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Polarity Checkers

B

BurtonRob

Off to France again soon and thought it would be helpful to get a device for checking polarity on my electrics. Once again I found that Camping stores are often not the best place to buy things at a competitive price. If you are looking to do the same I reccomend Maplin's Mains Socket Safety Checker. It comes in at only £4-49p. Similar devices from specialist camping stores come in at two and three times that figure.

Hope this helps someone

Stay safe everyone

Rob
 
I know theres been a lot of talk on this subject, but we have the french bit that goes on the end of our english bit (very technical am I) weve done i this way since we began vanning.

Last year our friends told us that our electrics were wrong gave us a tester.

Changed our wires, and carryon, forgot to change them back on this side as they wouldn't work.

But weve never had any trouble using the french link to plug in in France, so what's the difference.

Female brain here!!!
 
Your English electrics can work with reversed polarity in France, but are not safe!

So you should check polarity every time you plug in at a site or electricy can reach the UK appliances even when switched off.

In the UK the electric flows on the "live" cable and the on of swithch works on that feed.

With a UK switch in the off position and the French electric flowing on either wire you could get electrocuted if there is a problem and even when you think the electic has been swithced off!

Girlie answer, but some techie S A will give a fuller explanation not doubt.

Ria
 
Smiley there is no reason why the reverse polarity lead should not "work" in UK albeit without the same protection.If you plug in a 3 pin tester it will tell you what the fault is

Reverse polaity

Earth fault

Live fault

Neutral fault

Etc etc

The reason it doesn't work is mosy likely to be a detached live or neutral at either end of the lead

I donated a new cable to my 85 year old friend for use with his mains electric lawnmower last week.

The old cable had been cut in about 5 places and the wires joined by twisting and insulation tape.

If that wasn't dangerous enough when I removed the trailing 13 amp socket it was wired with live and neutral reversed but the lawnmower was working!!!
 
One reason for my original post was to say that if you can get a polarity tester this cheap, it is pointless to take risks.

Say it again stay safe on the road and on site.

Rob
 
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