraid I have forgotten all my O Level physics formulae !

I am trying to calculate the amperage used by the various elements if my caravan, as I am having problems with the power hook-up post blipping out !

The space heater has a max setting of 2kw...what current would that draw please ?

[Old_Geezer]

I'm sure there's an app for that.

What voltage does it connect to ?

W = V * A

[mikey4444]

240v OG.

[Old_Geezer]

2000/240 = 8.333333333333333 amps ;-)

[TonyV]

So using OG's fomula
2000W = 240V * A transposing equation means that

A = 2000 / 240

So 8.33 amps

[mikey4444]

Thanks old chap ! All I can remember from school is the mnemonic,
Ivy Watts !

That explains why the lecky post is blipping out, as its only supposed to give out 10 amps, instead of the more normal camp site 16amps.

[mikey4444]

And Tony !

[retrocop]

Mikey the ***!!

[TonyV]

OG beat me to answer but was trying to explain to Mikey for future reference.
Mikey what other stuff you have running on circuit eg kettle, cooker etc

[TonyV]

Mikey just as an aside, why not invest in calour gas heater, much cheaper to run than hook up electricity prices, but you do need good ventilation to avoid condensation

[mikey4444]

Myself and camp site owner have now worked it out !

In the summer, I keep the battery charger and the water heater on all the time, but I don't have to use the space heater, for obvious reasons. I am not sure what power the water heater takes but it must be quite high, as it heats up 45 litres of cold water, to hot-tap temperature in about 15 mins!

But now, I need the space heater on all the time, sometimes on 1kw and sometimes on 2kw. So if I put the kettle on, phone charger, laptop charger, microwave....etc, etc, I am having problems. Now that I know how to juggle things around a bit, I should be OK. Its not so cold here in Cornwall this week, as last.

I am a seasoned summer caravanner, but this winter lark is relatively new to me !

[mikey4444]

Tony..just seen your last post.

My van is dual-fuel, in that the space and water heater can be easily switched from gas to electric. But the electric is free !

[bhg481]

230volts is the standard nowadays, so 2000/230 amps. = 8.7

[TonyV]

Mikey no question then, free lecky lol
Bhg getting 244 volts here in leicestershire just checked it

[bhg481]

Used to be 240v, was SUPPOSED to be dropped to 230v to fit in with those foreign Johnnies across the channel.

[The Builder]

230v is an EU standardisation thing. We use 230v +10%/-6%

UK voltages are still around 240v. 244 is not unusual.

[Old_Geezer]

There is a large tolerance on the mains voltage definition in order to have all EU countries already complying when it was brought in. I'm old enough to still consider UK main 240v and consider we get short measure most of the time. But they are theoretically giving 230v ±10% at present.

[Old_Geezer]

Hmmm if this work PC didn't take a few hours to actually do anything I might have got in first there ;-)

[TonyV]

Plus the tolerances bhg so I would guess anywhere from 220 to 250 volts

[Old_Geezer]

Oh yeah I think it should be -6% now you mention it. So much for standardisation.

[bhg481]

What manufacturers should quote, of course, is the resistance of the appliance but that would be fairly meaningless to most people. The resistance determines the current per volt so we, in Britain with volts usually on the high side of 230, get more power out of the appliance.