Calling the electrically inclined!!

killiand

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Subject:

Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 07.06.2017 · #1

Hey all,

I had a thought that maybe it would be useful to put together some electrical 'top tips'

It always blows me away - the breadth of knowledge that people on this forum have - and this comes up particularly in the area of electrics! Would anyone be willing to hqve a bash at putting a 'top tips' list together?!

I just think it would be great to see a collection of these together - from making sure your cable isn't coiled up when charging, to the appropriate amp solar panel for when you're running a small electronics shop in the van!

Just a thought... Grateful for any feedback or takers!!

Thorn123

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 07.06.2017 · #2

I would throw in a few tips. I have given some tips here on the forum over the last few months but a lot of the posts were never completed, so a fella doesn't know if his advice was good or bad.
I am assuming that when nothing more was heard, the repair was completed or else people were afraid to call me the biggest muppet going.

notathome

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 07.06.2017 · #3

1. Switch device ON

JJF

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 08.06.2017 · #4

Good Idea Killean.... I'll kick it off.

1) when wiring in a new 12 volt circuit, place the fuse in the circuit on the +12ve as close to the battery as possible.
2) To work out the amperage draw from your battery divide the wattage of the appliance by 12. (Amps=watts/volts)

More to follow.

Thorn123

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 08.06.2017 · #5

Always use cable that can carry double the amount of amps that you require. If using 10 amps, fit 20amp cable.

Andy Bashford

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 08.06.2017 · #6

If making or buying a Reverse Polarity adaptor, ensure it is capable of taking a 16 amp load and I think the cables should be 2.5mm for this. Apparently this is not always the case with custom made ones, depending if course where you buy them?

Thorn123

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 08.06.2017 · #7

With 12 volt never ever twist and tape connections. Either solder joints or use crimp on terminals. Scotch lock connecters should be avoided as they damage the wire been connected from.

killiand

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 08.06.2017 · #8

When would you need a reverse polarity adapter and how would you know you need it?

Thanks guys!

JJF

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 08.06.2017 · #9

Quote by killiand

When would you need a reverse polarity adapter and how would you know you need it?

Thanks guys!

Reverse polarity indicator will illuminate in van......
The consequences are debatable, suffice to say our continental neighbors dont worry about it....
Saying that, I have an reverse polarity adaptor in the van.

ntg

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Subject:

Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 08.06.2017 · #10

Quote by JJF

Quote by killiand

When would you need a reverse polarity adapter and how would you know you need it?

Thanks guys!

I have had Autotrails for some years now and on a few occasions i have been pluged in with reverse polarity and if charger was switched on it would drain the battery rather than charge it.
On one occasion i had to replace the two leisure Batteries as they went so flat that they never recovered and would never hold the charge properly again.
I now check the polarity light when plugging in at a strange site.

Thorn123

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 08.06.2017 · #11

With 12 volt the location and fitting of the earth is as important as the positive connection, the fuse, cable size, etc.
I have been wiring in truck cabs for the last 13 years and I am still amazed at where guys place the earth wire in the dashboard. I even saw onetime where someone striped about 12 inches of earth wire and wrapped it around the steering column shaft. The driver was wondering as to why his reversing camera stopped working when he moved his truck but it worked when he was parked .

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 09.06.2017 · #12

Reverse polarity has no effect on your van as we are talking AC here where the polarity reverses 50 times per second in a domestic single phase supply. Using a reverse polarity adaptor is purely a safety issue due to the use of single pole switching, most modern PDUs now have double pole switching.

Here are some tips:

Always disconnect the EHU before doing any electrical work.

Never accept an EHU without and Earth.

Always test your RCD on hookup.

Thorn123

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 09.06.2017 · #13

Today's lesson. This was covered a few weeks in a post about hoohup leads. Take all your electrical appliances out of you camper and plug them into one socket in your kitchen. But who would plug in a electric kettle, a toaster and a george forman grill at the same time into one socket in a house?
Well folks some people forget that the 3 sockets in the camper are fed from one socket outside. 16 amps is the maximum load that can be put into your hookup lead. Oh by the way 16 amps of power is enough to drive a medium size welder.

hillton9

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 09.06.2017 · #14

If in doubt get a auto spark to fix it

sprinter

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Subject:

Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 09.06.2017 · #15

Quote by Thorn123

Today's lesson. This was covered a few weeks in a post about hookup leads. Take all your electrical appliances out of you camper and plug them into one socket in your kitchen. But who would plug in a electric kettle, a toaster and a George foreman grill at the same time into one socket in a house?
Well folks some people forget that the 3 sockets in the camper are fed from one socket outside. 16 amps is the maximum load that can be put into your hookup lead. Oh by the way 16 amps of power is enough to drive a medium size welder.

You forgot to also bring in the Fridge, Television , blow heater, Hair Dryer , all the chargers and what they charge, Plus the a couple of extra 6 gang leads to connect everything.
BUT most importantly the fire Blanket and Extinguishers. ( because if you don't blow out the whole district , something is going to get very HOT )

Thorn123

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 09.06.2017 · #16

Hey spinter, I was just mentioning the "mobile" appliances, but you have guessed tommorow lesson, add in the fixed appliances and the the amps would want a direct line to arnachrusha.
3 out of the last 4 campsites that we have stayed in, suffered repeated blackout not only campers but from caravans and tents as well. The campsite that didn't trip was the one where we had the only EHU in the whole place.

JJF

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 10.06.2017 · #17

It's amazing on sites where caravanners/motorhomes have awnings out, TV on, fridge on, 2 ring hob, electric kettle, blow heater, lights, etc, etc...........
Those people obviously don't have a clue on amperage/wattage consumption and the real dangers of overload.
A lot of sites limited to 10amps, indeed some French sites are 6amp and I think that is the correct approach as it forces the idiots into accepting the constraints of serving multiple pitches with power.

Thorn123

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 10.06.2017 · #18

To some extent the two big German discount retailers are to blame by suppling the market with cheap electrical gadgets.
Some years ago in our caravan days we stay on a site for the Easter weekend, but our EHU was plug into a metered pillar. Fridge on , low amp kettle boiled 6 times daily and a couple of phone/tablet chargers resulted in us using only about 8 units of electricity over the 3 nights.

the fat controller

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 12.06.2017 · #19

One thing I can't undersatand is why do British MH/caravan manufacturers insist on putting in a cooker with an electric ring! It only compounds the problem.

sprinter

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Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 12.06.2017 · #20

A thing to remember if you're getting a hookup on the ferry for the fridge,be mindful that you may have a 40ton truck parked on your lead .
Best to stay with your vehicle until all the loading is done and connect your own cable across under the other parked unit's

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 14.06.2017 · #21

Why bother with hook up on boat if a shortish trip,you could rig up a relay bypass switch on 12v and run on that from the les battery ,once you drive of the les batterys will recharge in about 20 mins driving.

ntg

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 14.06.2017 · #22

Quote by the fat controller

One thing I can't undersatand is why do British MH/caravan manufacturers insist on putting in a cooker with an electric ring! It only compounds the problem.

Very true as we have had a few of these van types now and never yet used that ring.

killiand

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Re: Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 15.06.2017 · #23

Quote

you could rig up a relay bypass switch on 12v and run on that from the les battery ,once you drive of the les batterys will recharge in about 20 mins driving.

....A what sorry??

sprinter

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Subject:

Calling the electrically inclined!!

· Posted: 15.06.2017 · #24

Unfortunately , There is no short trips to or from Ireland to France .

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