"Switching off an MCB is more dangerous as it gives the impression of being off when it remains live."
Not true in the case of EHU'S and caravans only double pole MCB's and RCD's
"The hope is that the RCD kicks in before damage is caused. However, it isn't a 100% protection from death, it is a device to increase the chances of surviving an electricution. It should never be relied on to compensate for other danger factors."
Exactly what I was saying. The only safe equipment is equipment that has been isolated.
"I have been on a site where a young child got a belt from a toaster, partly due to using a knife to remove toast, but also due to the power lead having the polarity reversed. The child was shaken but fortunately uninjured.
That is why we have RCD protection the child could just have easily stuck the knife in before it popped up because the toast was stuck as it frequently does.
An RCD will never increase your chances of surviving electrocution!
Saxo1
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Oh dear!! So much experience and advice. It would be easy to cancel the trip entirely but I have been looking forward to it for so long that I would rather do without EHU!! But I think I get the gist of it now. So I have ordered a polarity tester plug and a male and female blue connector and will get someone who has more knowlege than me (and I can change a plug) to make me a short lead should my new tester indicate reversed polarity. No chance of me getting the reverse polarity lead mixed up as it will be very short compared to my EHU lead. Thanks for all your contributions. Despite all the disagreements, my posting has succeeded in helping me to understand and do what is necessary.
Don't forget that some French sites still use the old fashioned 2 pin continental plugs, so you will probably need a lead made up with one end wired to a 2 pin plug and the other end a female standard blue plug. ( This should not be wired reversed ) so you can connect up with your normal EHU lead.
I hope this is not to confusing, If in any doubt just ask your nearest dealer or caravan spares shop.
Oh dear!! So much experience and advice. It would be easy to cancel the trip entirely but I have been looking forward to it for so long that I would rather do without EHU!! But I think I get the gist of it now. So I have ordered a polarity tester plug and a male and female blue connector and will get someone who has more knowlege than me (and I can change a plug) to make me a short lead should my new tester indicate reversed polarity. No chance of me getting the reverse polarity lead mixed up as it will be very short compared to my EHU lead. Thanks for all your contributions. Despite all the disagreements, my posting has succeeded in helping me to understand and do what is necessary.
Jean
If I may say so that is something of a miracle! Don't think about cancelling a holiday just because of electrics. When you are there everything will fall neatly into place. Have a good holiday.
David
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thanks for reminding me about the French 2 pin plug. I knew about it but had forgotten it with all the other stuff about reversed polarity. I am sure when I am there I will wonder what I made such a fuss for. However, better safe than sorry.
Sorry if this has been covered before but I can't find a simple answer. Maybe that's because there isn't one! This reverse polarity thing is bothering me a bit. I have seen David's info on his web site but I am still unsure what I should do. We are going to Les Pecheurs, Roquebrune in the South of France at the end of the month with overnight stops at Camping du Port, Seurre and Camping La Source, St Pierre d'Argencon. Is it really a problem? What exactly should I do to put my mind at rest? This is all down to me as I am retired and OH is still in a stressful job. I want to be sure I have done all I can beforehand so the month long trip goes swimmingly!
Jean
I have just had teo full weeks at Les Pecheurs, and we didnt need to change the polarity, however you will need a long cable, as depending on your pitch, you could be a long way from the electric point
however the site is very nice, but dusty, and you do need the french 2pin plug too.
------------- Chris
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I take a 25m and a 10m lead, I have only once needed to join the 2 to reach an outlet. More often than not the shorter lead is long enough. I also take a 1m long Reverse Polarity lead, and a short 2 pin plug to blue socket.
On a site with the 2 pin outlets if there is a reverse polarity situation it is sometimes possible to turn the 2 pin plug through 180 degrees and correct the situation to avoid using your lead to do it.
Swiss campsites sometimes have a strange staggered 3 pin outlet socket and those sites will often lend you a suitable adapter to convert to a 2 pin or a blue 16 amp type. They can also be bought in most Swiss supermarkets for 2 or 3 Euros, useful if you often camp in Switzerland.
Note the French 2 pin and German Schuko 2 pin are not the same, though it is possible to get an adapter which will cover both types.
