Load
A load is the electrical demand of an appliance, or of several appliances running together. When you add up the loads you plan to run at the same moment, you get the total demand on the supply.
Where you'll see it
You'll see the term in hook-up guides, on appliance labels and in campsite information about supply limits. It is the figure you compare with the limit a site states.
What to check
- The stated power demand on each label or in the manual, and whether it is given in watts or amps.
- Which items would run together, because only those count toward the total.
- The total against the site's stated limit, leaving a margin rather than working right up to the edge.
- Whether a label notes a higher demand at start-up, and switching large items on one at a time.
Related terms
- Watt: a common unit for stating a load.
- Amp: the unit of current that some labels use instead.
- RCD: the protective device, and what to do if a supply trips.
Read more: Electric hook-up explained (UK) and the electric hook-up calculator.