EHU question.....

Rodeo

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Have made a fly lead with 16amp socket one end , and a 2 pin plug the other, just in case we use a site with 2 pin connection.
The cable is connected at 90 degrees to the 2 pin plug,(cos I happened to have that type in my emporium of wonderful things, ie the shed)Because of the way sockets are laid out on the campsite poles, will I be able to use a right angle connector, or will I need a straight connector to prevent fouling on other plugs and sockets on the pole?
 
You really need the 'outdoor version of the continental plug as on some sites the connection is exposed, and remember that although there are only 2 pins there is an earth.
 
Yeah I know about the earth.Never seen an outdoor version I will have a look on e bay.May be back if I cant find one!
Thanks
 
I often use the right angle plug foreign, it usualy fits. Sometimes I have to rotote it 180 dgrs to overcome crossed polarity.the earth is the grooved metal strip that is built into the plug.sometimes there is a third pin on the continental hook up Bourne and this can sometimes be a problem if your plug does not have a pin hole to take it.I also have several other adaptors I made up over the years so am covered for most eventualities although we seldom use sites abroad now, certainly not in France,but some Aires do have hook ups but I seldom use those as we are solar sufficient,better safe than sorry though hence all the adapters.
 
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Vindiboy...when you talked of a third pin (sorry cant do links!) .....did you mean that a pin is actually sticking out of the socket? I see the plug Im using has a hole which I think connects to the earth strip. Thanx for your time.
 
Rodeo said:
Vindiboy...when you talked of a third pin (sorry cant do links!) .....did you mean that a pin is actually sticking out of the socket? I see the plug Im using has a hole which I think connects to the earth strip. Thanx for your time.
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Yes some hook up bournes have an earth pin so you will need a plug with a pin hole to take it,it would appear that you have one,these bournes are quite rare however.
 
For Europe I carry a 'reverse polarity lead' that I made up out of about 6" of UK EHU cable and the usual blue plugs at each end - never had to use it yet. But there again never stay on sites if we can help it. This is along with all the other usual electrical adapters.
 
Yeah, I have made up a rev polarity lead.Trying to cover all bases, so will take other adaptors, Dont know whether we will go any sites, but just in case!
 
The reason for the reverse polarity problem is that much UK equipment is firstly protected by single pole circuit breakers and secondly have a single pole on/off switch which means that when the appliance is switched off all the internals are live. My German made van has dual pole breakers on the mains but as belt and braces I also check polarity though the risks are pretty small. Interestingly when I was sailing we did find the occasional marina where the standard blue 3 pin socket had reversed polarity too.
 
I agree the risks may be low, but the UK does not use double pole breakers, nor interestingly does Portugal where we are at the moment though they are available at a considerable premium so most one suspects stay on the shelves. UK built vans will normally have single pole breakers and the switches for caravan sockets be they continental or UK are also single pole. Checking polarity is both simple and cheap as is a polarity changer, so realy it is a very simple risk reduction process, and if you over wintered on a site you would see much equipment permanently plugged in
 
Rodeo said:
Yeah, I have made up a rev polarity lead.Trying to cover all bases, so will take other adaptors, Dont know whether we will go any sites, but just in case!
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you can get a manuel swithing box on ebay if a red lights up you switch over to you get green,simple and it will mater to a smart charger altho ac one wire is knowen as the hot side so important to get wright.
 
If you had a table lamp with a standard British two pin connection in the bulb holder, reversed polarity and a blown fuse in the standard three pin British 13amp plug.the negative pole would be live at the bulb holder, you could then recieve electric shock if you touched the pins when changing the bulb (lamp).
In the same situation if you had a faulty electric kettle stainless steel and in reversed polarity situation with a blown fuse which would be on the negative pole, touching the kettle which could be live would again result in electric shock.
There are many other situations where reversed polarity can be dangerous, work it out,so for me I use a polarity checker whenever I hook up,you of course can do as you please.
I have come across many bournes with no Earth continuety,do I use them, no.
 
I was offered this hook up facility at Meknes campsite in Morocco.cables were live.

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Had you read to the end you would have seen the final paragraph

"The caravan mains electrical installation should not be used whilst a reversed polarity
situation exists. Frequent travellers to the continent who are electrically competent often
make themselves up an adaptor, clearly marked reversed polarity, with the live and neutral
wires reversed. This can be tried in place of the standard connector, to see if the electricity
supply then reverts to 'normal'. (The 'German' plug can simply be turned upside down, so no
further adaptor is required.) If these steps do not rectify the reverse polarity situation, the site
supply may be quite different from that used in the UK and we recommend for your own
safety you disconnect from the mains and do not use this facility. Never use a site without
an earthing system."

Good luck

Remember RCDs are by their nature double pole, and if you have a short in a polarity reversed circuit when the MCB trips you stillhave current flowing to earth though this should be sensed by the RCD which sort of makes the MCB a bit redundant
 
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david the top half of ac wave knowen as hot side can give you a shock if not switched as it should some older tvs will give shock from arial plug if ac is wrong way round,i had all this explaned to me when i did my rae city an guilds,you should be using one of these in van for about £42 squid ebay,safety first with electricity as dead people dont type much on this forum.
 

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Harming equipment is not the risk it is fire and harming people, something that does concern me. I am not paranoiac about it because I understand the risks and can take appropriate precautions, but there are many who are not in our position of having some understanding of the problem and for them it is much easier to advise them how to avoid the risks completely.
 
I have absolutely no idea why I have a reverse polarity lead.....other than I think I read on here somewhere that I would need one in France etc. I made one up, put it in the storage, and have yet to use it!
Correction; I know the theory behind why I would need one, which is why I made one up (in France/ Spain there is no 'live' or 'neutral', whereas in the the UK we have a distinction of both).
 
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