Quote: Originally posted by Nimrodphil on 05/8/2009
I take a 25m and a 10m lead, I have only once needed to join the 2 to reach an outlet. More often than not the shorter lead is long enough. I also take a 1m long Reverse Polarity lead, and a short 2 pin plug to blue socket.
On a site with the 2 pin outlets if there is a reverse polarity situation it is sometimes possible to turn the 2 pin plug through 180 degrees and correct the situation to avoid using your lead to do it.
Note the French 2 pin and German Schuko 2 pin are not the same, though it is possible to get an adapter which will cover both types.
Phil.
Ohhh no no no!
After fretting about reverse polarity I concluded it was nothing to worry about as long as I did not attempt to re-wire the van whilst it was connected to the mains.
I did pick up in the thread however that some "French one night stands" may leave us Brits with only an old type bollard (type vieux) to connect to.
I therefore spashed ot £6.50 on an ebay "Continental Two Pin adapter" only to find that I now may have got a German version not a French one.
Quote: Originally posted by Nimrodphil on 05/8/2009
I take a 25m and a 10m lead, I have only once needed to join the 2 to reach an outlet. More often than not the shorter lead is long enough. I also take a 1m long Reverse Polarity lead, and a short 2 pin plug to blue socket.
On a site with the 2 pin outlets if there is a reverse polarity situation it is sometimes possible to turn the 2 pin plug through 180 degrees and correct the situation to avoid using your lead to do it.
Swiss campsites sometimes have a strange staggered 3 pin outlet socket and those sites will often lend you a suitable adapter to convert to a 2 pin or a blue 16 amp type. They can also be bought in most Swiss supermarkets for 2 or 3 Euros, useful if you often camp in Switzerland.
Note the French 2 pin and German Schuko 2 pin are not the same, though it is possible to get an adapter which will cover both types.
Phil.
Phil
When we went to Switzerland we stayed at 3 sites and only one had the strange shaped plug but as you said the campsite will usually loan you an adaptor.
Regarding the Continental round adaptor, I have found that you can't reverse them in France because they seem to have a male earth pin but in Germany and Austria you just plug them in the other way up, much easier!
David
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
I have just had teo full weeks at Les Pecheurs, and we didnt need to change the polarity, however you will need a long cable, as depending on your pitch, you could be a long way from the electric point however the site is very nice, but dusty, and you do need the french 2pin plug too.
Thanks for the info Chris. It is very difficult to choose a site from what you see on the internet so it is good to know someone has been there recently. Can you tell me, do men have to wear the old style swimming trunks to use the pool? I thought I had read that somewhere but cannot find it now. We are going for September so I imagine that the site won't be particularly busy by then. Hopefully we will therefore have a pitch close enough to the EHU.
Can we drop this pointless round-about of check-dont check. I spend my working life inspecting and testing installations which should, but most often, dont kill people. If you dont understand electricity then leave well alone. Itis fairly unlikely that you will die and that probability is increased if you mess around with something you dont understand. I check cos I undertand it.
If the pitch has a lot of gravestones on it and a faint smell of charred flesh then find a new pitch, if not dont worry too much.
I have just had teo full weeks at Les Pecheurs, and we didnt need to change the polarity, however you will need a long cable, as depending on your pitch, you could be a long way from the electric point
however the site is very nice, but dusty, and you do need the french 2pin plug too.
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Thanks for the info Chris. It is very difficult to choose a site from what you see on the internet so it is good to know someone has been there recently. Can you tell me, do men have to wear the old style swimming trunks to use the pool? I thought I had read that somewhere but cannot find it now. We are going for September so I imagine that the site won't be particularly busy by then. Hopefully we will therefore have a pitch close enough to the EHU.
Thanks again.
Jean
No, i just had the swimming shorts, as long as they are above the knee, you will be fine.
There is not much shade at the pool, and you have to pay €1 per day to hire a sunbed, although you can just got and put your towel on the floor, and you will be fine.
We picked the site, just from the internet, and would go back there again. Access is easy from the motorway, and you can leave from junction 36 or 37, the site is about in the middle between the two, junction 37 is a little bit quicker to get to the site, but there is not much in it.
Reception closes around 12 and opens at 2pm, so if you get there in that time, you will have to wait before you can get to your pitch.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Reverse Polarity France
