Mains inlet flap

[Sue coulson]

I'm travelling in my van and the main inlet flag has disintegrated. Is it a problem not having one on for a while?
Sue coulson

 

[Sue coulson]

I mean flap

 

[PaulOH]

Hi Sue: Depends a lot on the conditions you experience when you're travelling and how your mains cable is connected.

The flap seems mainly designed to avoid water getting in and this will of course be extremely important if you are experiencing wet weather while you have an electric hook up to the mains.

If your EHU is exposed to the elements and as an emergency measure, a reasonably resistant plastic bag with some gaffer tape, possibly taped to the side of the van and then placed in a way where water flows from layer to layer, like roof tiles, away from the connection, should shield your van connection from penetrating rain.

This can only be a temporary repair and new flaps can be sourced from accessory shops online for not much, but will probably also require the purchase of new sealant to install.

Don't get electrocuted!!!

 

[RedFrame]

I would agree with all that PaulOH has said and add...

I work as a Supermarket Home Delivery driver, our vans EHU sockets are rarely covered while driving or on Hook UP. The MOST IMPORTANT practice to employ is...

When connecting your EHU cable it's van first then site Power (then trip switch on site power if there is one)
When disconnecting your EHU cable it's (trip switch if available) site Power first then Van.

This will ensure you don't get a shock...

Cheers
Red.

 

[mofurt]

The connectors themselves are designed to be safe and are waterproof to at least IP44 (water splashing, like rain), better ones will be IP65 rated for water at pressure (like pointing a fast running hose pipe at a live and working connection). Despite what people say, they are designed to be used outdoors, and connections made and broken whilst mildly damp (I'd be wary in pouring rain, but even that's probably overly cautious as long). It is literally their purpose in life, as a well designed industrial connector for use in factories, building sites etc.

My concern would be more about the hole in the side of your van than the connector - how well sealed is it where the cable actually enters the hab area? Also, is the cable coming out of the van-side (as opposed to your flying EHU lead) connector properly wired in? On our van the outer insulation wasn't in the cable grip/seal of the connector so water had a path to run down and inside.

As PaulOH says, it wouldn't hurt to put come gaffer/duct/duck tape over the inlet once you are plugged in if the weather is at all likely to be wet. If you stick the tape to the socket surround rather than the hab body itself it'll not leave marks - you'll likely end up replacing the whole socket assembly. His tip about layering correctly is spot on.

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[Sue coulson]

Thank you everyone got engineer coming to site to replace flap unit

 

[mofurt]

That's the best solution

 

[RustyRuss]

The socket (technically its actually a plug permanently attached to the side of your MOHO) will only become live when you push your EHU cable into it, it will then be covered by the EHU socket and be effectively waterproof. The flap on the side of the van is there to prevent the ingress of dust and solid muck and also to make it a little more aesthetically appealing. Also a water preventative but water won’t be a problem with the design of this socket inlet. If you look at the output end of the EHU cable (the socket) you will see that it has a spring loaded lid, the conductors are buried in the socket and you will only be able to touch live conductors if you are really stupid and determined to be in contact with them using something long, thin and metallic, so if you get a belt it would serve you right. Water ingress isn’t an issue with these either, unless you drop it in a puddle! The protective devices at the source of supply should then kick in and protect you, i.e. the miniature circuit breaker (MCB) and the residual current device (RCD) if fitted. Sources of supply for EHU’s are governed by BS761 Electrical Installation Regulations (2018), the 2nd amendment comes into force in July. All sources of supply for EHU’s have been covered by these regulations since at least 2018 and are subject to periodic testing to confirm their safety, as a result you are extremely unlikely to experience an electric shock from an EHU, the cable plugged into it and the MoHo that’s been connected to the cable.

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Amazon product ASIN B09J15GRNZThis is a plug!!


Hope that helps!

Cheers!

Russ.