Electricity in your trailer. Made simple.

Electricity in a food trailer is one of those things many people only think about when it's too late: the circuit breaker trips, service slows down, the coffee machine can't run at full power and the queue keeps growing. The good news is that you can solve most problems before your first event – by choosing the right connection, calculating power realistically and by how the trailer is divided into circuits.

In this article we explain:

• the difference between 230V and 400V (and why people still say “220/380”),
• what you really get at events (16A/32A, Schuko vs CEE),
• how to easily calculate how much power (kW) you need,
• practical examples of appliances and 3 sample set-ups (café, bar, hot kitchen),
• recommended load limits per phase/circuit,
• and a checklist for avoiding outages during sales.

230V vs 400V: what it means in practice

230V (1-phase) – when it can be enough

230V is a “standard” socket (phase + neutral). In practice it can be enough if you have a simple concept and low consumption:

• promo/merch without cooking,
• a light bar without major heating appliances,
• a minimum of appliances running at the same time.

The limit of 230V is that in a food business you quickly hit the “ceiling” – especially when refrigeration + heating + peak load come together (coffee machine, water heater, grill, ice maker…).

400V (3-phase) – why it is often the better standard for food businesses

400V means a connection across three phases. In practice this brings:

1. Load distribution – you spread the appliances across 3 phases and the trailer runs more stably.
2. Better handling of peaks – with heating and compressors this is the difference between “stress-free vs problems”.
3. Reserve for the future – when you add equipment, you usually don't have to rework the entire wiring.

How we do it at Gastronova:
As standard, we supply the trailer with a 400V / 32A (CEE) supply and a split into 3 separate circuits – 1 circuit per phase.On request we can also prepare a configuration for 3× 230V, depending on the type of business and the availability of hookups at events.

“Schuko (230V) vs CEE (industrial connection). In a food business, stability and available power are often decisive.”

220V/380V vs 230V/400V (and why people get them mixed up)

You may have come across people saying “220V” instead of 230V or “380V” instead of 400V. It is a historical habit. The standard in the EU today is 230V/400V, but in the grid you will measure different values (e.g. 225–240V) depending on the load and location.

CEE vs a “standard socket”: what's the difference?

This is important because it is often not just about “how many volts”, but also about the connector type and the reliability of the connection.

Standard socket (Schuko) – 230V

• an ordinary household socket,
• usually 16A,
• common at smaller events, but often shared and less stable.

CEE (industrial connectors) – blue/red

• robust “caravan/construction-site” sockets,
• blue CEE is usually 230V (often 16A),
• red CEE is usually 400V (typically 16A or 32A),
• in the food business this is a much more reliable solution, especially at 400V.

For most food concepts, CEE 400V (ideally 32A) is the safest choice.

Power at events: what you really get and what to ask for

The most common variants:

• 230V / 16A – the basic option, often the only one
• 230V / 32A – stronger 1-phase
• 400V / 16A (CEE red) – very common
• 400V / 32A (CEE red) – ideal for more demanding concepts

Mini checklist of questions for the organiser

Before the event, ask:

1. What type of socket: 230V or 400V? Schuko or CEE?
2. Is it 16A or 32A?
3. Is the circuit for us only, or is it shared?
4. How far is it to the connection point (for the cable)?
5. Is there a residual current device (RCD)?

How many kW does a food trailer need? (a simple calculation)

The basic rule

• 1 000 W = 1 kW
• appliances have their power input (W/kW) on the rating plate or in the specification
• as a rule of thumb (for 230V): A ≈ W / 230

Example:2 300 W → 2 300 / 230 ≈ 10 A

To keep a reserve, don't calculate right at the limit. A practical guide:

• 230V / 16A: max. approx. 3.0 kW continuous load
• 230V / 32A: max. approx. 6.0 kW continuous load

With 400V the big advantage is that you spread the load across three phases – so in practice you can handle more, and more stably.

Best practice: load limit per phase/circuit (in practice)

When you have a 400V / 32A supply and the trailer is split into 3 phases, the big advantage is that you can set “ceilings” for each branch.

