The only time I had to use an extension, as directed by the site warden, was to place the junction over a hedge so that it was not submerged in water.
Hope that helps.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We use one when plugging in the caravan at the house, all perfectly fine.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
The waterproof protection on that box is no better than the commando joints, it doesn't specify what it's IP rating is ( I suspect it hasn't got one) it says " not to be placed on a saturated ground".
The worst bit is if it isn't rated the water could get inside and your joint would be sitting in water!
Just keep the joint out of puddles.
saxo1
Cover the joint with PVC electrical tape, and don’t let it sit in a puddle. IP44 Euro connectors are designed as splash proof, so are good as outdoor plugs, but never hurts to give them a helping hand.
Covering them with electrical tape wont make them waterproof unless you use self amalgamating tape which you'll never get off once set.
Any moisture that may seep in through the electrical tape will just remain in the area and could cause condensation within the joint, just keep it up off wet ground.
saxo1
The only time I had to use an extension, as directed by the site warden, was to place the junction over a hedge so that it was not submerged in water.
Hope that helps.
DK
Not at all sure where you got the notion they are 'submersible' DK, they are most certainly NOT!!!!!! Nor do they claim to be! They are NOT even truly waterproof from falling rain! They have no IP rating at all (the standard measure of their protection), so I can only speculate to a knowledgeable degree (my background in electric/electronic product design!) on how waterproof they are, I'd estimate IP44 (Protected against solid objects over 1mm, e.g. wires & nails, Protected against water splashed from all directions, limited ingress permitted.).
The blue 16A CEE plugs and sockets are definitely NOT waterproof! They are only IP44 rated (Protected against solid objects over 1mm, e.g. wires & nails, Protected against water splashed from all directions, limited ingress permitted.) and should not be used to join cables in exposed to water conditions.
Using one of those joint covers correctly would offer a reasonable degree of protection from falling rain IF the cover was orientated correctly to stop rain wicking through the joints, was truly horizontal to stop water running down cable and into end 'cable seals', AND was held off the ground so it could never be lying in a puddle or flowing water.
I've got one, as an emergency backup if I ever need to join cables. BUT many sites, including the club sites ban extended/jointed cables under any circumstances. I did test mine under the shower, for my own piece of mind, and there is some water ingress, but minimal enough I'd be confident using it in moderate rain, but think I'd check it periodically if exposed to persistent/heavy rain (AFTER disconnecting supply!).
The all too common 'wrap it in a plastic bag' method, rarely works well enough to be safe!
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 27/7/2023
Not at all sure where you got the notion they are 'submersible' DK, they are most certainly NOT!!!!!! Nor do they claim to be! They are NOT even truly waterproof from falling rain! They have no IP rating at all (the standard measure of their protection), so I can only speculate to a knowledgeable degree (my background in electric/electronic product design!) on how waterproof they are, I'd estimate IP44 (Protected against solid objects over 1mm, e.g. wires & nails, Protected against water splashed from all directions, limited ingress permitted.).
The blue 16A CEE plugs and sockets are definitely NOT waterproof! They are only IP44 rated (Protected against solid objects over 1mm, e.g. wires & nails, Protected against water splashed from all directions, limited ingress permitted.) and should not be used to join cables in exposed to water conditions.
Using one of those joint covers correctly would offer a reasonable degree of protection from falling rain IF the cover was orientated correctly to stop rain wicking through the joints, was truly horizontal to stop water running down cable and into end 'cable seals', AND was held off the ground so it could never be lying in a puddle or flowing water.
I've got one, as an emergency backup if I ever need to join cables. BUT many sites, including the club sites ban extended/jointed cables under any circumstances. I did test mine under the shower, for my own piece of mind, and there is some water ingress, but minimal enough I'd be confident using it in moderate rain, but think I'd check it periodically if exposed to persistent/heavy rain (AFTER disconnecting supply!).
The all too common 'wrap it in a plastic bag' method, rarely works well enough to be safe!
Don't shoot the messenger please!
