A static caravan on a holiday pitch is usually the wrong place for a fixed air conditioner. Hook-ups are often only 16 A at 230 V, the structure is light, site rules ban external plant, and cooling a thin shell brings condensation. US roof units at 115 V do not belong on a UK pitch. If you have a residential-grade supply and written site permission, a very small 230 V split might be designed properly. For a seasonal static, treat fixed cooling as the exception.
A 16 A post on a holiday pitch
Holiday pitches commonly offer a 16 A, 230 V hook-up. A split outdoor unit, a kettle and a heater will not share that happily. Tripping the post on a busy August changeover is the likely result, and the site can object. Measure what the pitch allows before anyone talks about kW. Check the pitch amps in writing.
230 V and 50 Hz, not an American roof unit
Frequency is 50 Hz and voltage is 230 V. American caravan roof air conditioners at 115 V and 60 Hz are the wrong machine. An adaptor does not fix voltage. A US RV roof unit will not run on a UK pitch. Those are typically 115 V and the wrong frequency. Do not import one.
What usually rules a fixed split out
A static caravan on a seasonal pitch is usually the wrong place for a split. Only a confirmed supply and written permission make it worth designing.
- Check the pitch amps in writing.
- Do not import 115 V roof units.
- Site rules often forbid external condensers and wall penetrations.
A thin shell that sweats when you cool it
Static walls and roofs are light. They heat quickly and they sweat when cooled. Condensation in a thin shell is a mould risk. The unit's own condensate must leave to outside, not into the floor void. Cooling also drops moisture on cold aluminium and windows. Without ventilation and a sensible setpoint, the van smells damp even though the air feels cool. Insulation upgrades, shade and awnings change comfort more honestly than an oversized cooler the supply cannot run.
Brackets, pitch rules and a hole in the skin
A condenser on brackets will vibrate a caravan chassis. A ground stand may breach pitch rules or the site licence. Holes for pipes affect weatherproofing and the unit's resale and warranty with the caravan maker. Get the site owner's written yes, and use an installer who will stand behind the penetration. Planning can apply to external plant even on a caravan site. In England, the Planning Portal heat pump page is a start, and the site's own permission is usually the tighter rule. F-gas law still applies if you do fit a split.
A small portable for a hot week, not a template
A small UK 230 V portable, if the hook-up and the site allow it, is a limited compromise with a hose and noise. It is not a silent night in the bedroom. It can still trip a 16 A supply alongside other appliances. Residential park homes with a proper supply are a different case. Do not use a holiday static as the model for those, and do not use a park-home success as permission on a seasonal pitch.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 16 amp hook-up enough?
Often it is not, once the caravan's other loads are on. Confirm the pitch rating and the unit's running current before you buy anything.
Core buying guides
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Related guides
Sources and further reading
How this guide was prepared
This guide was written by the Local AC Installers Editorial Team. We compare official guidance, legislation and established consumer information, separate general information from project-specific advice, and show publication dates and sources. We do not accept installer accreditation claims at face value.