• In theory, 1 phase at 32A gives approximately: 230V × 32A ≈ 7.4 kW
• Best practice in a food business: keep the continuous load on one phase at around approx. 5–6 kW, so you have a reserve for peaks (compressor start-up, heating, appliances switching on).

Why? Because problems don't arise at the values “on paper”, but at peaks – when the water heater switches on, the compressor kicks in and the coffee machine starts reheating all at once.

A practical overview of appliances (approximate power input)

Note: power input depends on the brand and model. The table is for planning purposes.

3 sample set-ups: what it looks like in practice

1) Café in a trailer (1–2 people)

Typical set-up:

• coffee machine 3–4 kW
• grinder 0.3 kW
• refrigeration 0.3–0.8 kW (depending on the number of fridges)
• water heater 2 kW
• small items + lights 0.2 kW

Why 230V is often at the limit:
The coffee machine + water heater can create a peak, and the refrigeration is running as well.

➡️ Recommendation: 400V (CEE), ideally 32A + split across phases.

2) Mobile bar trailer (drinks concept)

Typical set-up:

• chilled tap system 0.5–0.8 kW
• ice maker 0.4–0.8 kW
• bar fridge 0.2–0.5 kW
• additional refrigeration 0.3–0.7 kW
• lighting + small items 0.2 kW

A bar often has no extreme heating loads, but it has more compressors and a lot of refrigeration.

➡️ Recommendation: 230V may be enough for a smaller set-up, but for stability at events it is better to have 400V.

3) Hot kitchen (grill / heating / serving)

Typical set-up:

• grill 2–3.5 kW
• water heater 2–3 kW
• refrigeration 0.5–1.5 kW
• small items

With a hot kitchen, power demand rises quickly.

➡️ Recommendation: 400V almost always, with a good split of circuits.

How we do it in the trailer: 3 circuits / 3 phases (and why it works)

Many problems arise not because “there aren't enough kW”, but because everything is on one branch.

With our standard – 400V / 32A CEE split into 3 circuits (L1, L2, L3) – you can:

• put refrigeration on one phase,
• heating on the second,
• work sockets/coffee machine on the third.

High-consumption appliances: when to consider gas (and why it makes sense)

For concepts with a hot kitchen it is often worth considering gas alternatives (e.g. for part of the heating). The reasons are practical:

1. kW limit in the trailer – even at 400V you can hit the limits, especially as more appliances are added.
2. Electricity prices at festivals – some events charge significantly more for power or impose power limits.
3. Self-sufficiency and flexibility – gas can simplify operation where the power supply is weak or unreliable.

Electrics always tailored + inspection: what it means in practice

We don't build the electrical systems in our trailers “from one template”. The electrical installation is always custom-designed for the specific concept and the specific list of appliances.

In practice this means:

• designing the circuits according to what runs continuously (refrigeration) and what runs at peaks (heating),
• sizing the circuit protection according to real use,
• design by a certified electrician in Slovakia,
• a follow-up check and an inspection of the electrical installation.

Checklist before first start-up (7 points)

1. Check the connection type: 230/400V, 16A/32A, Schuko/CEE.
2. Check the cable (length, cross-section, condition).
3. First switch on the refrigeration and let it stabilise.
4. Then switch on the large appliances (heating) one by one.
5. Watch what the circuit breaker does at peak load.
6. Don't share a circuit with other stalls if you can avoid it.
7. Have a plan B: what you will switch off when you reach the limit.

Gastronova’s final recommendation

If you want stable operation, a reserve for the future and minimal stress at events, we recommend going for a 400V / 32A CEE connection split into 3 circuits (1 circuit per phase) – exactly as we supply most of our trailers.

At the same time, good electrics are not just about the socket, but about having the wiring custom-designed around your appliances and concept. That is why we design electrical installations individually – design by a certified electrician in Slovakia, a follow-up check and inspection.

And if you are planning a hot kitchen or high power consumption, we recommend also considering gas alternatives – because of power limits, electricity prices at festivals and greater self-sufficiency in the field.

Want it designed without the guesswork?
Take a look at our models and custom solutions:

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Send us your list of appliances and a brief description of your concept. We will propose the ideal connection (400V vs 3×230V), circuit split and recommendations so that nothing trips at your events.