I have read several topics regarding safety with 'electric hookup' for tents, but it seems to come at quite considerable expense! I know money should be no object when considering safety, but I have found what may be a cost effective way of maintaining safety and whilst staying within camp site rules and much cheaper ;)
Most know that we need the correct outdoor hook up lead connected to a RCD (the RCD being the expensive bit, however, after researching possible alternatives a long while ago (and I use it every time!) which only conforms to BS7071. The answer is this simply plug-in a:
Safety Breaker - it plugs into the socket on the extension wherby you then plug in your electric fridge etc into it. One of the descriptions for use is as follows (taken from a leading UK manufacturer):
"Protect you and your family with this precision-engineered RCD adaptor that gives protection against electrocution. This versatile adaptor can be used both inside and outside the home and is ideal for use with a multitude of household devices - in the kitchen where water can be particularly hazardous, in the garden with gardening appliances such as lawnmowers and hedge trimmers, and it is also idealfor use with 'potentially dangerous' power tools. Conforms with BS7071".
Argos, D.I.Y Stores sell these for approx £20.00
Always take the manual for use with you to the campsite so you can show them that it conforms to the UK safety standards.
Most campers use electrical appliances that are only designed for 'indoor use' in their tents, youv'e only got to look at numerous posts on this sites to validate this!
All appliances are fitted with a fuse, that is designed to blow should a problem occur. This is the 1st point of safety! Most heating appliances, like fan heaters are fitted with a 'trip', so if they fall over they will cut out which can be deemed as 1st & 2nd point of safety. Most cooking appliances are fitted with a thermostat '3rd point of safey'. Combined with a Safety Breaker,and used in conjunction with common sense, I feel that this is a cheaper option for those who wish to have an electric hookup, but may not afford the over exuberant expense of a RCD (which costs little to manufacture), but is pushed onto people through FEAR in order to make the sellers wallets fatter!
If it's made to BS requirements & made as well for outdoor use then that's good enough for me!
A simple test for a camping RCD vr's Safety Breaker is to stand back, put the hose on them both whilst connected to your household trip board main & running appliances (without getting appliances wet of course, coz we are not that stupid),and both breakers I bet will trip! HA,HA!!
A simple test for a camping RCD vr's Safety Breaker is to stand back, put the hose on them both whilst connected to your household trip board main & running appliances (without getting appliances wet of course, coz we are not that stupid),and both breakers I bet will trip! HA,HA!!
Now that's got it off my chest!
I would NOT advise anyone to try this. The plug-in RCD only protects appliances plugged into it. The socket you've plugged it into will remain live even after it trips, so offering little protection against electrocution.
I made my own EHU using an inline Jo-Jo RCD (Not too expensive on ebay) and a twin 13A socket from Wickes, both of which are fully waterproof, even when appliances are pluged in.
If you do make your own, get it professionally tested before using it.
All appliances are fitted with a fuse, that is designed to blow should a problem occur. This is the 1st point of safety!
But how many appliances are fitted with a fuse of the correct rating. Many people who are unaware of the complexities of electricity just, through habit, stick a 13 amp fuse in every plug that they've got.
Fuses are designed to protect appliances from over-current, not protect users from faults/stupidity - if you were to cut through the mains cable with your lawn-mower, the mower's fuse in extremely unlikely to blow - an RCD would trip out in a fraction of a second and protect you from the current long before a fuse could blow. RCD (in the right place) assist in the protection of people, but as has been said, an RCD plugged into an extension lead socket will leave the socket live after it has tripped - a 'proper' ECU that has tripped is no longer live. You cannot put a price on the safety and protection of your family, yourself and others - spend the money on a 'proper' hook-up (properly looked after it will last you years) or don't use mains. And in the meantime, please don't use your heath-robinson hook-up next to me.
BS7071 is purely a functionality test for a portable RCD's, its nothing to do with its environmental resistance, other than stating that it should be enclosed. Technically you could get around it by wrapping it in sticky tape...!!!
Incedentally most fixed RCD's, (Those used in proper hook-ups and RCD protected plug sockets etc) will operate in about 3 to 5 milliseconds. BS7071 requires them to operate within 40 milliseconds. Ok for protecting you on a dry Sunday morning, mowing the lawn, but wet hands touching a metalic camping table on dripping wet grass in the pouring rain...rather you than me.
In reality Muskwit, what your suggestiing is better than nothing at all. We have never had our hook-up checked so I guess there are those out there who do without RCD's altogether. Mad fools. And some of the rubbish seen on Ebay is nothing short of shocking.
I made my own because I wanted to know that it was safe. It cost me probably the same as buying a proper RCD hook-up lead. I appreciate that not everybody has the confidence to do so, so your unlikely to find a responsible person on here who will encourage people to make their own. People on here care for each others safety, so will reccomend what will keep you safe. I appreciate that £50 is a lot of money. But the safety of my wife and baby are priceless.
At the risk of being chastised, maybe you could ask at an electrical supplies wholesalers...they might be able to make you one up for a small fee. They will certainly have necessary parts. Good luck.
A simple test for a camping RCD vr's Safety Breaker is to stand back, put the hose on them both whilst connected to your household trip board main & running appliances (without getting appliances wet of course, coz we are not that stupid),and both breakers I bet will trip! HA,HA!!
Personally I would rather test it with something like this, mind you its certainly a cheaper option not sure if it will take off tho'. might mention it at my next NICEIC meeting, what was it again
"put hose pipe on breakers and if they trip they are okay"
Please do not try this at home, or any other place come to that.
The BS which one should be referring to for campsite locations is BS7671 2001 edition (formerly 16th edition) Section seven Chapter 8.
I did write an extract from the guidance note to this and can be found here
Quote: Originally posted by Scampi on 02/8/2006
Fuses are designed to protect appliances from over-current,
Just to be pedantic a fuse / circuit breaker is designed to protect the wiringbetween it and the appliance (or the next fuse / circuit breaker).
I agree totally with your sentiments Scampi. Unfortunately there's no way to stop mad people coming on here and posting their latest idea to justify using unsuitable electrical equipment in tents.
All we can do is re-iterate that, unless you have the knowledge and experience to make your own better quality system, the 'standard' tent EHU is the MINIMUM acceptable standard.
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Topic: Electric Hookup Outdoor Safety Breaker
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