Reverse Polarity ?? Spain??

[Tim Raphael]

Hi

I am currently in Spain and have an EHU, standard 3pin blue socket, which shows as Reverse Polarity, control panel red and showing RP. Even when the RP adaptor is placed in line the control panel still shows Reverse Polarity ??
Everything seems to work ok, except the 12v system is acting up by switching the lights and pump off and causing the sat dish to shut down at least once in a 24hr period.
Has anyone else ever had this problem??
Any hints would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Phill D]

sounds as if its a bit more than reverse polarity... have you got one of these to establish which problem u got.

 

[pappajohn]

230v hookup won't and can't affect 12v lighting or 12v water pump.
You have a different fault.
Reverse polarity won't have any affect on anything.
The RP light could be caused by a lack of earth at the post.
Try a different post, NOT a socket on the same post, if you can.

 

[Tim Raphael]

Yes, I have. I get 3 lights BUT the "no earth" light seems slight dimmer than the first 2 ??

 

[Tim Raphael]

I would agree completely except that the faults only occurred directly after I hooked up, last site absolutely no problems.

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[Phill D]

whats your Hab battery state of charge ?

 

[Phill D]

I would agree completely except that the faults only occurred directly after I hooked up, last site absolutely no problems.

so if you unhook do you have the same issues?

 

[pappajohn]

I would agree completely except that the faults only occurred directly after I hooked up, last site absolutely no problems.

Which points to a hookup post problem.
Try a different post.

 

[Tim Raphael]

Hab batteries are full and the switch off of the 12v is so random I can't unhook because my other half will disconnect me if there's no heating tonight!

 

[Tim Raphael]

Feels like it may be the post but can't get to another, site is full so will have to wait and monitor. I know a dodgy earth can make sensitive electronics act up.
Thanks

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[pappajohn]

It still sounds like the 12v issue isn't related to hookup but a seperate 12v problem.
The only link between the 230v and 12v is the charger.

 

[Phill D]

Hab batteries are full and the switch off of the 12v is so random I can't unhook because my other half will disconnect me if there's no heating tonight!

GAS!! our gas generates considerably more heat than the electric.

 

[pappajohn]

If there is no earth at the post you're placing yourself in danger... Maybe remote but nonetheless its dangerous.

 

[Phill D]

If there is no earth at the post you're placing yourself in danger... Maybe remote but nonetheless its dangerous.

i think I would disconnect if i believed i had an earthing issue at the post..

 

[Moonchild]

We had a dodgy EHU in la Franca, North Spain. I reckoned the 230v supply had a partial ‘short’ to earth that played havoc with our electrics including stopping the fridge. Try it on another supply if possible.

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[Tim Raphael]

Agree the only link is the charger but I had a new 30amp Sterling fitted by Vanbitz before I came away so maybe it's acting up on a dodgy earth. There are 5 other vans on the post.

 

[Tim Raphael]

Point taken.

 

[The Wino]

Interesting to talk to the other owners and see if it's a problem for anyone else.

 

[Phill D]

it could be just that there are poor connections inside the post to the socket you are plugged into... the others may not be affected.

I would certainly unplug and see if my 12v systems were still playing up then you will satisfy yourself for certain whether the hook up is / is not having any impact.

 

[PeteH]

Assuming it all worked OK on the last Use. Including the same cable. Then it is a case of what changed?. That points the finger at the EHU. Also can you measure the actual Voltage?. I have seen (in Spain) voltages as low as 180V. especially when the whole site is "lit up". Low voltage will play havoc with some equipment. But not normally the 12V system, unless the charger is playing up?. (some dont like low/high voltages)

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[63720]

Ask if you can briefly swap with your neighbour to see if it's the same.

 

[Raul]

If there is a leak to earth, the rcd will detect it and spit it out.
If 5 others are of the same post, maybe is severely under-voltage?
Reverse polarity will not stop it working.

Pete H beat me to it.

 

[The Wino]

I think it's try the easiest thing first. Ask the other MH if they have any problems. Try swapping for a bit onto another supply that someone else has been using with no problems. Try swapping the lead incase thers a loose connection giving a poor contact (are the batteries showing full charge it they are getting low it could be the charger not having a supply from ehu)
If that's all okay and everyone else is fine it suggests a problem with your electrical system and if it's had recent work?

 

[Moonchild]

If there is a leak to earth, the rcd will detect it and spit it out.
If 5 others are of the same post, maybe is severely under-voltage?
Reverse polarity will not stop it working.

Pete H beat me to it.

If there’s an earth leakage on the supply (assuming the site doesn’t have an RCD which it probably hasn’t) then the van’s RCD won’t see any differential on the L & N and will not trip.
When I had similar problems in Spain, I checked the incomers with a meter and found something like, if my memory serves me, the live was about 150v and connecting the supply earth to a tent peg hammered into the ground, 60V! ?
Also meant the metal work of the van was about 60v Potential Difference from true earth! ???

 

[Moonchild]

Excuse the nail varnish in the pics - I got the missus to hold the meter - ELECTRICITY IS DANGEROUS ?

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[Speve]

I always carry a short reverse Polarity tail that is wired opposite to main lead so if there is a problem I just change leads?for what it costs saves a lot of hassle?

 

[Phill D]

I always carry a short reverse Polarity tail that is wired opposite to main lead so if there is a problem I just change leads?for what it costs saves a lot of hassle?

yes it does but it will not sort an earth problem or earth leakage..

 

[bigtwin]

I always carry a short reverse Polarity tail that is wired opposite to main lead so if there is a problem I just change leads?for what it costs saves a lot of hassle?

Who gives you the hassle? Cant you just explain to them that the ‘reverse polarity issue’ just doesn't exist?

Ian

 

[tonyidle]

The site supply may be two phase. These used to be a fairly common problem in France. What that means in essence is two out-of-phase 110v supplies added together to make 220v. So if this was the problem you have one live phase connected to live, the other live phase connected to neutral, and earth connected exactly between them. If this is the case and with everything in the van switched off a meter between live and earth will read approx. 110v and a meter between neutral and earth will read approx. 110v. For any normal situation none of this matters but if your van monitors the incoming supply for earth and/or for L/N reversal it will be confused to say the least. as will your test plug.

 

[Moonchild]

Best fix for reverse polarity is to wire half of your sockets in reverse. This means you’ll never have reverse polarity issues again in half yer sockets

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