Electric Hook-Up Explained (Without the Fear)
Part of the Setup & Site Life – Without the Stress hub
Intro
Electric hook-up is one of those caravan tasks that sounds more intimidating than it really is.
People talk about it in hushed tones — polarity, bollards, cables, safety — and it’s easy to feel like one wrong move could trip the site, upset the neighbours, or worse. In reality, hook-up is a simple, well-designed system built to be used by ordinary people, in all weathers, on all kinds of pitches.
This page isn’t about rules or warnings shouted in bold text.
It’s about understanding what’s happening, why the order matters, and how to connect calmly and confidently.
Once you “get” hook-up, it stops being a moment of fear and becomes just another routine part of arrival.
What Electric Hook-Up Is (and Isn’t)
At its core, electric hook-up does one thing: it safely supplies mains power from the site to your caravan.
It isn’t delicate.
It isn’t clever.
And it isn’t waiting to catch you out.
The system is deliberately designed so that:
Power is controlled at the bollard
The cable is robust and weatherproof
The caravan’s electrics are protected internally
Most problems people worry about simply don’t happen when things are connected in a sensible order.
When to Connect the Hook-Up
Electric hook-up works best when it’s done after the caravan is positioned and levelled.
By waiting until then:
The cable can be run naturally
You avoid stretching or repositioning it later
You’re not working around ramps or moving wheels
This also tends to be the point where having power actually helps — lights, heating, or charging make the rest of setup feel calmer, especially if you’ve arrived late or in poor weather.
The Calm Connection Order
Most experienced caravanners follow the same basic sequence, because it reduces uncertainty:
First, make sure the bollard socket is switched off.
Then plug the cable into the caravan first, followed by the bollard.
Once everything is connected securely, switch the bollard on.
That’s it.
This order ensures the cable isn’t live while you’re handling it, and it keeps everything predictable. There’s no rush, and no need to force anything — caravan hook-up plugs are designed to fit positively and firmly.
Why People Worry About Polarity
Polarity gets talked about a lot, often without much explanation.
In simple terms, polarity refers to the direction electricity flows. Some older sites or foreign connections can have reversed polarity, which sounds alarming but is usually handled by the caravan’s electrical system without issue.
The key point is this: polarity is something to be aware of, not something to panic about.
If your caravan has a polarity warning light or indicator, it’s there to inform you — not to suggest danger. Many caravanners tour for years without ever needing to do anything differently because of polarity.
Understanding that removes a lot of unnecessary fear.
Running the Cable on the Pitch
Once connected, how you run the cable matters more for tidiness and safety than for electrics.
Avoid tight coils, sharp bends, or running the cable where people are likely to walk. A gentle, relaxed run from bollard to caravan is ideal. If there’s excess length, it’s better laid loosely than tightly coiled.
This isn’t about being fussy — it’s about keeping the pitch safe and stress-free for you and others.
What Not to Overthink
Hook-up becomes stressful when people assume it’s fragile or unforgiving.
In reality, you don’t need to:
Rush the connection
Worry about rain (the system is designed for it)
Obsess over tiny details once power is on
If the caravan has power, nothing smells odd, and everything behaves normally, then the hook-up has done its job.
Like levelling, hook-up is successful when you stop thinking about it.
Common First-Time Worries (Put to Rest)
Many people worry they’ll:
Trip the site supply
Blow something in the caravan
Connect things in the “wrong” order
In practice, modern caravans and site systems are very forgiving. Taking your time, following a calm sequence, and trusting the design removes almost all risk.
This is one of those jobs that feels daunting until you’ve done it a few times — then it becomes almost automatic.
How This Fits Into Site Life
Electric hook-up sits neatly between levelling and settling in.
Once it’s connected, the caravan starts to feel “alive” — lights on, heating available, chargers plugged in. That psychological shift is often what makes the pitch stop feeling temporary and start feeling like home.
From here, most people move on to:
Water and waste
Awning decisions
Making the caravan comfortable for the first night
All of those are covered elsewhere in the Setup & Site Life – Without the Stress hub.
Where to Go Next
If you’ve just connected the electric, the next calm step is usually:
👉 Water & Waste – How It Actually Works
Because unlike electricity, those parts really can wait — and knowing that helps everything feel more relaxed.
Electric hook-up isn’t something to fear.
It’s just the moment the kettle becomes an option.