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

 

[Hutch]

Am I correct in seeing bare wire ends sticking out from the lower left hand side of the 5 amp circuit breaker.
Everything sounds dodgy to me.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Am I correct in seeing bare wire ends sticking out from the lower left hand side of the 5 amp circuit breaker.
Everything sounds dodgy to me.

I can also see the bare ends of wires, but those will be the earth common bar which sits beneath the MCB rail.

 

[trevormonty]

At purchase price of £40, you should have budget to pay for professional inspection.

 

[Woodentop]

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

Er, if you can't use a contact neon screwdriver as they are dangerous why are they still widely on sale to the general public?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Er, if you can't use a contact neon screwdriver as they are dangerous why are they still widely on sale to the general public?

There are lots of things that are potentially dangerous available to buy even if counter to professional advice.

Dare I mention ICE vehicles ( ducks now...)

 

[borderbilly]

There are lots of things that are potentially dangerous available to buy even if counter to professional advice.

Dare I mention ICE vehicles ( ducks now...)

And leaky new Caravans 🚐 😍

 

[toad a caravan]

The only time I'd use a neon tester is if I'd been stranded on one of the polar regions,and even so would Check it on a known power source thus confirming it was servisable

 

[IanB1485]

Many many years ago when I was a young engineer I was told ( but never experienced it personally ) about the high jinks the older engineers got up to , like wiring up plastic chairs to high voltage supplies inn the test bay ( current limited),Removing the current limiting resistor from the neon testers( they used to have screw tops) nailing coffee cups to the work surfaces e.t.c ,nowadays there'd be a lawsuit .

 

[Buckman]

There are lots of things that are potentially dangerous available to buy even if counter to professional advice.

Dare I mention ICE vehicles ( ducks now...)

Why do you think ICE vehicles are dangerous? Just like a gun, no vehicle is dangerous, it is the idiot behind the rigger or wheel that is dangerous!

 

[trevormonty]

Why do you think ICE vehicles are dangerous? Just like a gun, no vehicle is dangerous, it is the idiot behind the rigger or wheel that is dangerous!

EVs also have their fair share of idiots behind the wheel. Being newer they have lot more anti idiot (active safety) systems built in making harder for idiots to crash them.

 

[Beachball]

Hi JayRsp Welcome to the forum if it was me i would get a AWS Mobile caravan engineer to check it for the peace of mind .

 

[otherclive]

EVs also have their fair share of idiots behind the wheel. Being newer they have lot more anti idiot (active safety) systems built in making harder for idiots to crash them.

One of the areas of concern is why EV have been having proportionately more shunts than other cars. One theory is that many of them have high acceleration rates which in some circumstances lead to accidents. Particularly noted on roundabouts where the driver looks right sees it’s clear and the vehicle in front or crossing the path hasn’t cleared. Outcome is a shunt.

 

[Hutch]

Fred Drift is making a reappearance.

 

[otherclive]

Fred Drift is making a reappearance.

Made his first appearance nine posts ago. 😱 Anyway “ shunts” are electrical too. 😂😂😂

 

[Dustydog]

One of the areas of concern is why EV have been having proportionately more shunts than other cars. One theory is that many of them have high acceleration rates which in some circumstances lead to accidents. Particularly noted on roundabouts where the driver looks right sees it’s clear and the vehicle in front or crossing the path hasn’t cleared. Outcome is a shunt.

My friends Tesla has all the controls on a massive centre screen. The heated seats and heated steering wheel touch bits are bottom rightish. He spent ages showing me whilst on the move😵‍💫. Very dangerous. Are these kind of screens being phased out?

 

[Dustydog]

Made his first appearance nine posts ago. 😱 Anyway “ shunts” are electrical too. 😂😂😂

⚡️⚡️💥

 

[borderbilly]

My friends Tesla has all the controls on a massive centre screen. The heated seats and heated steering wheel touch bits are bottom rightish. He spent ages showing me whilst on the move😵‍💫. Very dangerous. Are these kind of screens being phased out?

VW are bringing back some twiddly controls, radio, heater etc

 

[Buckman]

VW are bringing back some twiddly controls, radio, heater etc

A lot easier that delving into all sorts of sub menus!

 

[otherclive]

My friends Tesla has all the controls on a massive centre screen. The heated seats and heated steering wheel touch bits are bottom rightish. He spent ages showing me whilst on the move😵‍💫. Very dangerous. Are these kind of screens being phased out?

Yes both Volvo and VW have moved away. I read a road test of a Volvo and the reviewer absolutely slated it, the more so from a company renowned for its approach to safety. I just would not buy a car with all touch screen controls. I guess I could use the voice activation, but memory issues (mine) would probably negate that in current generation cars. What I would require is an intelligent chat bot, that could fathom out my needs, and ignore the expletives. A super Siri, or amazing Alexa.

 

[ProfJohnL]

... , or amazing Alexa.

I wish you hadn't mentioned it, I cant shut it up now!!!!!!