One of the listings of the same product I had seen states it is "water-tight".
As I have stated, I have never bought or used one myself.
I kept my connection away from puddles over a hedge for the only time when I needed to use an extension, and would do the same if I need to use an extension nowadays.
At the end of the day, one needs to perform one's own due diligence when making a purchase - read the details and decide if it is suitable for your own circumstance, etc. etc...
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
1 thick piece of wood like one would use to put under the steadies, 1 plastic freezer storage box and lid long enough to hold both parts of the connection, cut out a strip on each end wide enough to place cable in put the joined units in and then place lid securely ontop. You could use electric tape to secure wireing to the block of wood that the box is standing on and it is also high enough off the ground to be seen especially if you use brightly coloured tape
It is important to keep joints out of standing water
OK... some assumptions made, but the theory remains...
This is what I did...
EHU box, as per pic 1 (In theory*).
Extension lead as per pic 2.
Plus 2 of each sockets and plugs, cheap as chips at Screwfix.
Cut the cable about half a metre from the EHU box. Add a plug to the cable that remains attached to the EHU box. Add a socket to the remainder of the lead that's just been cut. You now have (in my case) a 19.5m extension lead, and an EHU box with a 0.5m lead.
Now take the second extension lead (In my case, it was 25m) cut it, and add the plug & socket respectively to leave you with 2 shorter leads... in my case, a 10m and a 15m.
You now have 3No extensions at 10m, 15m, and 19.5m, all of which can be used alone, connecting inside the tent to the EHU box.
Use whichever suits the distance between tent and EHU supply.
On the rare occasion you need to, combine 2 (or 3, technically, but we've never been that far from the supply, obvs!) leads together.
Obviously any such connection outside needs to give consideration to the elements.
Personally, I just raise the joint off the ground (to avoid any potential puddles) and hang the joint so trickling rain can't enter the plug/socket combo (Just as we do with the yellow 110v alternatives that we have to use on building sites... they're the same design, and building sites don't have to shut down when it starts raining!)
*Not sure if the socket box in pic 1 fits through the EHU slot in the tent wall (I suspect not?), but ours is big and bulky. The only part that will feed through the tent slot is the blue plug (or blue socket).
My approach means that we never have to take a wet, dirty length of cable into the tent, to then feed it all the way back out through the slot. I just feed the blue socket through from outside, then connect up to the EHU box inside!
Hope that makes sense
... and apologies for the long-winded post!
I've been camping/caravanning for 40+ years and have never bothered with anything in all weathers, on the extremely rare occasion when in France I needed to extend the cable I just made sure the joint, if possible, was not in any puddles.
Cutting down cables and then needing to join bits in just adds more joints with the potential to fail, the requirement for a 25m +or-2 continuous length without any joints is done for a reason!
saxo1
*** Waves at Mucker! Hope you and Muckerette are well! ***
I carry a 5m, 10m and and 25m EHU leads in my van.
The 5m is seldom used, the 10m occasionally, mostly use the 25m.
All shop-bought.
I did not make them myself, however, I could have done so, like the way I bought the components and made the reverse polarity lead some years ago that I have yet to use.
A home I use a 10m to hook the van up to the external socket in the garden via a 3-pin adaptor. The joint hangs horizontally below the double socket box to minimise water ingress.
As I had said before, I had only ever needed to use the 25m extension lead in conjunction with my 15m roller EHU unit once since camping in 2009.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I stand to be corrected, but whilst I understand 25m extension cables(only) are readily available (for the caravanner/motorhomer), it appears the sort needed for a tent (with the RCD protected sockets etc) rarely exceed 20m, and more often are only 15m.
Homemade items from Ebay are not recommended, on this particular topic!
There is also the tip about avoiding excess cable, particularly when left coiled up, hence my common usage of a mere 10m cable.
Having only ever used two leads combined on one occasion in 11 years (ergo with a connection outside the tent), I'm content with my options. It's also nice to have the option to lend a spare lead to a neighbour, should they so have the need.
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Topic: Electric hookups in the rain
