Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 18/9/2014
I understand what you are saying now and just noticed you are living in Denmark although I expect UK pitches operate in much the same way.
Even though most tent portable EHU units are protected up to 10 amps it is usually the pitch RCD that trips first. However, I understand now that the pitch RCD may not always trip before the main RCD thus causing other pitches to trip as well. I don't think that happens very often in the UK but always possible.
Yup cascading RCBs is a nightmare - it surfaces in professional installations and even gives top notch consultant type electricians a headache.
Well if your going to make one you need to do it correct and get 95% donated to you by work you can't grumb:)
So going from left to right ::
First cable is the power in
Second cable is for the fridge
Third I cable is for the mk marster sockets
Fourth Cable is the lighting
Fifth cable is the light switch
All the cable coming from the comsumer unit are 1/2m long as all the cabling are cut to length for the tent
Iv used all IP65+ bits so it can be fully used in all weather condition and to top it all off I manged to twist the sparky arm at work to do a full safety electrical test on it ;) it passed aswell and got a lovely certificate the only thing I had to buy from work supplier was the double pole mcb as they are quite hard to get the correct amperage and curve "B"
Well just an update, I have now upped the capacity of my SunnCamp EHU to 16A, very easy job just a case of changing the 10A MCB for a 16A MCB.
These things are to a std, so no big issue, the SunnCamp EHU is 16A rated in any case, as it comes with 2.5mm Artic Cable, and I believe 2.5mm cable is good to 20A in any case.
Of course doing such an upgrade means you have to keep an eye on the Amps, especially if you are on a 10A supply.
One of my other posts is EHU Amp Monitor, a very handy unit which displays the amount of Amps you are drawing.
I also replaced all the internal wiring of the EHU, the unit was originally wired in series daisy chain style, which saves on internal cable, but is not very elegant.
My change was to wire the 3 sockets in parallel, no reason really but it is a much neater job than found in the OEM unit.
Often is the case that the campsite electric post is 16A, and having an EHU that was strangled to 10A seemed a compromise to me, especialy if you are paying for 16A but can only use 10A.
Gone now are the days, when I have to rememember to ensure that the mini oven (1380W) is of whilst putting the electric kettle on (1600W).
Just a point, even in 2014 IP65 is not good enough.
IP67 is what should be the Gold Standard, for this sort of thing.
My neighbour ignored this advice, and regretted it during a mild spell of rain.
Just saying.
Regards James
------------- In the beginning there was darkness.
Then I bought a tent.
I'm not destitute, I'm just poor.
Yep, James, I always ensure that the EHU and all connections are never exposed to the rain.
Common sense really, you have to give electricity the respect it deserves.
Luckily for us we only go camping in the South of France during July, were rain is a rarity, although we have experienced tropical like downpours in the middle of the night, so there is never room for complacency.
"Luckily for us we only go camping in the South of France during July, were rain is a rarity, although we have experienced tropical like downpours in the middle of the night, so there is never room for complacency."
I contributed to this thread a number of years ago at which stage I was the owner of a 140 space campsite, just reading this thread again reminds me how much of a nightmare electrical issues are to a campsite owner.
I would add to your comments on rain that actually dew on grass in the complete absence of rain was more than enough to give a few headaches.
I do not think I once saw a problem with a decent dry box in use especially if the box was stored under the caravan.
If the dry box is to be improved then making sure that the connector is female pointing down against gravity would be a next step. I often found unprotected connectors female side up hung in bushes in an attempt to clear them of wet grass but of course the orientation resulted in issues.
I sometimes miss owning a campsite but the electricial issues I am glad to be clear of - complete "mare" even to the seasoned "electrical detective".
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Topic: EHU Modification
