Buying guide: Camping CEE cable drums - for power supply at the campsite

First and foremost, you need a suitable CEE cable drum to charge your camper’s battery. But thanks to the power supply, you don’t have to do without television, mobile phone and laptop charging and much more when camping. We have taken a closer look at the various CEE cable reels and compared them. In this buying guide, I would like to explain to you what special features you should look out for when choosing and what else is exciting to know. [su_spacer size=”10″] [su_row][su_column size=”1/2″ center=”no” class=””]

The most important thing in advance

• There is a Europe-wide standardised regulation on the power supply at campsites.
• To connect your motorhome to the power point, you need a CEE cable or a camping cable drum.
• You can recognise the CEE camping cable by the blue housing.
• The cable should also have a cross-section of at least 25 mm² and a maximum length of 25 m in order to comply with the standard.

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We have compared these CEE cable reels

Once you have arrived at the campsite, you will naturally want to settle in. This includes supplying the motorhome with electricity. On the one hand, you use the electricity to ensure that the battery does not run down during your stay – unless you have a solar system – and on the other hand, you can now use the sockets in the camper. Now all you need is the right cable or cable drum. By the way, a conventional version is not enough. For a secure power connection, you need a camping CEE cable drum.

DIN standard: Which power cable do I need for my motorhome?

Finally arrived at your destination and now it’s time to supply the motorhome with electricity. But which cable or better which cable drum is the right one for the campsite? In Germany, there are two standards that regulate exactly that. One is DIN VDE 0100-708 “Campsites” and the other is DIN VDE 0100-721 “Caravans”. They are intended to ensure that electrical accidents such as a cable fire or short circuit are avoided. They state the following: The minimum cross-section should be 2.5 mm2 and the maximum cable length should be 25 metres. Since reversed polarity can have serious consequences, only three-pole industrial plugs and sockets, i.e. CEE, are permitted. So let’s briefly summarise which DIN specifications apply to CEE cables and cable drums:

• Minimum cross-section of 2.5 mm²
• Maximum cable length of 25 m
• Only CEE plugs are permitted

The CEE plug – what is it all about?

This is a camping plug that is now used at campsites throughout Europe. At best, you will have a CEE socket with three contacts on your motorhome.  To supply your camper with electricity, you first need a power box. Each pitch has at least one socket with a CEE socket. To be able to connect the two, you need a power cable with two CEE ends. One CEE socket is plugged into the contacts on your motorhome and on the other side of the cable the CEE plug is plugged into the socket on the power pole. Of course, there are always exceptions. For example, the campsite you are staying at may not have converted to CEE yet, or you may have an older camper that does not have a CEE socket. In this buying guide, however, we would like to focus exclusively on the use of CEE plugs and cable drums. [su_note note_color=”#26abab” text_color=”#ffffff” class=”teaser-intern”]Small tip: Even if they are not allowed, CEE adapters for normal earthed sockets can be a real help if you have an older motorhome. Otherwise the consequence would be to have no electricity..[/su_note]

Advantages of CEE plugs and camping cable reels

Perhaps you are now wondering why it has to be a camping CEE cable drum. In fact, there are some advantages that the camping plug has over the normal Schuko plug.

• Unlike some other plugs, the CEE plugs are splash-proof, which is particularly important at the campsite.
• There can be no confusion of polarity, as the plugs can only be plugged in one way.
• The long copper contact sleeves ensure that the contacts are held securely.
• CEE plugs are considered to be twist-proof.

What types of CEE plugs are there?

When looking for a suitable CEE cable drum for your camping adventure, you will certainly find a large selection. There are many different offers and especially CEE plugs in different colours. But be careful – not every CEE cable drum is suitable as a power cable for your motorhome. The different colours indicate the nominal voltage and frequency of the respective plug or cable. In addition, the contacts are completely different so that you cannot accidentally connect different voltages.

Der blaue CEE Stecker

For your motorhome, you need a cable drum with a blue plug housing. This is the so-called camping plug. It has a voltage of 220 to 250 volts and is designed exactly for your needs. For those who want to know exactly, this plug is for a single-phase connection. That’s why it only has three contacts: Conductor, neutral and earth.

The red CEE plug

CEE cables with a red housing for heavy current or power current are also quite common. These have a voltage of 380 to 400 volts and are therefore not suitable for your project. In addition to the colour, these plugs also differ in the contacts. Red CEE plugs have five poles instead of the three you need. These plugs are for a multi-phase connection. Therefore they have five contacts: 3 conductors, neutral and earth.

From violet to green

In addition to the blue and red plugs, there are many other CEE enclosure colours, each of which stands for a specific voltage. These range from 20 to 25 volts in violet to 100-130 volts in yellow and 500-690 volts in black. However, they do not play a decisive role for your power connection to the motorhome.

