reverse polarity lead
- Thread starter Ellis_5063253
- Start date
I allways take 2 adaptors (2pin plug to 3pin socket). One is wired correctly and the other is wired 'back to front' inside the 3pin socket. Both have been used on sitesin France and Spain. They should be clearly identified - I use RED and Black tape to distingish which is which.
On a french site recently, I was pleased to find that it had european (3pin) sockets until I connected upand found that I had reverse polarity so I have decided to take on my next foreign trip a made up adaptor with european (3pin) plug and socket but wired poss to neg so should I again have reverse polarity when using european type hook ups I can easilly insert my adaptor in series with the hook up cable. It could be used at the van end or the site end of the hook lead.
On a french site recently, I was pleased to find that it had european (3pin) sockets until I connected upand found that I had reverse polarity so I have decided to take on my next foreign trip a made up adaptor with european (3pin) plug and socket but wired poss to neg so should I again have reverse polarity when using european type hook ups I can easilly insert my adaptor in series with the hook up cable. It could be used at the van end or the site end of the hook lead.
Alan, last year we spent 6 weeks in Germany, Italy and France, and this year we toured in France for 9 weeks. We encountered 2-pin sockets and reversed polarity in at least 50% of the sites we stayed on (higher in France), so I was really pleased to have the kit. You need a polarity tester; a normal-polarity 2-pin adaptor, a reversed-polarity 2-pin adaptor AND a reversed CEE17 (the blue British-type)connector, because you get RP on these as well ). You will then be in full smug mode and equipped for all contingencies!
Graham
Graham
Would I be right in assuming that by connecting up to reverse polarity there would damage or adverse effect on the electrical appliances, battery charger, battery, etc. A light unit should be OK but an appliance such as a fridge would not work and could possibly be live. I may be wrong but at the mains doesn't the neutral become the earth return. Alternatively would the effect of reverse polarity be the same as the old dynamo days in converting a car from posative earth to negative earth, the same would happen with the fridge, etc.
hi ellis yes we have had to use a reverse polarity lead in france and spain there were instructions in pc in the feb issue this year it,s worth getting a tester and taking a lead just incase we dis'nt need to use it on all site regaurds pete
Colin,
In response to your question, basically no.
As far as the mains powered equipment in the van is concerned, it doesn't matter if the live and neutral are switched. Your fridge, battery charger, etc., will work fine with any polarity.
What is, or may be an issue, is the safety of the users.
In Europe all mains appliances switch both the live and the neutral supply lines, in the UK only the live is switched (a bit cheaper and dumb as anything). If you use UK appliances with a reversed polarity, then the switch only interrupts the power after it has flowed through the appliance.
Reversed polarity won't make something "live", but if you like fiddling inside stuff with the plug still in the socket - it could well be live.
We have a German Eriba, so every fixed appliance is double switched, and since most appliances are pan-European (Dometic fridges, etc.) they should all be double switched even in a UK van.
All of our mobile camping appliances (kettle, steamer, coffee machine, etc.) are double switched.
Robert
In response to your question, basically no.
As far as the mains powered equipment in the van is concerned, it doesn't matter if the live and neutral are switched. Your fridge, battery charger, etc., will work fine with any polarity.
What is, or may be an issue, is the safety of the users.
In Europe all mains appliances switch both the live and the neutral supply lines, in the UK only the live is switched (a bit cheaper and dumb as anything). If you use UK appliances with a reversed polarity, then the switch only interrupts the power after it has flowed through the appliance.
Reversed polarity won't make something "live", but if you like fiddling inside stuff with the plug still in the socket - it could well be live.
We have a German Eriba, so every fixed appliance is double switched, and since most appliances are pan-European (Dometic fridges, etc.) they should all be double switched even in a UK van.
All of our mobile camping appliances (kettle, steamer, coffee machine, etc.) are double switched.
Robert
You need a French connection to Euro Blue
If the polarity is wrong you need a short(or long) lead with live and neutral reversed at one end and the blue Euro plug and socket .
When you meet a French/German socket you use the adaptor (these are available from caravan dealers with the German side earth and the French socket earth combined)
It doesn't matter then what the site socket is as you are equipped to reverse polarity for either the French/German or the Euro socket.
If polarity is reversed you use the Euro reversed (long/short) before/after the normal hook up cable.If the polarity is not reversed you just leave the reverse Euro lead out!!
The trips in a lot of French sites are only in one lead so if you have reversed polarity and are testing with a mains/proximity tester you will get a reading that the circuit is live BUT nothing will work because the neutral is tripped out.
Can be puzzling at the time !!
If the polarity is wrong you need a short(or long) lead with live and neutral reversed at one end and the blue Euro plug and socket .
When you meet a French/German socket you use the adaptor (these are available from caravan dealers with the German side earth and the French socket earth combined)
It doesn't matter then what the site socket is as you are equipped to reverse polarity for either the French/German or the Euro socket.
If polarity is reversed you use the Euro reversed (long/short) before/after the normal hook up cable.If the polarity is not reversed you just leave the reverse Euro lead out!!
The trips in a lot of French sites are only in one lead so if you have reversed polarity and are testing with a mains/proximity tester you will get a reading that the circuit is live BUT nothing will work because the neutral is tripped out.
Can be puzzling at the time !!
I found a lot of reverse polarity on the 2 pin plugs in France and Spain, so much so that it became quite random. I also found one euro blue outlet had reversed polarity so I have now made up a euro blue to accomodate (suitabley labeled). I supose that really I only need to carry that one now and just take one 2 pin connector
There is no concept of reversed polarity in Northern Europe, their system is designed to support random wiring of the live and neutral connectors. And every European appliance switches both lines, and the RCD and other trips are dual sensing / switching.
But plugging a polarised system (UK van) into a non-polarised power distribution system (Europe) means that around half of the time, the live and neutral wires are crossed.
If you are concerned about this, then the system that probably works best is:
1. A Schuko (French / Germany / Benelux) plug to IP44 (Blue spray proof connector) socket
2. A 1 metre connector made up of a IP44 plug to IP44 socket (with the live and neutral wires crossed) with a permanently attached label saying "Cross-Over"
3. A standard 25m IP44 plug to IP44 socket to connect to the van.
By the way, have those of you with a polarity checker for your caravan checked all the sockets in your house? This can be interesting.
Robert
But plugging a polarised system (UK van) into a non-polarised power distribution system (Europe) means that around half of the time, the live and neutral wires are crossed.
If you are concerned about this, then the system that probably works best is:
1. A Schuko (French / Germany / Benelux) plug to IP44 (Blue spray proof connector) socket
2. A 1 metre connector made up of a IP44 plug to IP44 socket (with the live and neutral wires crossed) with a permanently attached label saying "Cross-Over"
3. A standard 25m IP44 plug to IP44 socket to connect to the van.
By the way, have those of you with a polarity checker for your caravan checked all the sockets in your house? This can be interesting.
Robert
Rob that's basically what I said with the added numbers but I don't use that myself as I have a Crusader changeover switch (now unobtainable) .
This ensures that with sod's law I never get a reverse polarity-----well almost never.
This ensures that with sod's law I never get a reverse polarity-----well almost never.
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