I have read loads of posts about this subject and have understood none of them. I would not let my husband anywhere near a spanner, screwdriver or wire strippers. So, in words of one syllable can anyone tell me what we need to be able to hook up in France this year and where I can buy (as opposed to make) it?
French electrics for idiots
- Thread starter Roz_5041467
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- Mar 14, 2005
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- Mar 14, 2005
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Short version :
It depends on whether the French site has the older domestic type of site socket (ie two pins and an earth socket on the plug you put in)
OR if it has the newer and increasingly more common Euro blue type of socket.
SO what you need is one adaptor to cover the first situation that converts the old type French socket to the newer Euro blue socket and thus your existing van lead.
If when you plug in the polarity tester in the van etc you have reversed polarity you then put in your reversed lead (clearly marked) which has a blue Euro plug at one end and a blue Euro socket at the other
When confronted by the Euro socket on the site electrics follow the same procedure but without the first adaptor.!!
You can not buy a reverse polarity lead but you can cut a foot or so off your hook up lead and fit a new plug to the long bit and a socket to the short bit with the live and neutral reversed
Make sure the reverse lead is clearly marked.
Caravan Mag shows how its done in this month's mag
It depends on whether the French site has the older domestic type of site socket (ie two pins and an earth socket on the plug you put in)
OR if it has the newer and increasingly more common Euro blue type of socket.
SO what you need is one adaptor to cover the first situation that converts the old type French socket to the newer Euro blue socket and thus your existing van lead.
If when you plug in the polarity tester in the van etc you have reversed polarity you then put in your reversed lead (clearly marked) which has a blue Euro plug at one end and a blue Euro socket at the other
When confronted by the Euro socket on the site electrics follow the same procedure but without the first adaptor.!!
You can not buy a reverse polarity lead but you can cut a foot or so off your hook up lead and fit a new plug to the long bit and a socket to the short bit with the live and neutral reversed
Make sure the reverse lead is clearly marked.
Caravan Mag shows how its done in this month's mag
- Dec 16, 2003
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I France the Live (brown wire and Neutral (blue wire can be either way around, here we only have the Brown live wire fused.
You need a polarity tester found here http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?s=polarity+tester&x=7&y=9 or at any good caravan supply shop.
You also need a continental mains converter Lead found here as well http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?t=251
On arrival at you french site you plug in the tester to you in van socket and it will tell yoou if you have reversed polarity. if so you need a second continental mains converter lead with the blue and brown wires swapped a label saying reverse polarity connector!
On French campsite you can find some plug in points on supply box's are reveresed polarity and some are not !!!
If you plug the tester in and then try different sockets in the supply box you can find one that is OK some times.
You need a polarity tester found here http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?s=polarity+tester&x=7&y=9 or at any good caravan supply shop.
You also need a continental mains converter Lead found here as well http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?t=251
On arrival at you french site you plug in the tester to you in van socket and it will tell yoou if you have reversed polarity. if so you need a second continental mains converter lead with the blue and brown wires swapped a label saying reverse polarity connector!
On French campsite you can find some plug in points on supply box's are reveresed polarity and some are not !!!
If you plug the tester in and then try different sockets in the supply box you can find one that is OK some times.
- Dec 16, 2003
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I'm sure Stuart runs a trim ship of a campsite, but I go to get away from brits. The fun of going to France is that you are in a different country not a divison of Little Britain.
Can I suggest sticking to French run sites and live , learn and enjoy the experience of the "french ways" not some self promoting Brit using this site for free advertising. Ending up with a site full of brits in France is my idea of hell !
If the site was so good he wouldn't be on here promoting it at every chance me thinks.
Can I suggest sticking to French run sites and live , learn and enjoy the experience of the "french ways" not some self promoting Brit using this site for free advertising. Ending up with a site full of brits in France is my idea of hell !
If the site was so good he wouldn't be on here promoting it at every chance me thinks.
- Jun 2, 2006
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vi there should be no problem as long as you do not use UK equipment plugged into the van sockets. European kettles, toasters etc. have double pole switches, whereas some of the British only have single pole which could leave something live when switched off.
