No internal power at home - oops.

A

Aspenshaw

Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Posts
233
Likes collected
440
Location
Wirral
Funster No
10,821
MH
A class Hymer 504
Exp
Since 1995
We provide power to our motorhome on the drive by having an outdoor plug socket which is waterproof and occasionally used for powering outside machinery such as the mower. We use a short mains hook up with convertor/adaptor which was supposed to be waterproof. The main cable then hooks up to the motorhome electric inlet. This system failed us today after over 10 years when water found its way into the convertor/adaptor and blew the fuse in the house box.

Having looked at the internet it seems that the mains hook ups are for garage use, not heavy rainfalls..

I'd welcome advice on how I can continue providing nominal electricity to the van when it sits on the drive. Battery is standard 100 a pacity. Should I just buy a new mains convertor/adaptor and hope water will stay away for the net few years when I will have given up motorhoming on age/health grounds. If so, I'd welcome make and retail info.


​

​

 
We have two possibilities. A “site socket” as Lenny described. Also we have an outside waterproof socket, ordinary 13 amp, with an adaptor flex to the van cable, as I think you describe you have had. Certainly the join between the two is inside a waterproof shield.
I think one of your requirements is to use the external socket for other tools. Would it be possible to install a site socket, which is fine for the van, then have a short extension from a site plug to a 13 amp socket into which you plug your mower or what ever, just when needed. So you only use the extension when it is not raining. Hope that makes sense.
 
Screenshot 2022-10-05 at 17.17.31.png




Lenny HB - this is the best I can do at the moment. I'm thinking about hja's idea.
 
I would fit a "site socket" so your EHU cable can plug in and be used in all weather.
Then buy an adapter to plug in a 3 pin mains plug for use with mower etc, so sorted both ways unless you want to mow in the rain 😁👍
So the opposite adapter to what's in the picture.

Basically what HJA says.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
I realised after I posted you were probably usin one of them.
Fit one of these & you won't have any more problems.
www.screwfix.com

MK 16A 2P+E Surface Inlet 200-250V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Ergonomic design offers a comfortable grip for connection/disconnection. Contact pins and sleeves are made of solid brass with stainless steel springs to keep contacts free of dirt and to ensure constant contact pressure. Cable clamp with locking mechanism ensures...
www.screwfix.com www.screwfix.com
 
My hook up cable runs out from under my garage door to the moho on the drive, never had any problems with cut out…. Yet. Not of much help if your moho is not near a garage though.
 
Aspenshaw said:
This system failed us today after over 10 years.........
Click to expand...
TBH I wouldn't bother if it only means resetting the house trip once every ten years.

You have what seems like the same system as mine with a wall outlet as in post #7. I use a short proprietary 13amp to blue female EHU socket into which I plug the standard hook-up lead. It's been in place throughout all weathers for 11 years when I'm at home and hasn't tripped, yet.
 
Last edited:
Lenny HB said:
I realised after I posted you were probably usin one of them.
Fit one of these & you won't have any more problems.
www.screwfix.com

MK 16A 2P+E Surface Inlet 200-250V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Ergonomic design offers a comfortable grip for connection/disconnection. Contact pins and sleeves are made of solid brass with stainless steel springs to keep contacts free of dirt and to ensure constant contact pressure. Cable clamp with locking mechanism ensures...
www.screwfix.com www.screwfix.com
Click to expand...

Whoops that's a male you need a female socket.
This one.
www.screwfix.com

ABB 16A 2P+E Surface Socket 250V - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. 2P+E. 250V. Compact design, excellent grip industrial outlet. Connection seal and suspension loop. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.
www.screwfix.com www.screwfix.com
 
Last edited:
Aspenshaw said:
We provide power to our motorhome on the drive by having an outdoor plug socket which is waterproof and occasionally used for powering outside machinery such as the mower. We use a short mains hook up with convertor/adaptor which was supposed to be waterproof. The main cable then hooks up to the motorhome electric inlet. This system failed us today after over 10 years when water found its way into the convertor/adaptor and blew the fuse in the house box.

Having looked at the internet it seems that the mains hook ups are for garage use, not heavy rainfalls..

I'd welcome advice on how I can continue providing nominal electricity to the van when it sits on the drive. Battery is standard 100 a pacity. Should I just buy a new mains convertor/adaptor and hope water will stay away for the net few years when I will have given up motorhoming on age/health grounds. If so, I'd welcome make and retail info.


​

​

Click to expand...
You need to check that what ever you intend to use externally (permanently) that it’s at least IP65 protected
 
Lenny HB said:
Stupid boy quoted the wrong post edited now.
Click to expand...
Well you had me worried for a moment. I have occasionally suffered a ticking off from those of the opposite polarity due to my apparent ignorance of the finer points of their configuration, nevertheless I do have a pretty good idea of the basic layout.
 
Aspenshaw said:
Having looked at the internet it seems that the mains hook ups are for garage use, not heavy rainfalls..
Click to expand...
There are literally millions of these plugs and sockets in use throughout UK and Europe, and they work without problems. There is no such thing as a 'waterproof' connection, there are only various grades of protection against certain specified conditions. The protection is given an Ingress Protection (IP) number. The first number is protection from solids (finger, tools, dust etc) and the second is protection from water.

The standard blue plugs and sockets are given a rating of IP44. The '4' means protection against splashes from any direction. It does not have protection against powerful hose jets and power washers, or immersion in water including puddles.

IP44 generally means rainproof. If your adapter does not give protection against rain, then maybe it is assembled incorrectly and can leak. Or the plastic seal could have been affected by UV light over the years.

If you want a more weatherproof connection you can get the same type of adapter (plug and socket) with a screwed rubber sealing ring, which will give you IP67 protection (short periods of immersion in up to 1 metre depth of water). Note that these plugs are supposed to fit the standard (IP44) sockets, but I found that they won't fit the mains inlet on my Hymer, because the bigger sealing flap gets in the way.
www.essentialsupplies.co.uk

Mennekes 16A Plug 230V IP67 Waterproof 278

Made by Mennkes Waterproof IP67
www.essentialsupplies.co.uk www.essentialsupplies.co.uk
www.essentialsupplies.co.uk

Mennekes 16A Socket 230V IP67 Waterproof 540

Made by Mennekes Waterproof IP67
www.essentialsupplies.co.uk www.essentialsupplies.co.uk
 
We have two double "site hook ups" as mentioned above but also a waterproof double outlet as @Jimbohorlickshas posted although ours is inside an external structure to keep even more weather off it.

All fitted by a qualified electrician.
 
Thanks to all.

Needs must and all that; I ended up getting a new short mains hook up with convertor/adaptor and a new cable to the van - both from Amazon. The amount of rain water in those 'old' cables seemed a bit too much and the replacements were due at ten years so I thought the time was right anyway.

Also, from Homestead Caravans I bought and fitted a CEE Plug and Coupler Safebox (not camperselect) on my wife's suggestion.

Screenshot 2022-10-07 at 14.54.55.png


Isn't next day delivery wonderful! The house electrics are all working, the van battery is now charging, and I can look into more detail at the options when I get back from 5 days at a CL in New Mills, or as the CMC call it, Chapel-en-le-frith.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top