European EHU connector

[JaneyCapewell]

Hi we are European touring virgins. Please could someone tell us if we need a special connector for ehu in Europe or will the electric hook up leads we have work over there.
We have found this:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380330388902&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

Is this the sort of thing we will need?
Thank you

 

[John_374564913]

Dear Janey
For the price of £4.99 it is worth getting one I have one in my locker all the time When travelling in Germany Austria last year I did not use it I used the same connection as in England.

However when I was in bosnia I used the two pin and it was good I had it as I was getting reverse polarity and all it meant was I unplugged and turned the pins around plugged in and it was fine

 

[Lutz]

Like John says, in some out-of-the way places such as Bosnia you may need one, but on the whole the connections are the same as in the UK.

 

[ValA.]

There are still quite a few French sites where you'll need the adaptor you linked to - so definitely take one with you. However, if you haven't got one most sites will lend you one (or an extra length of cable if the hook-ups are a long way from your pitch).

 

[Tony_5041742]

IMHO more and more French sites have moved across to the same sort of connectors we use in the UK, but as others have said I always make sure to have an adapter with in just in case.

 

[JaneyCapewell]

Thanks everyone, it is now on order just to be on the safe side.

 

[DavidKlyne]

IMHO more and more French sites have moved across to the same sort of connectors we use in the UK, but as others have said I always make sure to have an adapter with in just in case.

So they should considering its the European standard

David

 

[Woody3]

The link included by the OP has ended but this is what you need:-
http://www.towsure.com/product/Continental_Mains_to_Caravan_Electric_Adaptorhttp://cgi.eba.co.uk/CARAVAN-MOTORH...330388902&po=&ps=63&clkid=8361575808869102822
However, three points.
1. Whatever you get for connection in Europe make sure it is one like that in the picture of the above link, i.e. with a right angled cable entry. If, like my original, you have one with an in-line cable entry the cover of the connection box will not close.
2. Take a mains polarity testing plug with you and a blue plug and socket on a short piece of cable with the brown and blue wires reversed at one end only. In the UK we use single pole switching so polarity is important to make sure that it is the live wire that is switched, but in Schuko-land most equipment is dual pole switched so it doesn't matter which way round the supply is connected. They get it wrong on the blue outlets even though they are clearly marked as L and N on the body!!
http://www.towsure.com/product/Mains_Polarity_Tester_Plug
3. Take a second EHU cable with you. It is not uncommon on European sites to have to go well beyond the distance that a UK standard approx. 25m cable will meet. If you need to use it make sure the connection between the two cables is off the ground (i.e. in a hedge bottom or whatever) with the cables trailing downwards so that if it should rain water will run away from the electricity.

 

[Michael_374349176]

I would second that suggestion of carrying an extention cable as well as the standard 25 metre cable. I have a 10 metre cable as well as a "standard" one. For example, there is a "Les Castelles" site near Le Mans where they will loan (for a small deposit) a 50 metre cable because of the distances to the electricity supply point from the pitch.
Goodness only knows what the voltage drop is over that sort of distance, perhaps some electrician posters could provide an answer.

The Continentals don't seem to worry about reverse polarity, maybe because their 'vans are not wired up the same way as ours(?). There have been a number of posts on this subject.
I would suggest that you include a two pin continental plug adaptor and a reverse polarity adaptor (which you have to make up yourself) when packing up your unit.
Although the EHU plugs are becoming more usual, you may find that there remains some of the "older type" on smaller, more traditional campsites.
My new caravan has a built in reverse polarity indicator, but plug in ones are easily available from camping supply stores.

 

[Lutz]

In the UK we use single pole switching so polarity is important to make sure that it is the live wire that is switched, but in Schuko-land most equipment is dual pole switched so it doesn't matter which way round the supply is connected. They get it wrong on the blue outlets even though they are clearly marked as L and N on the body!!

Not quite. Continental equipment is generally also only single pole switched. It's the electrical installation which is dual pole fuse protected.

 

[NickinFrance]

So they should considering its the European standard

What has a European Standard got to do with France ?