James
James
Cris,
thanks for that.
I have no doubt that many people do come to France to mix with the French on French sites. There are also the types of people that use sites like ours, where we're bi-lingual, to 'ease' themselves into France, and the French experience gently. It's sometimes very daunting for a newbie to come here and instantly be immersed in everything French. As for self-promoting our business, yes we do. That's a natural thing for us I'm afraid. We're very proud of our home and the site. We've totally preserved it's very 'Frenchness'. At this moment in time we're joined by Dutch, Belgians AND French families. We're accepted by our French neighbours more readily than you seem to willing to. As far as the business side of things goes, if you tried to come here from now until the middle of September, I'm afraid you'd be disappointed. We're full. Quite apart from that, is there anything so wrong with ensuring that my wife, 3 kids and disabled mum-in-law have food on the table throughout the winter when we're less busy?
We're trying to build both a life & a business here that can be enjoyed by all nationalities, we're just sorry that you don't have either the good manners or the foresight to see it. Not needing either your 'business' or advice, I think we'll stay away from this 'friendly' forum from here on in.
thanks for that.
I have no doubt that many people do come to France to mix with the French on French sites. There are also the types of people that use sites like ours, where we're bi-lingual, to 'ease' themselves into France, and the French experience gently. It's sometimes very daunting for a newbie to come here and instantly be immersed in everything French. As for self-promoting our business, yes we do. That's a natural thing for us I'm afraid. We're very proud of our home and the site. We've totally preserved it's very 'Frenchness'. At this moment in time we're joined by Dutch, Belgians AND French families. We're accepted by our French neighbours more readily than you seem to willing to. As far as the business side of things goes, if you tried to come here from now until the middle of September, I'm afraid you'd be disappointed. We're full. Quite apart from that, is there anything so wrong with ensuring that my wife, 3 kids and disabled mum-in-law have food on the table throughout the winter when we're less busy?
We're trying to build both a life & a business here that can be enjoyed by all nationalities, we're just sorry that you don't have either the good manners or the foresight to see it. Not needing either your 'business' or advice, I think we'll stay away from this 'friendly' forum from here on in.
Stuart, do not let anybody put you off posting on this site, personally i have not in the past heard cris give anything but good sound comments but i must admit i was very surprised to see his complaint to the mods and even more surprised to see his comments on this thread, seems very strange but everybody can have an off week. from what i have read you have brocken no rules as you have not named your site apart from one web link that was requested by another member. on that note i would be gratefull if you could send me some details to djgary100@hotmail.co.uk i only use this e-mail for junk and stuff but once i receive your site details i will forward you my proper address. thank you.
- Feb 18, 2006
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hi stuart have you got a web site address for your place......or you could just come to a site like ours, where we speak English, and have the UK type EHU's!
www.loire-gites.com
many thanks
sharon
We are retired so have NO business interests or connections. However, I find it a little bizarre that a site owner who does not attempt to conceal the fact puts in a plug for their own site and is then hevily censored and criticised for it.
Members of the forum regularly recommend sites. perhaps they should be hung , drawn and quartered in case they are secret agents working for the owners. I fail to see why this precludes a site owner from mentioning their own site. Or perhaps some of them are asking members to post for them in order not to offend the moderators.
In every news bulletin and every interview both in the press and on radio/television there is a potential for businesses and organisations of all types to promote themselves.This happend on a regular basis also within the BBC with whom I had varied business connections during my working life, and certainly managed on a regular basis to plug my own business interests.
I think the presence of industry representatives on all the forums can only be positive as it gives many people a chance to air their views and maybe even get lsitened to.
More power to you Stuart. if you could email me sulumor@btinternet.com with your site details I will then let you have my normal email adress.... assuming that is that the moderators of the forum are prepared to allow open debate and leave this post on the board, which reading some of the posts seems unlikely.
And incidentally, before being accused of racism,sexism or any other 'ism that comes to mind I speak fluent German, and can get by in French,Spanish and Italian. Unlike many travellers of varying nationalities I always try and communicate in the language of the country I am visiting. So we certainly do not look for English Enclaves of embittered ex-pats when we travel.
