Earth bonding
- Thread starter IOMAL
- Start date
240 vac has a live and a neutral.
Neither will be, should be, bonded to the chassis!
Please get a sparky to assist you, someone may get hurt!
Neither will be, should be, bonded to the chassis!
Please get a sparky to assist you, someone may get hurt!
IOMAL, as I believe the 220 /240 volts main on a caravan . The earth is not connected to the chassis . The same as a 12 volt return . All of the 230 volts, lets call it "mains" units ie fridge, cooker, water heater, wall sockets etc, should be earthed to the power connecting to your van.
The real Grennies on here will confirm.
The real Grennies on here will confirm.
This is my opinion only!
At the outset someone asking this sort of question MUST NOT fiddle with the electrical circuit. The life of a van occupant is simply not worth it!
I wish to restate my answer to the OP question:
Question:
Answer:
There must be absolutely no connection between the 240 Vac live wire and the chassis.
There must be absolutely no connection between the neural wire and the chassis.
There must be a connection between the supply cable mains earth and the chassis.
The question was that vague that one might assume the OP was asking about "any wire" in the plug and the chassis for all I know!
Regarding connecting the site mains cable earth wire to the van chassis, my swift wiring diagram clearly shows that it is connected. Having a quick look on internet also shows numerous other van diagrams all connecting the cable supply earth to the chassis.
Being an electrical engineer and having visited numerous sites in the UK I am also aware that many of these pitch "earth connection points" are not adequate and one must assume not always up to standard.
Caravan pitch socket-outlets are required to comply with BS EN 60309-2 and must have a degree of protection of at least IP44.
This specifies either a isolated earth in the pitch supply pillar that MUST HAVE IT's own earth spike under or near the pillar or that the earth is continuous back to the mains board supplying the source at which point it too must have an earth spike.
However if the van earth wire from the site power plug is not connected, it is not a catastrophe . The whole purpose of the RCD, one fitted in the van and a second supposed to be fitted in the pitch supply pillar, is to detect the smallest unbalance between current coming in the live wire and leaving through the neutral wire and isolate both live and neutral wires from the installation in the event of a fault.
NOTE: This DOES NOT NEED any earth to work.
NOTE: This actually trips at typically less than 30 milli amps, a safe current that will not stop a human heart.
So my technical answer to the OP is:
There must be a connection of the earth point coming from the cable bonded to the chassis of the van close as possible to the point behind the mains orange socket on the van. You should find a suitable connection point somewhere close to the incoming plug point like a earth stud or connection bar etc.
This connection must
In accordance with : Protective equipotential bonding Regulation 721.411.3.1.2 requires structural metallic parts that are accessible from within the caravan to be connected through main protective bonding conductors to the main earthing terminal within the caravan.
If I were doing it myself I would use a 10mm earth wire with suitable terminal lugs the one end bolted to the chassis after removing all paint and dirt in a place where it will not compromise the structural strength of the chassis. I would then paint over the connection with a suitable chassis like paint to prevent any corrosion.
EDIT: On reflection although a 10mm earth bond is specified by regulation, (general body chassis bond) on a caravan I personally thing a 4mm or 6mm will be just fine and more importantly easier and therefore safer for an average guy to work with and fit. Electrically it will be just fine.
I would then test the RCD on the van and when reaching a pitch test theirs as well.
An interesting article on caravan site installations.
https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/issues/61/electrical-installations-in-caravancamping-parks-caravans-and-motor-caravans/
At the outset someone asking this sort of question MUST NOT fiddle with the electrical circuit. The life of a van occupant is simply not worth it!
I wish to restate my answer to the OP question:
Question:
Answer:
There must be absolutely no connection between the 240 Vac live wire and the chassis.
There must be absolutely no connection between the neural wire and the chassis.
There must be a connection between the supply cable mains earth and the chassis.
The question was that vague that one might assume the OP was asking about "any wire" in the plug and the chassis for all I know!
Regarding connecting the site mains cable earth wire to the van chassis, my swift wiring diagram clearly shows that it is connected. Having a quick look on internet also shows numerous other van diagrams all connecting the cable supply earth to the chassis.
Being an electrical engineer and having visited numerous sites in the UK I am also aware that many of these pitch "earth connection points" are not adequate and one must assume not always up to standard.
Caravan pitch socket-outlets are required to comply with BS EN 60309-2 and must have a degree of protection of at least IP44.
This specifies either a isolated earth in the pitch supply pillar that MUST HAVE IT's own earth spike under or near the pillar or that the earth is continuous back to the mains board supplying the source at which point it too must have an earth spike.
However if the van earth wire from the site power plug is not connected, it is not a catastrophe . The whole purpose of the RCD, one fitted in the van and a second supposed to be fitted in the pitch supply pillar, is to detect the smallest unbalance between current coming in the live wire and leaving through the neutral wire and isolate both live and neutral wires from the installation in the event of a fault.
NOTE: This DOES NOT NEED any earth to work.
NOTE: This actually trips at typically less than 30 milli amps, a safe current that will not stop a human heart.
So my technical answer to the OP is:
There must be a connection of the earth point coming from the cable bonded to the chassis of the van close as possible to the point behind the mains orange socket on the van. You should find a suitable connection point somewhere close to the incoming plug point like a earth stud or connection bar etc.
This connection must
In accordance with : Protective equipotential bonding Regulation 721.411.3.1.2 requires structural metallic parts that are accessible from within the caravan to be connected through main protective bonding conductors to the main earthing terminal within the caravan.
If I were doing it myself I would use a 10mm earth wire with suitable terminal lugs the one end bolted to the chassis after removing all paint and dirt in a place where it will not compromise the structural strength of the chassis. I would then paint over the connection with a suitable chassis like paint to prevent any corrosion.
EDIT: On reflection although a 10mm earth bond is specified by regulation, (general body chassis bond) on a caravan I personally thing a 4mm or 6mm will be just fine and more importantly easier and therefore safer for an average guy to work with and fit. Electrically it will be just fine.
I would then test the RCD on the van and when reaching a pitch test theirs as well.
An interesting article on caravan site installations.
https://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/issues/61/electrical-installations-in-caravancamping-parks-caravans-and-motor-caravans/
A quick google search came back with this, So I was wrong.
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/technical/39285-bit-of-a-shock#297452
https://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/technical/39285-bit-of-a-shock#297452
Never fear, live as long as I have even though near perfect we are bound to make the odd mistake. The last was back in 1965 when she said "till death do us part"
TRENDING THREADS
-
-
-
-
-
-
How to disconnect water pipe/pump push fitting?
- Started by johns11
- Replies: 4
-
Facebook
Twitter