Most food trucks use a 16A red 5-pin CEE plug. Many trucks without a deep fryer can make do with an ordinary 230V socket.
Power guide: what a food truck needs
Customer · Updated 3 weeks ago
Contents
🔌 Most food trucks use a 16A red 5-pin CEE plug. Many trucks without a deep fryer can make do with an ordinary 230V socket. Always check the power requirements with the supplier before your event.
One of the questions we hear most: how much power does a food truck need? This guide gives you the answer, so you can sort it out early.
When you book a food truck, make sure the venue has the right power for it. What a truck needs depends on the truck. Below is an overview of the connections food trucks in Denmark typically use.
The usual power options for a food truck
The supplier can tell you exactly which plug, current and number of phases their truck needs. Here is a quick overview of the five connections you are most likely to come across.
| Plug | Current | Voltage | Phases |
|---|---|---|---|
230V 2-pin plug | Up to 10A | 230 volts | Single-phase |
230V 3-pin plug | Up to 16A | 230 volts | Single-phase |
16A blue 3-pin CEE | 16A | 200–250 volts | Single-phase |
16A red 5-pin CEE | 16A | 400–480 volts | Three-phase |
32A red 5-pin CEE | 32A | 400–480 volts | Three-phase |
⚠️ Don't go by the size of the plug alone. Check the rating in your fuse box, and confirm the exact plug and number of phases with the supplier. If in doubt, ask an authorised electrician.
230V 2-pin plug
- Current: typically up to 10 amps (check your fuse box)
- Voltage: 230 volts
- Phases: single-phase
- Pins: 2 (live and neutral)
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230V 3-pin plug
- Current: typically up to 16 amps (check your fuse box)
- Voltage: 230 volts
- Phases: single-phase
- Pins: 3 (live, neutral, earth)
16A blue 3-pin CEE plug
- Current: 16 amps (check your fuse box)
- Voltage: 200–250 volts
- Phases: single-phase
- Pins: 3 (live, neutral, earth)
16A red 5-pin CEE plug
- Current: 16 amps (check your fuse box)
- Voltage: 400–480 volts
- Phases: three-phase
- Pins: 5 (3 phases, neutral, earth)
32A red 5-pin CEE plug
- Current: 32 amps (check your fuse box)
- Voltage: 400–480 volts
- Phases: three-phase
- Pins: 5 (3 phases, neutral, earth)
What if there is no power at the venue?
No power is not necessarily a problem. Many food trucks are fully or partly self-sufficient.
Gas for cooking
Burners, grills and fryers often run on gas, which covers a food truck's biggest energy use without any power.
Generator
Some food trucks bring their own generator, and several suppliers offer one as an add-on if there is no power at the venue.
Checklist: power for a food truck
Is the food truck self-sufficient, or does it need power at the venue?
Which plug, current and number of phases does it need?
How far is the nearest suitable socket from where the truck will stand?
Who brings the cable, and how will it be protected from the weather, guests and cars?
Can your fuse box supply the power needed without other equipment drawing on the same circuit?
Are there any restrictions on generators or noise at the venue?
The short version
Most food trucks use a 16A red 5-pin CEE plug, while many trucks without a deep fryer can make do with an ordinary 230V socket. Always confirm the exact requirement with the supplier before the day.
Got the power you need? Then all that is left is to find a food truck for your event. If you are unsure about the requirements, ask the supplier or write to us at contact@nuento.com.
Ready to find your food truck?
Compare food trucks for your event, and sort out the power directly with the supplier.
