EHU Issue Electrical Expert Needed

missbusybusy

Guys one for you Electrical experts

Tried to work it out but got confused (easily done I know)

We have had an issue when the trip on the EHU post kept tripping ,
On the EHU posts this one had four out lets, each one had its own trip switch
My question is are each of the single points fed by a single cable ?
or
do does the posts get get fed by one big cable and then this splits when it gets to the post for each socket ?

Would this be the same for additional posts for the next pitches ?

Thanks

Wildman

one large cable will supply all 4 trips/sockets each of which has a preset current limit. If the trip in your van is tripping then you may have a problem, if it is the trip on the post then you are almost certainly exceeding the permitted supply, i.e. drawing too many amps in total.

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missbusybusy

So the cable has spurs from it ?
Will the cable then go on to feed another post ?

aba

by rights it shouldn't but in theory it could feed another post but it all depends on what budget the installation had.
in an ideal world each hook up post would have 3 blue sockets on and if point 1 failed under normal circumstances it wouldn't disable the other 2
but costs for installing such a system are quite high.

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andy

oldun

Your house will be on the same cable as all the houses locally but this should not have any effect on the integrity of your supply. Sockets on campsites will be wired up in in
a similar manner. Each box should have its own overall "fuse" and each socket should also have its own "fuse".

If the mains supply has sufficient capacity and the cables are adequate and well maintained then there should be no problem.

However weather protection is not always good with campsite electrics and damp can often cause problems with electrics in the boxes and in your own extension lead.

What you need to do is check each stage of the electrics, one by one.

Check electrical devices for problems and wattage, internal fuses for capacity and integrity, mh ehu socket, extension lead (try another!) and then try another box somewhere else on the site to see if the problem still persists. If it appears to be a general site problem then only the owner can sort the matter out.

Generally I find that the electrics on good quality EU sites is much better than it used to be and I find few problems. Even the dreaded reversed polarity is less general these days.

pappajohn

if it is the smaller trip which trips then oo determine just what is tripping the post start by plugging in the hookup lead and unconnected from your van.
no trip....lead probably ok.

turn off the main breaker and all the other trips in your van.
connect hookup lead.
no trip...continue

turn on the main breaker
no trip...continue

turn on each trip in turn until the post trips

when it trips have a look at which circuits are on so you get an idea which circuit was overloading the post....charger, sockets, electric water heater etc

if it,s the larger breaker which trips you probably have an earth fault which needs investigating.

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Sidney

The incoming cable would feed something called a bus bar which is basically a strip of copper. All miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) in the power post would get their live supply from the same bus bar and then provide the "fuse protection" to each socket.

MCBs are not perfect and one Type A MCB may perform different to another Type A MCB from the same production batch i.e one may trip more often then the other when presented with the same load.

So... try another socket. If the problem follows you then you are either overloading the rating of the MCB or you having a wiring fault in your motorhome or hook up lead.

NB overloading a MCB is easy when you're out on your travels... especially if you have brought a kettle or iron from home

6 amp @ 220v is 1320 watts
10 amp @ 220 v is 2200 watts
16 amp @ 220v is 3520 watts

Sidney

Of course when talking about power posts I should have said "normally" as I've seen some really worrying installations that could have only been carried out by complete numpties. Lastly when outside of the the UK all bets are off - regard each EHU with suspicion and wear rubber boots and gloves!