Hi, We are just about to change from a folding camper to a caravan, a Lunar Arriva 2010.
The electric box on the caravan is on the off side. Now with the folding camper we used to plug into campsite electric point, connect to a three point splitter plugged into side of camper with another cable running from the splitter into the awning to provide electric points there.
We are unable to plug the splitter into the caravan electric point as the box built into caravan side is not large enough. We are considering using a dri-box (like you would use for outdoor Christmas lights) and running the lead from site hook up point into the splitter within dri-box, a lead from splitter into caravan electric point and a third lead from splitter under caravan into awning. This third is a proper camping lead with protected sockets.
My question is, is this feasible? Would it work? It seems a good solution if we can obtain a dri-box large enough to hold the splitter and all connectors. I think newer caravans have an electric point on the near side for use in an awning but we don't really want to be cutting into the side of the van to fix one.
Hope this all makes sense!
Interested in your opinions or ideas thanks.
------------- Linda
2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.
Easier to plug an extension lead into a socket inside caravan & run it through a window into awning I would have thought ? Or for the method you suggest there would be no need for a box if you put the splitter under caravan.
Quote: Originally posted by billy on 08/5/2021
Easier to plug an extension lead into a socket inside caravan & run it through a window into awning I would have thought ? Or for the method you suggest there would be no need for a box if you put the splitter under caravan.
On CAMHC club sites 'Splitters' are specifically banned under T&Cs, I suspect CCC and many other private sites would also have a similar rule! It's intended to stop overloading of EHU points.
That said, I've seen them used, I've even taken my supply from a splitter (someone else's) on EHU point on one or two occasions, think it's a case of what the site is unaware of, you may get away with! Probably gets to be an even greyer situation when the splitter is within your 'unit' for your sole use.
One critical point in doing what you have previously done and are trying to do is that you are bypassing the inherent safety features of Overload Circuit Breaker (no portable domestic appliance is rated over 13A anyway!) and Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker 'electrocution protection' built into all vans! You are exposing yourselves to a unprotected 16 Amp mains source - absolutely fatal in a camping environment of potential wet and direct contact with the ground, if a appliance or cabling develops a fault or gets wet!
I'm an electrical engineer, I'd find a safe way of solving the problem for myself, but even then not sure it would meet with site approval as they will not have sufficient understanding of anything outside of the standard 16A plug on one end, 16a socket on other end cable set up attached to standard van input point!
Standard 16A IP44 rated plugs/sockets/splitters are not really weather proof on their own, only being 'splash rated' for water ingress, probably OK under the van protected from direct rain, by not safe in 'puddles' or any 'streams' that may develop (and I've had that happen a few times)! If you insist on following your thoughts, looking at Dri-Boxes, not at all sure you would get a typical rigid 16A 'Y' splitter with plugs attached in one! It may involve a bit of 'one off' making up of a suitable custom 16A splitter to get it all in the Dri-Box if at all possible. Thinking fixed inlet cable to two 16A wall sockets (semi-)permanently affixed in Dri-Box, or 2 in-line sockets if space allows. A better solution would be to use a 'tent' EHU cable with it's own MCB's & ELCB's on the 13 Amp sockets, but not sure you would get that in a Dri-Box either!
At the end of the day, the seemingly rather crude 'hang a 13A extension out the window into the awning' as previously suggested may be a electrically safer option and infinitely cheaper! You would benefit from the full protection of the van circuit breakers, only have one 16A cable, and not breach site rules. I'm fortunate enough to have a van with a built in fully protected 13A outlet in the awning side locker, which makes life much easier.
A 16 Amp mains supply is not something to be treated casually or with contempt!
The OP said they intend to use a proper "camping lead" from the splitter to the awning, which hopefully has it's own RCD protection, so they wouldn't be exposing themselves to an unprotected supply and even if it didn't it would still be protected by the site bollard RCD and MCB,not recommended but not as dangerous as a completely unprotected lead.
The CAMHC rules don't allow joints on a EHU lead to comply with the regs but there are a lot of posters who say they carry an extension in case their cable isn't long enough and these are just fitted with IP44 rated commando plugs.
The option to place the splitter underneath the van and support in some way is possibly the simplest way to do it.
saxo1
OK. Putting an extension lead out the window isn't really what we would like to do. I'm surprised splitters are not allowed on some sites as they are sold in all the camping shops so I'm assuming at least some people must use them when camping. The awning extension lead we use is a proper camping one with 10 amp double pole circuit breaker and 25 amp residual current device so i assume would trip if there was a problem. The caravan fuse box would, I assume, trip if a problem occurred in there. If we overloaded the campsite provision we know that would trip out but are careful with use to avoid that. A dri box isn't an option as size is a problem as said above. May have to go back to the drawing board and have a rethink. Thanks for the replies, food for thought.
------------- Linda
2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.
I piggy backed off the nearest socket to where I needed the new socket,drilled a small hole in the floor and used some 1,5 multicore flex to a waterproof single outlet I fitted to the underside of the caravan floor.
It was a bit inconvenient to access but it was not that often I had to use it.
I sealed around the cable in the floor with mastic.
saxo1
Splitters are not allowed in the ehu point on pitch ie you cannot have 2 ehu leads from 1 ehu post. However your original idea is ok which is ehu lead to splitter then short lead to caravan ehu socket on side & your lead into awning. What you need to do is put splitter right underneath caravan off the ground. Either bungee it to chassis or stand it on an upturned plastic box or similar.
Thanks Billy. We wouldn't use the splitter on the campsite ehu. Think we are leaning towards tying the splitter under the caravan so it's off the ground and out of wet weather. We are aware it is only splash proof but have been unable to find something large enough to construct a weather proof box which is not unwieldy. On our folding camper it plugged into the unit underneath the bed board so was protected and it was easier as could plug the splitter directly into the camper and just run the awning lead off from it. We may find with a caravan that we don't always need electric points in the awning so that may make life easier anyway.
------------- Linda
2017
May - 3 nights Yeatheridge.
May - 5 nights Mill Park, Ilfracombe
July - 6 nights not sure where yet
August - 2 weeks Croatia, Camp Lanterna.
2018
May - 3 night Yeatheridge campsite
May half term - 6 nights Cornwall
July - 1 week Cotswolds
August - 2 weeks Vendee.
The easy simple and safe way is to run a spur from an.existing socket through the caravan floor and fit a waterproof socket to IP66 to the underside of the van,all within the regs!
Saxo1
best bet would be to mount a 16amp socket outlet to the underside of the caravan, feeding the cabe through the floor from the inside bed box . you would need the socket with sockets, and not the socket with pins' if you see what i mean, and one of the ones with a sprung flap
Garage Caravan Mains Electric Socket
Garage Caravan Mains Electric Socket
£9.95
MSRP £11.99
sorry that should have put a picture up, but anyway its the blue 16amp socket outlet ,towsure sell them
so no cutting the side of the van
Wilko had large waterproof boxes for xmas lights. Large enough to take a 4 gang extension lead and a coil of 10 metres of cable so could certainly take a blue socket/plug. They were about £8
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 08/5/2021
The OP said they intend to use a proper "camping lead" from the splitter to the awning, which hopefully has it's own RCD protection, so they wouldn't be exposing themselves to an unprotected supply .........
Thanks for pointing that out Saxo, Devil in the detail as always, which I missed! Apologies all round for aspersions cast and any misleading opinions!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Electrical hook up.
via mobile 08/5/2021 at 8:43am
