Thread: Electrical Connection

Originally Posted by Meandering

My wife and I are planning our trip to Australia due to start in February 2001. We will be travelling in our Defender 130 for twelve months and spend a good percentage of our time bush camping. We will of course be taking breaks at larger/better equipped camp sites. At these times our landy’s leisure batteries won’t last for the duration of the stay.
Would forum members let me know if your camp sites have a similar “electrical hook-up” arrangement as we use in the UK and if so what the connection looks like?
I assume all states/territories use the same system?

Thanks

Hi!
I would suggest you bring along a suitable connector for the vehicle input, then purchase an extension cord on arrival and fit your connector to its end. The plug is unique to Australia and New Zealand but the same all over the country. You can find Australian accessories on ebay.com.au or look at this link:

4025,OM CLIPSAL SATURN DOUBLE SOCKET OUTLET OCEAN MIST - eBay Switches, Electrical, Building Materials, DIY, Home. (end time 29-Oct-10 14:38:05 AEDST)

A solar panel is also a good accesory in this country.

Btw, 2001?

You'll need to buy a 3-pin earthed adapter to use UK plugs in Australian/New Zealand (and some Pacific countries).



Voltage and frequency are much the same as the older UK stuff, 240V 50Hz. Your later 230 volts stuff will be ok here.

All Australian States us the same plugs and, I think voltage. I recall that 40 years ago our Eastern States equipment was voltage stressed when we moved to Western Australia (they were using up to 260V) but I'd reckon they were 240 volts these days.

Power plugs are not fused as they are/were in the UK (do they still do that?)

My thanks to bee utey and p38arover.

Is the plug into a campsites system the same as your normal domestic plug then?

We use a specific "weather proof" system for campsite connection. See link for example.
Electrical from Towsure

I'm pretty sure Australian caravan connectors (which connect to the caravan park supply) are rated at 15 Amps - which means they have a bigger earth pin to stop them being inserted into standard 10A sockets. However, I'm not a caravanner so I cannot be certain. These connectors aren't made especially for caravans, they are standard 15A plugs used on, for example, single phase welders, etc. which require more current than the standard 10 amp socket can provide.

Standard 10 amp extension leads will fit 15A sockets.

See Easy RV - Caravan Accessories - Australia Wide. Camec, Dometic, Fiamma plus many more.

All the caravan park outlets I have seen are suitable for the domestic 10amp plug and the 15 amp version with a large earth pin. They tend to be in splashproof boxes with cables connected from underneath. I think they all run safety switches these days so if your cord is faulty and in the wet it will trip immediately. Most extension cords for sale in Aust are made with a moulded plug and socket so all you need to do is cut off the socket and fit yours.

I have a standard extension lead that I use for power if staying on a powered site - in my experience have not needed the special 'heavy duty' plug - though it may work too.

If you are coming from the UK and all your appliances have UK plugs you can buy an Aussie plug and wire it to an extension lead with a UK 4 way adaptor or somesuch at the other end - that way you only need to change one plug and aren't stuffing around with adaptors.

Most campsites only charge an extra dollar or two for power and some provide it as standard.

While Millhouse's post is useful, I wouldn't want you to think that all CAMPsites have power. Rather most CARAVAN Parks have powered sites.

Tents and camper vehicles are welcome at caravan parks.

I also agree with the idea of having solar panels that can be linked into a vehicle's/trailer's 12V supply buffering the drain on batteries. In this case, as you may have heard, bigger is better. I have purchased (but have yet to fit) an 80Watt solar panel. The common view seems to be that this is the minimum for an extended stay without mains power supplementation. It really depends on your power consumption, how far South that you are in Oz, the amount of shading and opportunities for charging by the alternator.

I'm not saying that ExplorOz is the only site:
4WDing, Camping & Caravanning around Australia
but you may find it a useful intro.

Whatever, keep us informed.

Best Wishes,
Peter

I have a standard extension lead that I use for power if staying on a powered site - in my experience have not needed the special 'heavy duty' plug - though it may work too.

AFAIK it is illegal ( for the caravan park) to have any connection other than a 15 amp extension cord.
I have heard of some parks doing a walk around and disconnecting any 10 amp leads, although hasn't happened to me.
All Vans and 240V equipped camper trailers have a water resistant external 15 amp Australian male plug on the outside which MUST run then through an earth leakage circuit breaker AKA "safety switch" before attaching any lights or power points.
All internal power points must be dual pole and run through the "safety switch".
Only qualified electricians are allowed to do wiring of vans etc.
So you may need to buy a power board with a 15 amp plug fitted , and a 15amp extension cord, . The cords are available at camping stores or big hardware shops and 15amp plugs and powerboards at hardware shops such as Bunnings.
This is all theoretical of course and not strongly policed but if someone was hurt through your actions and you were not following regs it could get ugly.
Regards Philip A