We are wondering if we are being particularly stupid regarding the cable entry. It seems to be too small for the electric thing with the sockets on to pass through, we end up starting inside the tent and pulling the whole wire through every time. It's not so bad when we are pitching and it is dry but often, when its time to go home, we have to reverse the process and pull through metres of wet wire! Is there a simpler way or does everyone do this? In this case why don't the manufacturers make the cable entry large enough?
I always wipe the lead down with a cloth as the wife pulls it thru the entry point. Stops any wet or dirt coming into the tent. Not a lot you can do apart from aadding another plug and socket to the lead so you have a short lead on the box with a plug on, then a socket on the long lead, which would then basicly be a long 16amp extension lead.
------------- May 2020 - tbc
7tth August -15th August 2020 trevornick Cornwall
The slit on my last tent was so small I struggled to get the blue and white plug through it!
When packing up I stand outside the tent and draw all the lead through a towel held in my hand, laying it down neatly outside the slit. I then go inside and draw the lead through the towel again so that it is pretty dry when I pack it away. Wife complains about having to wash dirty towels when I get home but I deny all knowledge of how it could possibly have got dirty
A few years ago with another EHU I cut the lead about a metre from the sockets and fitted blue and white plugs on both the ends making sure male and female were on the right ends. I was then able to keep the rest of the lead outside the tent and just poke the plug through and connect it to the socket end inside...no threading to do. This also made it convenient to store the main lead on a reel which took seconds to reel in and out each time (unwound fully before use).
Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 22/8/2015
Check out my post "EHU Modification" under equipment, it certainley makes things easiar for getting the cable through the entry point in the tent.
Thanks Francais, I did try searching but obviously not using the correct words :) Your adaptation is the answer but way beyond our capabilities. I think that the towel drying is the way for us to go.
Yep Peckedhen1, Bob61's solution is another similar in concept to mine, but even more easy to complete, and not to different to wiring a reg 3 pin plug.
Such a set up allows for having EHU Leads of various lengths, which can be handy if the electric post is right outside your tent or 50m away etc.
If you are capable and confident enough to change a plug, then all you need is a new plug and socket. Around a fiver for the pair. Just cut your existing cable about a metre from your socket box. Add the new blue plug to the short bit of cable still attached to your socket box. Add the new blue socket to the remaining, longer cable.
You can just about make out my new plug and socket hiding behind the water bottle...
The new blue socket was fed through the slot, from outside, so no need to feed it all the way through, and the wet/muddy lead stays outside!
£5 or £6, and a five minute job for anyone who can handle a stanley knife, screw driver, and can confidently put the right wires in the right place.
Alternatively, find a workshop/garage/small factory with an electrician in, and offer him a fiver to do it (with you supplying the new plug & socket of course). I expect they'll be happy to do so, and you'll get it back in about 3 minutes!
Agree with Francais... as well as having half a metre connected to my unit in the tent, we now also have leads at 10m, 15m, and 19.5m, which can all be connected individually, or of course added together, to give me up to 45m
Wow! Didn't even know tents had slots for these things! Our comes under the fly & through the rear door of the inner. The door is only used for ventilation & the fridge usually sits in front of it.
Good idea re the extension. Ours is currently just long enough for our pitch.
we found this the first year - was having a real blond moment though haha - we were trying to put the end with the plugs on through - then realised the other end (the one which plugs into the ehu - the blue and white smaller end) is a lot smaller and will pull through easily - felt like right dolts as had been doing it for a full year putting it through the door haha
------------- June 2015: seaview international 2 nights
July 2015: little winnick 2 nights
August 2015: lower polladras 5 nights
august 2015: tollgate farm 5 nights
august 2015: oakdown 3 nights
September 2015: tregarton park
family of 6 with young children
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Cable entry point.
