Just ordered my electric hook up (EHU) and continental adapter for the forthcoming family trip to France (had the tent up in the garden on saturday for a pre holiday check - I'm getting excited!!). I'm no electrician so I asked about whether I needed a polarity tester, I was told no, the EHU has one built in and if it lights up all i need to do is open up the plug on the end of my EHU and switch the blue and brown wires over.
Is this good advice, I'd rather find out now than when I arrive on site?
I have read all the threads I can find on electrics and the advice given to others has really helped.
I am happy to swap the wires on the plug, my limited skills will stretch that far!
Personally, I take a polarity tester and two adapters, one wired for UK the other for reverse polarity (remembering to mark which is which). It could save problems once there.
Check the instructions very carefully on the ehu, because on some its only a light telling you there is power connected on others its the polarity light BUT even when it is the polarity light on some the light being on indicaes polarity OK and on others it indicates the polarity is wrong.
I am with Highside on this I would rather have a seperate polarity tester with instructions at least you know its right. Because on one ehu I checked the instruction said the red light was a polarity indicator BUT did not say whethor on or off was right.
Quote: Originally posted by Highside on 13/07/2005
Personally, I take a polarity tester and two adapters, one wired for UK the other for reverse polarity (remembering to mark which is which). It could save problems once there.
I do exactly the same. You will need to make up your own polarity reverser as suppliers are not allowed to sell them. I think that it's better to use a reverser as you may forget to put it back afterwards if you re-wire. There's a picture of my reverser in my image gallery, but you may come up with a better design. Don't forget to label it well.
------------- Steve
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I like the odd drink. Five is odd, seven is odd, nine is odd...........
A polarity checker is advisable, but I would also make up a short lead so you so if you find the polarity the wrong way around all you do is connect the lead to your EHU lead and then to the mains outlet. The will already have the brown and blue crossed over, saves time.
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Topic: Polarity testing (France)