Structure of the camping CEE cable drum

Let’s take a closer look at the cable drum you want to use as a connection between the power box and your camper. After all, there are certain differences in the workmanship and features that I would like to explain to you briefly.

The plug

As already explained, the plug should be marked by the blue housing. You can also recognise the correct plug by the three contacts. Now there are further differences in the cable reels as far as the plugs are concerned. There is the straight connector and the angled connector. The latter usually has an additional cover flap and thus provides additional protection against moisture. The advantage of the angle is that the cable does not stick out to the side, but points downwards. By the way, it is practical if your cable drum has two CEE ends, a CEE socket for the caravan and a CEE plug for the power pole. If the cable drum has only one CEE plug, you need another CEE extension cable with a CEE socket.

Protective contact sockets

Most CEE camping cable reels also have additional sockets (230 V) on the side. These are fitted with a protective cover so that no moisture or dirt can penetrate.

Drum body

The CEE cable is wound onto a drum body, which is usually made of very robust and unbreakable plastic. This is the basis of the cable drum.

Crank handle

So that you can roll up the cable as quickly and easily as possible, cable drums have a small handle which you simply hold and roll up by making circular movements.

Carrying handle

Of course, you also need to be able to transport the cable drum from A to B, which is why a handle should not be missing.

Stand

Last but not least, each cable drum has a stand so that it cannot simply fall over. The foot also ensures that the drum can be turned freely. Which makes winding and unwinding enormously easier.

Camping CEE cable drum vs. CEE cable

The advantage of a cable drum is obvious. While a normal CEE extension cable quickly gets twisted or knotted, with a camping cable drum you have the great advantage that the cable is neatly rolled up. In addition, most cable drums have additional protective contact sockets on the side. This means that you now also have practical power connections outside when camping. However, a cable drum takes up much more space than a single cable. It is also important to remember that a cable should always be completely unwound from the drum to avoid overloading or overheating. Many models therefore have an overheating protection.

Costs: This is how much you should budget for a camping CEE cable drum

The prices of the camping CEE cable reels depend on the features of the respective model. You can find CEE cable reels for around 60 euros, but you can also spend 120 euros and more. With the cheaper models, the cable length is often somewhat shorter and you only have one CEE plug. In addition, protective contact sockets may be missing on the side. To connect the cable to your motorhome, you will need an additional extension cable. In this case, a more expensive model that already has a CEE plug and socket might be worthwhile.

These are the features you should look for when buying

Once you have made your decision and want to buy a camping CEE cable drum, there are a few things to consider beforehand. I would like to briefly explain which features and characteristics you should take into account when making your choice.

Art

First of all, you should consider what kind of camping CEE cable drum you want. A simple cable drum with a CEE plug or a complete set consisting of cable drum, CEE plug and CEE socket? Of course, your decision also depends on whether you already have a CEE cable or not.

Material

It is particularly important that the CEE cable drum is made of a weatherproof material. If possible, the body of the drum should be made of break-resistant and special plastic so that it can withstand any weather. The base is usually made of special plastic or metal that is not susceptible to rust.

Cable length

As already explained, the prescribed length must not exceed 25 m. Thus, a cable length of 25 m is absolutely sufficient. However, there are also models that are only 20 m long and some with even 40 or 50 m cable length.

Security

The safety aspect is also important. It is best to make sure that your cable drum has an overheating protection. Some models have an indicator light that shows when there is overheating and overloading.

Equipment

To get the most out of your Camping CC cable reel, it is recommended that it is well equipped. To connect the cable to your camper and the power pole, you need a CEE plug and a CEE socket. Models with several protective contact sockets on the side are particularly practical. This way you already have a power connection outside.

The most important things in summary

• When you arrive at the campsite, you need a CEE cable to supply your motorhome with electricity.
• The power ensures that your battery does not run down during a longer stay. It is also the only way to use the sockets in your camper.
• DIN VDE 0100-708 “Campsites” and DIN VDE 0100-721 “Caravans” specify exactly which requirements the CEE cable drum must meet.
• The minimum cross-section should be 2.5 mm2 and the cable length should be a maximum of 25 metres. In addition, CEE plugs or sockets must be used.
• The CEE socket is plugged into the socket with contacts on your motorhome and the CEE plug is inserted into the power box on your pitch.
• The advantages of CEE cable reels and plugs are that they are splash-proof, there is no risk of reversed polarity and the long copper contacts ensure a secure fit.
• You can recognise the correct CEE camping plug by the blue housing.
• A cable drum consists of plugs, protective contact sockets, a drum body, a crank handle, a carrying handle and a stand.

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