Campsite amps and watts: work out which appliances can run together
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A guide, not advice. Check your kit maker's figures before you buy or pack.
The number of sockets does not tell you how much power a pitch can provide. Make a short simultaneous-use plan before taking several high-power appliances camping.
Find the supply information
Ask the campsite for the pitch's available supply and its instructions. The Camping and Caravanning Club: electricity guide discusses the electrical arrangements and protection needed for camping. Your own equipment still needs to be suitable and in good condition.
Keep the supply rating separate from the rating on an individual plug or appliance. A connection is only as good as its actual limits and a correct installation.
Use power ratings sensibly
For a simple heating load, watts are volts multiplied by amps. Use the supply voltage the site states and the amp limit the site confirms for your pitch, then compare the result with the labelled watts of what you plan to run.
That is a planning check, not permission to run at the calculated ceiling. Other equipment, supply conditions and instructions matter too, and some appliances are labelled in volt-amperes rather than watts.
Draw a use schedule
Record each appliance's stated electrical input. Group the devices that must operate simultaneously and those you can use separately.
Add the labelled input of each appliance you would run at the same moment. Running them one at a time lowers the simultaneous load; adding another multiway socket does not.
Respond properly to problems
Ask site staff for help if the supply or protective devices trip. Check the appliance combination and stop using damaged or suspect equipment. Do not alter protection to make an overloaded plan work.
Save the appliance list with your packing checklist. A simple schedule helps the whole family understand which devices can be used together without guessing from the size of a plug.
See also electric hook-up explained and what can I run on hook-up.
FAQs
Does the number of sockets tell me how much power I have?
No. Ask the campsite for the pitch's supply limit and compare it with the labelled input of what you plan to run together.
What do I do if the supply keeps tripping?
Stop, switch off, and ask site staff for help. Do not alter any protection to make the plan fit.