Mains Hook UP

[grp]

On my old Hymer I used to just plug in the mains lead and didn't think anythung about it
Instruction book in my newer Hymer says i should turn of the mains switches inside before pluging in lead outside
What does everyone else do?

 

[David and Sally]

Not a Hymer but we just plug in.

 

[arkwright]

Yes, always have the mains switches turned off as the voltage spike may cause damage to something (usually charger).

Also, plug the lead into your vehicle before the post.

 

[David and Sally]

Yes, always have the mains switches turned off as the voltage spike may cause damage to something (usually charger).

Also, plug the lead into your vehicle before the post.

Agree on plug routine, but wouldn't any spike also happen when you throw the switches on? In over 25 years of caravans and motorhomes we have never used the switches as you suggest. Interested in other's experiences

 

[The Old Man]

As a result of a number of inconvenient switches tripping, inconventient as they require some effort to get to, I then;

Switch the engine off.
Switch all Hab electrics off.
Plug into the van.
Switch the post off.
Plug into the post.
Switch the post back on.

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[Steve and Denise]

Always just plug in, van end first I have done this for 12 years

 

[autorouter]

Sorry to say this, but I usually totally disregard this advice. I plug the hookup cable into the post. If the post doesn't trip then the cable is probably OK. Then plug into the MH inlet. If the post doesn't trip then the MH wiring is OK too. If anything trips, then I start the whole thing again, turning all the MH trips off etc, but normally this is not necessary.

 

[NicM]

As for spikes, turning on the trip is a quick connection, wiggling the plug around when you plug it in can cause spikes as it makes and breaks if you are not quick, but saying that I have never had a problem.

 

[pagey]

plug it in the van then the post then put the kettle on

 

[kevenh]

There are very good & sound reasons to plug the EHU lead into the MH first. THEN connect the lead to the power source/post.

Ignoring that order & making the EHU cable live before it's connected to the MH will work too though, but see the 1st sentence

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[ctc]

Seems to be a fuss over nothing, no real evidence of anything dangerous to people or equipment.

 

[pagey]

i remember some time ago being in the Honfleur aire with 26 of us plugged into a post

 

[scotzsue]

What a faff would need to remove 2 drawers to get to internal mains switch. Wonder what happens for those who ave anovel fitted instead of the drawers as it would be in front of the trip switch. Sooo glad i read the manual and knew where it was when needed.

 

[chaser]

i remember some time ago being in the Honfleur aire with 26 of us plugged into a post

Been there , done that never use it as a rule, no need for it but the one time at honfleur we parked next to a real nice Belgian bloke and he insisted that as we had paid we should hook up, so away he went into one of his lockers and got a splitter out and plugged us in to his.
Just didn't have the heart to tell him we hadn't got a thing we could use it for

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our manual says switch everything off before plugging ehu in. Never done it and never had a problem, having said that there's nothing usually on anyway.

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[David and Sally]

Switching off apparatus in my mind is sensible. That would prevent arcing on the cable pins if the heater was left set on full chat for example.
The only appliance we have on when plugging in is the charger. I can see the point in switching off the trip on the bollard,plugging in and resetting the trip. Might try that next few times.

 

[autorouter]

I can see the point in switching off the trip on the bollard,plugging in and resetting the trip. Might try that next few times.

For many sockets, especially on Aires, the trip is behind a locked panel, and all you can do is plug in. If you're lucky there will be a clear window so you can at least see the trip, and read its trip limit.

 

[Gizmouk]

Nothing more than Hymen covering their backsides.

 

[kingoftheroad]

I always follow the golden rule of plugging the lead into EHU post first and then into the van, otherwise you will die procedure. However, how many of us, when at home doing the odd bit of maintenance or gardening, get the extension lead out, plug it into the electrics, then without any thought of dying, plug and unplug merrily away with a live lead in our hands, funny old world isn't it.

 

[kingoftheroad]

I always follow the golden rule of plugging the lead into van first and then into EHU post, otherwise you will die procedure. However, how many of us, when at home doing the odd bit of maintenance or gardening, get the extension lead out, plug it into the electrics, then without any thought of dying, plug and unplug merrily away with a live lead in our hands, funny old world isn't it.

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[pappajohn]

Plugging into the bollard first is dangerous as the other end of the hookup lead then has exposed live pins.

 

[Landy Andy]

Plugging into the bollard first is dangerous as the other end of the hookup lead then has exposed live pins.

No it doesn’t. They are under a plastic cap.

 

[Lucky]

Mispost

 

[Lenny HB]

Never bothered but I do have a under/over voltage & surge protection unit fitted on the mains input.

 

[peterc10]

Plugging into the bollard first is dangerous as the other end of the hookup lead then has exposed live pins.

No it hasn't. It has live sockets not pins, just as any extension other lead you use has. The van end of the lead is a female connector.

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[kevenh]

I always follow the golden rule of plugging the lead into EHU post first and then into the van, otherwise you will die procedure. However, how many of us, when at home doing the odd bit of maintenance or gardening, get the extension lead out, plug it into the electrics, then without any thought of dying, plug and unplug merrily away with a live lead in our hands, funny old world isn't it.

UK home? There is a difference in 3pin v EHU cabling.
The 3pin extension lead at home is fused. The devices plugged into it has a fuse in the lead.
You’ll not usually be using a 3pin UK mains plug & socket in the rain.

The EHU lead you’ll be using rain or shine - but not underwater

You can fit either end first but why not van first as there is a reason to

 

[gpat]

I never thought about it before.

Now I have something new to worry about.

 

[RustyRuss]

Plugging into the bollard first is dangerous as the other end of the hookup lead then has exposed live pins.

Pappajohn I hope that you have a lead that is male at one end (with exposed pins) that plugs into the site’s bollard, and that the other end is female, with a spring-loaded lid on it (covering the unexposed socket terminals) that you then plug into the EHU with exposed BUT NOT LIVE pins, thus supplying 230v ish to your MoHo.


Russ

 

[autorouter]

Pappajohn I hope that you have a lead that is male at one end (with exposed pins) that plugs into the site’s bollard, and that the other end is female, with a spring-loaded lid on it (covering the unexposed socket terminals) that you then plug into the EHU with exposed BUT NOT LIVE pins, thus supplying 230v ish to your MoHo.

It is actually physically possible for a converter to fit a (female) socket as an inlet to the motorhome, then make up a cable with (male) plugs at each end. I suppose, since it's possible, someone somewhere must have done it, but it's not something I've ever seen. Definitely not to be tried at home, folks.

 

[82125]

if youre concerned about plugging in live, why not just switch the power off at the post first? Flick the post trip switch, plug in, put the trip switch back on.
Never bothered in over 3 years living on EHU's. Occasionally used to trip the breaker on my 35yr old boat (but it also did the same when it was already connected and power was re-established following a power cut to the post, so likely not the action of plugging in causing it), but thats what the breaker is for.