caravan electrics

[JayRsp]

Hi all,

Just bought a caravan from an old neighbour for £40 very big project type purchase.

He said he replaced the electrics not too long ago but it had been stationary and unused for since just after Covid.

Hooked it up to the house mains and after flicking the breakers up, no power and the test button doesn’t do anything either, going to assume I need to get a new kit for it? Not too sure on where to start with caravan electrics I’m more of the interior decorator 😂

 

[Woodentop]

You need to find out if mains is getting to the power box in the picture. You can use a contact neon screwdriver or a non-contact mains detector (Screwfix 95426.) Either way what you have found suggests either your EHU cable is not working or there is a continuity gap between the EHU inlet and the RCD. you do NOT need to have the MCBs switched on to test the RCD.

TAKE GREAT CARE. Incoming mains must be connected at the bottom of the RCD as the live side of the supply obviously comes out of the top of the RCD and there is a bare live copper link to feed the second MCB.

Unless you are confident with mains electricity I would suggest you ask a friend who knows what they are doing to give it the once over for you. It does not need to be a caravan electrician, anyone who knows what they are doing with mains supplies etc can do it.

 

[RogerL]

You posted "Not too sure on where to start with caravan electrics"

That's enough to say, don't touch it, get an electrician in to check it - especially if the previous owner did a DIY job.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I can see from the picture, the normal domestic consumer single pole MCB's have been fitted. These will not protect the consumer from live potential faults if the caravan is connected to a supply that is reversed polarity.

The recommended MCB's for caravans should be double pole isolation. For that reason I do recommend that a qualified caravan electrician should be employed to correct and check the whole caravans installation.

 

[IanB1485]

You can use a contact neon screwdriver

No you can't !!! those things are potentially dangerous as you are part of the circuit and any fault internally means you are connected directly to the mains. Only use non-contact testers or an approved electrical test meter and leads to GS38 ( HSE publication). The cemeteries are full of people who thought otherwise