Plug requirements (Camping in France)

[Fink]

Hi all,

I'm looking to book camping pitches in France. On a couple of the websites, the 'equipped' pitches (i.e. with an electrical socket and a tap) state you need to have a "Blue plug with European standards and an extension cord". I've never done this before so I'm a complete novice, sorry for the idiot question.

I can kind of picture in my mind the sort of plug they mean, the waterproof outdoor ones. But how can I buy one, I'm not sure what to search for?

I think they mean like this: www.amazon.co.uk/HDinterconnects-Camping-electric-converter-Standard/dp/B001E1J7FI?th=1

Can anyone confirm if that's the right product, please? And will it be ok for a campsite that says the socket is 10A?

And then something like this to convert to a normal UK plug? www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07BQBSFDZ/ref=crt_ewc_img_oth_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2X1ST6CC1USDW

Thanks for any advice!

Most of the time, you will only need the second type of plug you have posted in either UK or French sites. We have only once had to use the converter type plug in your first post on a French site. If you plan to go camping in France a lot, it's worthwhile having the converter just in case.

However, please consider buying something like this which has the cut off RCD device should your equipment get damp/wet etc especially if you are in a tent rather than a caravan. The cheaper ones don't have this protection. You may find it cheaper from camping shops rather than amazon. It's worth getting as long a cable as you can (15m), and perhaps those that have USB sockets too. Ideally, the unit should be placed off the floor, mine has two ring pull type clips on the back which fasten onto a tent pole (steel), but it could go on the side of a kitchen unit or similar, or you can also use the silver clip to hang it somewhere.

Thanks so much. I don't know whether we'll go camping a lot in the future, I'm going to see how this holiday goes. We do go to France quite a bit. So I won't buy the convertor for now, I'll just go with the one you suggested. Thank you for the advice, I'm a bit clueless.

@lidolemon Can I ask something else, please? Some of the campsites have different charges depending on the amps (2A, 4A, 6A, 10A). We just want to charge phones and use a small kettle, possibly a tiny mini-fridge (20cm x 15cm, it really is tiny). Tent not caravan. Is there a minimum/maximum amp level we need, do you know? I'm getting more confused by the day!

The kettle will use the most. Somewhere on it, it should show what wattage it is. Divide that number by 220 and you will find how many amps it uses. Do the same for all the other appliances, add up the results and that is the maximum number of amps you will use with everything switched on at the same time.

That's great, thank you @etulosba , I never knew that about converting watts and amps.

The 220 is the local mains voltage, so that number may change depending on which country you are in.

Ok, thanks. I've got a lot to learn!