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Choosing an electric or non-electric camping pitch should start with the equipment you intend to use. If your needs are mainly phone charging and a little lighting, portable batteries may cover the trip. If you need compatible mains-powered equipment, an electric pitch may be more practical, provided you have the correct camping connection kit.
Table of Contents
List the electrical jobs
Write down each appliance, how long you expect to use it and what power supply it requires. A phone, a compressor fridge and a mains kettle place very different demands on the setup. Do not assume that every device with a familiar plug can run together from any campsite supply.
Confirm the site’s available current and rules before booking. The Camping and Caravanning Club’s electricity guidance explains why appliance loads and campsite supply limits need to be considered together.
What an electric pitch adds
Electric hook-up can support suitable appliances without relying entirely on stored battery energy. It also adds a connection kit, cable routing and the need to keep equipment appropriately protected from wet conditions.
Use purpose-made camping hook-up equipment with the required protective devices and follow its instructions. The Club’s tent-electricity guidance is a useful preparation source. A household extension lead alone is not a complete tent hook-up system.
If an electric blanket is on the equipment list, check the electric blanket and power station guide before deciding whether a portable battery is a suitable alternative.
What a non-electric pitch requires
Plan phone charging, lighting and any powered equipment from the energy you can carry or replenish. A rechargeable lantern may simplify evening light, but it still needs charging before the trip and enough capacity for the stay.
The BioLite AlpenGlow 250 on Amazon UK is one lantern option to investigate for a battery-based setup. Keep a separate personal light available, and do not count the same stored energy twice if a device also charges your phone.
For a planned 12V lighting setup, follow the camping light power-supply checks before choosing a lamp or connector.
Compare the complete cost and luggage
Check the actual pitch price difference for your dates. Include the equipment you would need to buy or carry for each option, rather than assuming one is always cheaper. For a short visit, a modest charging plan may be sufficient; a longer stay with refrigeration has different requirements.
Also compare pitch location and other facilities. An electric pitch is not automatically larger, quieter or better drained. Confirm those details separately.
Make a practical choice
Choose electric when your planned, compatible appliances justify it and you can connect them correctly. Choose non-electric when your equipment and charging routine comfortably cover the stay. If any essential personal equipment depends on power, arrange a reliable supply and appropriate backup before booking rather than improvising on arrival.
The useful decision follows your actual equipment list. Booking a hook-up without understanding the load, or avoiding one without an energy plan, leaves the same problem to solve at the campsite.
Continue with our camping trip planning guide.
Reviewed 10 September 2026. This guide is based on published specifications and guidance.