How to hook up

saruman · 01-09-2007, 12:32 PM

hi For new motorhomers 1st time out!!

First you will need a suitable cable the lenths around 25m usualy comes in orange [below] .. a plastic reel to wind it on ideal but not esential just keeps it tidy!..

CONNECT. to your van first then to the hook up point allocated to your pitch because you dont want to carry a live wire back to your van!!!! lay all your cable out
even if the hook up is near because coils in wire get hot and make sure theres no tripping hazard for you or others!! and finnally make sure you got electricity to your van,!! stick the kettle on to try!!

RAY

American Dream · 01-09-2007, 12:43 PM

Nice One RAY.

Further to that I find it's best to invest in a mains socket tester for your safety.
Shows you if the live/neutral are reversed.If Earth is OK, or in worst case MISSING.
I've found a few faulty on-sit hookups on our travels.
Just hook up as RAYS instructions above.
Plug in to one of your vans mains sockets, and it shows you via a set of neon lights, if the site supply is set up correctly.
Price between £5- £10 on ebay.
A small price for your safety.

Steve.

ScotJimland · 01-09-2007, 01:25 PM

I would add that some leccy points, notably on CC sites require you to turn the plug clockwise to switch on the power, and as I recall, a red button for disconnecting.

Jim

johnsandywhite · 01-09-2007, 01:38 PM

I have no comments to make about Reverse Polarity. Let's just say I must have been very lucky for the last 40 years and just didn't care whether it was Reversed Polarity or not. I even used to get shocked when performing gigs in our bands in Singapore, Germany and the UK. Just wiped off the sweat and carried on playing. It helped sometimes to be able to hit the high notes.

I think this was one of those occasions:-

ScotJimland · 01-09-2007, 01:45 PM

Nice pic John .. and great memories I bet

gillr49 · 01-09-2007, 05:20 PM

Thanks for that tip, about plugging into the van first, as a newbie I'd never thought of it (either as a newbie or just thick!!!)

JayDee · 28-02-2008, 02:52 PM

For those, hopefully

, rare occasions when you find yourself plugged into a socket that has reversed polarity, it is fairly straight forward to make up a reverse polarity in-line connector using one of each male and female blue plugs and connecting a short length of suitable mains hook-up cable between them making sure that on one of them (not both, of course

) you cross over the live and neutral wires. Mark it clearly so you don't forget what you've done and stow it in the 'just in case' section of your tool-kit or hook-up cable bag.

Only needed to use mine twice, but really glad I had it.

Hopefully somebody will find this useful.

John

xgx · 28-02-2008, 04:12 PM

Wind up....

Can't afford a reel so I coil it up by hand....

disconnect at the site box (carry lead end back to van), unplug from van and start to coil from the van end... follow the sequence every time to minimise kinks.

Leccy cable, as with rope, has a 'lay' ...a small twist of the cable with the gathering hand helps it lay in neat coils on the holding hand... if it doesn't lay neatly you've probably twisted it the wrong way

When you have off to a fine art, sit back and watch the birds nest makers in the next van and feel superior

Road Runner · 28-02-2008, 05:20 PM

Best to unreal all you excess lead to as when it coiled up heat can be created.

keith · 28-02-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayDee

For those, hopefully

, rare occasions when you find yourself plugged into a socket that has reversed polarity, it is fairly straight forward to make up a reverse polarity in-line connector using one of each male and female blue plugs and connecting a short length of suitable mains hook-up cable between them making sure that on one of them (not both, of course

) you cross over the live and neutral wires. Mark it clearly so you don't forget what you've done and stow it in the 'just in case' section of your tool-kit or hook-up cable bag.

Only needed to use mine twice, but really glad I had it.

Hopefully somebody will find this useful.

John

Spain is another can of worms

On this trip I have had 2 sites where reversed polarity is constant, even with a plug described by JayDee.

When confronted by this situation there is nothing to do but accept the situation or don't use the hook up.

There are very different rules in other countries regarding electric systems.
There is no problem with reversed polarity, just be aware that it exists & take precautions if you have a problem.