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A campsite’s amp rating is a limit on current, not a count of how many plugs you can use. To plan ordinary appliances, convert that limit into an approximate wattage budget and compare it with their combined input ratings.
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Use the campsite’s actual limit
Ask the site what your pitch provides. The Camping and Caravanning Club describes restricted mains supplies on campsites; do not assume the highest figure offered elsewhere applies to your booking.
For a nominal 230V supply, watts equal volts multiplied by amps for a simple resistive load. The following figures are arithmetic examples for planning, not permission to run every type of equipment continuously at the limit.
| Current limit | Calculation at 230V | Nominal power |
|---|---|---|
| 6A | 230 × 6 | 1,380W |
| 10A | 230 × 10 | 2,300W |
| 16A | 230 × 16 | 3,680W |
Add simultaneous loads
Suppose your kettle is labelled 1,000W, a heater 750W and a charger 100W input. Together they total 1,850W, or about 8.0A at 230V. That exceeds the 6A example, even though none of the appliances individually looks particularly large.
Turning off the heater while the kettle runs changes the example to 1,100W, about 4.8A. Remember any fridge, lights or other background loads before deciding the real setup fits. Use the appliance’s electrical input rating, not an output figure such as a charger’s USB delivery rating.
Respect the lowest rating
A higher-rated bollard does not upgrade your lead or distribution unit. The Maypole MP3767 roller unit is sold as a 10A unit. Treat its total rating as a constraint even when the campsite provides 16A. A 16A marking on its hook-up plug does not override the unit’s listed 10A overload protection.
Likewise, several sockets share the unit’s supply. Do not multiply the socket count by the rating printed on an individual socket. Check the complete assembly and the instructions for the exact model supplied.
Allow for appliances that behave differently
Motors, compressors and electronic equipment can have starting or input characteristics that a simple wattage sum does not fully describe. Check their input-current specifications and any manufacturer requirements, leaving headroom rather than aiming exactly at the limit.
A trip can also indicate a fault, not just too many watts. Stop and get assistance if protection operates repeatedly, if equipment is damp or damaged, or if there is heat or a burning smell. A larger supply is not a remedy for faulty equipment.
Keep a short load list with your camping kit. It makes the morning kettle routine much easier to manage and helps everyone sharing the pitch understand which appliances can run together.
For the kettle part of the budget, compare low-wattage camping kettles. If protection has already operated, follow the separate hook-up tripping guide instead of treating every trip as an overload.
Continue with our camping power station guide.
Reviewed 10 September 2026. This guide is based on published specifications and guidance.