I've read this thread with interest, I've wired complete houses and business premises in the past. I have the benefit of having a fully qualified, registered and insured etc Electician as my best friend who checks and tests all I've ever done and then throws the switch for me, Including fitting mains power to caravans a few years back.
The advice here is good, but lets be fair!My own and others know that when quoted for a job such as an electrical problem, the quote is normally accompanied by the sucking in of breath through teeth and the oohs aghs and buts.
I and many other know that even a simple fault found in a few minutes will often result in a sizeable bill for next to no work done!
A friend paid a large bill to caravan servicer for an electical problem to be sorted last year. The problem was back all through the summer. I found that corrosion on the earthing point and a loose fixing was the cause. The wire under the van could move when the van was towed! The dealer of couse was not interested!
For dealing with mains electric at home or in the van one of these Fluke Volt Alert gadgets is a must have gadget. It glows red when 240 volts is present and moving it around a cable you can even find the side the live wire is on.
http://www.jmwlimited.co.uk/Sales Electrical Testing Fluke Volt Alert.htm
Screwfix and the like sell even cheaper versions much the same.
Even those with the most basic of experience can find where 200+ volts are present and elliminate or exclude possible faults in safety!
Safety must allways come first with electric and gas. But checking the basics yourself before landing a sizeable bill is well worth while in my book.
I like many also carry a basic multimeter with audible beeper for testing circuits and voltage on the vans 12 volt circuits.
Over twenty years of vanning I guess I've saved a few weeks of campsite fees using a little common sense combined with safety and a process of simple ellimination.
Most caravans useage is limited, the electrical fixing are though subject to damp and vibration unlike household fittings.
So lets get a grip and if it doesn't work, diconnect bulbs and appliances and work through the system before you line somebody elses pockets for what can be a very simple problem ;-)
The advice here is good, but lets be fair!My own and others know that when quoted for a job such as an electrical problem, the quote is normally accompanied by the sucking in of breath through teeth and the oohs aghs and buts.
I and many other know that even a simple fault found in a few minutes will often result in a sizeable bill for next to no work done!
A friend paid a large bill to caravan servicer for an electical problem to be sorted last year. The problem was back all through the summer. I found that corrosion on the earthing point and a loose fixing was the cause. The wire under the van could move when the van was towed! The dealer of couse was not interested!
For dealing with mains electric at home or in the van one of these Fluke Volt Alert gadgets is a must have gadget. It glows red when 240 volts is present and moving it around a cable you can even find the side the live wire is on.
http://www.jmwlimited.co.uk/Sales Electrical Testing Fluke Volt Alert.htm
Screwfix and the like sell even cheaper versions much the same.
Even those with the most basic of experience can find where 200+ volts are present and elliminate or exclude possible faults in safety!
Safety must allways come first with electric and gas. But checking the basics yourself before landing a sizeable bill is well worth while in my book.
I like many also carry a basic multimeter with audible beeper for testing circuits and voltage on the vans 12 volt circuits.
Over twenty years of vanning I guess I've saved a few weeks of campsite fees using a little common sense combined with safety and a process of simple ellimination.
Most caravans useage is limited, the electrical fixing are though subject to damp and vibration unlike household fittings.
So lets get a grip and if it doesn't work, diconnect bulbs and appliances and work through the system before you line somebody elses pockets for what can be a very simple problem ;-)
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