Nick
Members of the forum regularly recommend sites. perhaps they should be hung , drawn and quartered in case they are secret agents working for the owners. I fail to see why this precludes a site owner from mentioning their own site. Or perhaps some of them are asking members to post for them in order not to offend the moderators.
In every news bulletin and every interview both in the press and on radio/television there is a potential for businesses and organisations of all types to promote themselves.This happend on a regular basis also within the BBC with whom I had varied business connections during my working life, and certainly managed on a regular basis to plug my own business interests.
I think the presence of industry representatives on all the forums can only be positive as it gives many people a chance to air their views and maybe even get lsitened to.
More power to you Stuart. if you could email me sulumor@btinternet.com with your site details I will then let you have my normal email adress.... assuming that is that the moderators of the forum are prepared to allow open debate and leave this post on the board, which reading some of the posts seems unlikely.
And incidentally, before being accused of racism,sexism or any other 'ism that comes to mind I speak fluent German, and can get by in French,Spanish and Italian. Unlike many travellers of varying nationalities I always try and communicate in the language of the country I am visiting. So we certainly do not look for English Enclaves of embittered ex-pats when we travel.
Nick
I think one last post from me just to clarify things.
I'm sorry that some of you seem to think that all I do is promote our business at any opportunity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of you may have realised that I've been a member of the board for quite some time, posting on a variety of subjects. I was a member of this board way before we even thought about moving to France. In the past, I've helped (I hope) on a variety of subjects. I would have liked to continue to help others enjoy their camping/caravanning. My family & I have been campers/caravanners for over 25 years, so there's a wealth of experience there. It's not the case that we're simply campsite owners trying to cash in on free advertising. I post infrequently on this board and usually only when I feel I can make a contribution. Looking back on my post that so incurred the wrath of Cris & others, maybe what I should have said was something to the effect that there are other sites out there (in fact the vast majority) that use the blue europlug. That would no doubt have laid many minds to rest, knowing that there was a choice. Some people seem to revel in the fact that there's a slightly confusing electrical issue here. All I wanted to do was show that there is an easier way. That's all.
I didn't mind the first lines of Chris's post, but the rest of it degenerated into a personal attack, and that needs to be corrected as much as removing my website link.
As for a 'sympathy vote', I find that's a bit crass and uncalled for. I was explaining my personal circumstances. The 'need' to promote our business to ensure that we're able to stay here in France to provide a service that many of you require. To those of you that were offended by my post I can only say 'sorry'.
To those of you wanting further information, I'm afraid you'll have to search for us on Google, as I'm not about to run the risk of upsetting any more folk on here.
Thanks.
I'm sorry that some of you seem to think that all I do is promote our business at any opportunity. Nothing could be further from the truth. Some of you may have realised that I've been a member of the board for quite some time, posting on a variety of subjects. I was a member of this board way before we even thought about moving to France. In the past, I've helped (I hope) on a variety of subjects. I would have liked to continue to help others enjoy their camping/caravanning. My family & I have been campers/caravanners for over 25 years, so there's a wealth of experience there. It's not the case that we're simply campsite owners trying to cash in on free advertising. I post infrequently on this board and usually only when I feel I can make a contribution. Looking back on my post that so incurred the wrath of Cris & others, maybe what I should have said was something to the effect that there are other sites out there (in fact the vast majority) that use the blue europlug. That would no doubt have laid many minds to rest, knowing that there was a choice. Some people seem to revel in the fact that there's a slightly confusing electrical issue here. All I wanted to do was show that there is an easier way. That's all.
I didn't mind the first lines of Chris's post, but the rest of it degenerated into a personal attack, and that needs to be corrected as much as removing my website link.
As for a 'sympathy vote', I find that's a bit crass and uncalled for. I was explaining my personal circumstances. The 'need' to promote our business to ensure that we're able to stay here in France to provide a service that many of you require. To those of you that were offended by my post I can only say 'sorry'.
To those of you wanting further information, I'm afraid you'll have to search for us on Google, as I'm not about to run the risk of upsetting any more folk on here.
Thanks.
