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Electric Hook-Up Load Checker

Will the campsite bollard trip?

Quick answer

Amps drawn = total watts ÷ 230. If that exceeds the bollard rating (16A ≈ 3.3kW usable, 10A ≈ 2.3kW, 6A ≈ 1.4kW) it trips. The usual culprit is two heat appliances running at once.

Hook-up rating
1500W

Rough guide: kettle ~2000W, fan heater ~2000W, microwave ~900W, fridge ~100W, laptop ~65W, lights ~20W.

Within limit

Current drawn

6.5A of 16A

Headroom

2180W spare

  • You have about 2180W headroom on a 16A hook-up.
  • The classic trip is two heat appliances at once (kettle + heater ≈ 4kW). High-wattage items are best used one at a time.

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Frequently asked questions

Will my campsite hook-up trip?

A UK bollard is 230V, usually 16A, 10A or 6A. Divide your total simultaneous watts by 230 to get the amps drawn. If that exceeds the bollard rating it will trip. Two heat appliances at once (kettle + heater) is the classic cause.

How many watts can a 16A hook-up take?

About 3,680W in theory (16A × 230V), but leave headroom — aim to stay under ~3,300W. A 10A pitch is ~2,300W and a 6A pitch only ~1,380W.

Why does my kettle trip the hook-up?

A 2kW kettle plus a 2kW heater is ~4kW, which is over 17A — beyond a 16A bollard. Run high-wattage heat appliances one at a time.

What amperage are UK campsite hook-ups?

Most UK sites are 16A, but many older or smaller sites are 10A or 6A, and some continental sites are lower still. Always check the bollard rating before plugging in heaters.