Hi, I would like to fit an external 240v socket to the awning side of my Bailey Champage, is this better left in the hands of professionals or is it a job i could do myself, any help greatly appreciated.
It can be done yourself, but as you are asking the question I assume you have doubts about your technical skills in this department. It is also daunting to cut a hole in the body panel. Therefore get a dealership to do the job for you. It will not be too expensive and can be done in an hour or so. They will fit a flush mounted box with a outdoor socket inside. They will then connect this to the RCD and you are in business. It is best to fix this where there is a seat base on the inside to cover the wiring.
It can be done by you and is not too difficult a job depending upon your level of expertise. This article might give you an idea of what is involved. www.fogeysplace.co.uk/externalsocket/mycaravan.html If you've got an external locker, it might be possible to fit the socket in that to save cutting the caravan wall.
That is a very good link and I have saved it to favourites as it comes up often
I have fitted a few of them to my own vans and recently fitted one withe 230V and 12V outlets
I have never found it necessary to make a wooden frame and I prefer the type of socket that can either be stuck in with a sticky pad or used with a short pull out lead
I usually use an old but good lead saved from an old appliance (3 core from washing machine etc)
Its easy then to locate say the fridge/microwave socket etc and with a double adapter just plug in the old lead and you have an extra fuse in the plug
If you use mastic tape you should have no problem with damp ingress and warranty concerns at that point
I always make the outside of the cardboard template a lot bigger than the area to be cut out and start with a hole drilled at each corner before joining with jig saw or pad saw
It can be done yourself, but as you are asking the question I assume you have doubts about your technical skills in this department. It is also daunting to cut a hole in the body panel. Therefore get a dealership to do the job for you. It will not be too expensive and can be done in an hour or so. They will fit a flush mounted box with a outdoor socket inside. They will then connect this to the RCD and you are in business. It is best to fix this where there is a seat base on the inside to cover the wiring.
That is a very good link and I have saved it to favourites as it comes up often
I have fitted a few of them to my own vans and recently fitted one withe 230V and 12V outlets
I have never found it necessary to make a wooden frame and I prefer the type of socket that can either be stuck in with a sticky pad or used with a short pull out lead
I usually use an old but good lead saved from an old appliance (3 core from washing machine etc)
Its easy then to locate say the fridge/microwave socket etc and with a double adapter just plug in the old lead and you have an extra fuse in the plug
If you use mastic tape you should have no problem with damp ingress and warranty concerns at that point
I always make the outside of the cardboard template a lot bigger than the area to be cut out and start with a hole drilled at each corner before joining with jig saw or pad saw
I have installed a house outdoor socket under my van, and have connected it to the indoor socket wire using a junction box, I have feed the wire up through the fridge vent. By doing this it saved the hassle of getting the wrong size hole in the side of my van and a lot of expense. We also plug a 4 way block in a leave in the awning. Hope this helps
However, just bear in mind that any DIY fittings may affect the resale value of your van, if you ever decided that was what you wished to do. If it is 'professionally' done , then your value may increase.
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