- Mar 14, 2005
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We seem to have reversed the topic into a cul de sac rather than stuck to the problem of reverse polarity in France
- Jun 2, 2006
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Yes, so we will probably lose the useful information because someone chooses to attack another forum member. What is the point?
Stuart - as a businessman myself I see you doing nothing wrong at all.
I find it bizarre that I had to complain about cris recently because he had found our office address and somehow thought it funny to post a stupid post that included our address.
What a shame he did not include our business name! - he could have done some advertising on here for us!!! LOL
I am also highly suspicious of a post from "cris" being signed off as "Brian C". It would seem this rather outlandish and silly complaint is from one and the same.
As far as I am concerned - I agree 100% with Nicholas - if you let the Moddy have your web address I will ask him to email it to me.
Do not stop posting - I would have thought we could all benefit from your insight.
I find it bizarre that I had to complain about cris recently because he had found our office address and somehow thought it funny to post a stupid post that included our address.
What a shame he did not include our business name! - he could have done some advertising on here for us!!! LOL
I am also highly suspicious of a post from "cris" being signed off as "Brian C". It would seem this rather outlandish and silly complaint is from one and the same.
As far as I am concerned - I agree 100% with Nicholas - if you let the Moddy have your web address I will ask him to email it to me.
Do not stop posting - I would have thought we could all benefit from your insight.
- May 14, 2006
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I was talking of the web address on Stauarts post that has been removed !!!!Removed Brian..... I think not!!!!!!
Brian C
Well - whatever your motives in your non to subtle negative comments on Stuarts post - it seems to have backfired.
I for one am now looking at the details and it seems that others are as well.
So well done! - looks like you have managed to secure a few more clients for Stuart.
I for one am now looking at the details and it seems that others are as well.
So well done! - looks like you have managed to secure a few more clients for Stuart.
- May 14, 2006
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Stuart is welcome to as much business as he can get Clive and the site is actually attractive to me.
I still believe posting your own web site link and promoting your business here is against forum rules.
I also believe his posts to be a calculated attempt for free advertising, not exactly fair on those that pay to advertise with Practical Caravan.
Brian C
I still believe posting your own web site link and promoting your business here is against forum rules.
I also believe his posts to be a calculated attempt for free advertising, not exactly fair on those that pay to advertise with Practical Caravan.
Brian C
- May 4, 2005
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- Jan 19, 2008
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Well said Stuart and you can rest assured that not everyone is of the same mentality - freedom of chioce is what people should have not being told where to spend their time and money.Cris,
thanks for that.
I have no doubt that many people do come to France to mix with the French on French sites. There are also the types of people that use sites like ours, where we're bi-lingual, to 'ease' themselves into France, and the French experience gently. It's sometimes very daunting for a newbie to come here and instantly be immersed in everything French. As for self-promoting our business, yes we do. That's a natural thing for us I'm afraid. We're very proud of our home and the site. We've totally preserved it's very 'Frenchness'. At this moment in time we're joined by Dutch, Belgians AND French families. We're accepted by our French neighbours more readily than you seem to willing to. As far as the business side of things goes, if you tried to come here from now until the middle of September, I'm afraid you'd be disappointed. We're full. Quite apart from that, is there anything so wrong with ensuring that my wife, 3 kids and disabled mum-in-law have food on the table throughout the winter when we're less busy?
We're trying to build both a life & a business here that can be enjoyed by all nationalities, we're just sorry that you don't have either the good manners or the foresight to see it. Not needing either your 'business' or advice, I think we'll stay away from this 'friendly' forum from here on in.
- Jan 19, 2008
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....... and stop trying to suck up to His Moddyship :O)Stuart is welcome to as much business as he can get Clive and the site is actually attractive to me.
I still believe posting your own web site link and promoting your business here is against forum rules.
I also believe his posts to be a calculated attempt for free advertising, not exactly fair on those that pay to advertise with Practical Caravan.
Brian C
Hi Stuart.....or you could just come to a site like ours, where we speak English, and have the UK type EHU's!
www.loire-gites.com
have you got a web site address for your place.
If you pass it to the Moderator to pass to me
many thanks
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