My son has a converted camper van . I noticed the electric plug on the van is the reverse of our caravan . It seems some have prongs going in and some coming out . Is there any reason for this and is there a correct or incorrect way .
What happens with mains cable are they the same as caravans .
Yes, caravan/MH/campervan should all be the same with regard to hook up.
Yes there IS a reason and it's an absolutely life saving critical difference with a right and wrong way!
The connector with the 'metal contacts/pins poking out' is a plug. The one with the 'metal contacts/sockets going in' is a socket and usually has a flip open cover. It doesn't matter if it's affixed to the caravan/MH/camper/EHU Bollard or on the end of a flexible lead, that convention is ALWAYS the case.
A 'plug' should NEVER be 'live' with electricity at the pins in such a way that you can accidentally touch them!
The safe convention is that EHU Bollards have surface mount SOCKETS, Caravans/MHs/campers have surface mount PLUGS, Hook up leads have a PLUG on one end (which goes into the EHU Bollard) and a SOCKET on the other (so you cant' touch live contacts) which goes onto the PLUG on the Caravan/MH/camper.
A hook up lead should NEVER have a PLUG on both ends, absolutely lethal risk! Equally it shouldn't have a SOCKET on both ends as that would mean the supply source (EHU Bollard) had lethal live and exposed plug pins!
You say they differ, but not in a way I can determine which is correct! If the set up is truly as you describe then one of you would have a lethal hook up lead with a PLUG on both ends! One of you needs to change the fitting on the Caravan/Camper to a surface mount plug BEFORE using it again! .... and the hook up lead needs modifying to suit, with a socket on the caravan/campervan end.
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My friend used her van for camping without doing a full conversion. She used the same cable as a tent would, plugged into the site EHU socket, cable goes through a window, with the safety unit (RCD - Residual Current Device) inside at the other end beside the block of 3 pin sockets.
I assume the OP’s son’s van has the breaker switch fitted internally, but I don’t understand the set-up as described. Surely it would need a bespoke or home-made cable?
The live end of the plug should have recessed pin holes, the pins on the plug in the van should have protruding pins. Likewise the connection on the bollard will have recessed pin holes and the other end of the lead from the van should have protruding pins. The live end of the lead has a flap but the non live end does not.
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Topic: Electrics plug on camper vans
via mobile 19/6/2024 at 9:40pm
