What electric hook-up for France?

Betty Swollocks

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What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #1

Sorry for the non technical terms, but my hook up lead is the normal orange lead with the builders type large 3 pin type round plug on the end. Used it already at several sites in Ireland, North and South.

I bought an adapter to convert it to the normal household 3 pin plug for charging at home.

I'm off to France and have booked into 2 campsites next month.

Question is, do French campsites have the same large round connections as our Irish/GB campsites? Or do I need to purchase a 2 pin domestic Euro conversion plug?

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #2

Most of them have the standard 230v 16a style blue plug, there were a couple that required a euro (Shuko) style connector.
I would think it better to use a standalone adaptor like you have already but with a Shuko plug instead of an adaptor, some of them aren't very watertight and could be sketchy on a damp day.
You could make up an adaptor very easily with the one you have already just buy a suitable plug over there and wire it up yourself.
All supermarkets sell plugs but look for a water resistant one.

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #3

Agree with above ... for occasional use it is worth getting the two pin adaptor. But I would buy one as not expensive.
As you are on campsites on,y, why not email them and ask?

sprinter

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What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #4

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16A-…1941042201

Have a look at this ,you can make it up or buy one from the caravan stores.

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #5

Or this one, much cheaper.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sunnf…or+camping

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #6

we encountered two campsites in France that required the two pin adapter. the problem with them is, when you fit the adapter, or three pin plug fits in upside down, leaving it very vulnerable in rain. This is the first time we've encountered this in France, the wife had the travel adapter by chance for drying her hair in the showers.

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What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #7

I wouldn't use an adaptor the best way to go is a lead like in the above Post's
or one with a longer lead about 3mtr, caravan parks tend to have a power point in each bay and it would be long enough, Airs tend to have one multi outlet pillar to supply several pitches so you need a much longer lead.

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #8

We took a 16a blue socket with us the first time going to France and bought a electric kittle lead in one of the supermarkets and cut off the kittle side and fitted the blue socket instead. Probably unacceptable now with current wiring regulations.
We only used it a couple times.

http://dsmcz.com/prestashop/ca…-lead.html

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 28.07.2017 · #9

For £5.50, useful to have.......see E-Bay continental adaptor

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 29.07.2017 · #10

I have two continental adaptors that connect safely to my EHU lead. One I modified in case of reversed polarity. Worth getting a polarity tester as well as I have been on several campsites and encountered reversed polarity.

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 01.08.2017 · #11

on the issue of reverse polarity am I missing something here in that if you get a reversed polarity reading surely all you have to do is take out the two pin plug and turn it around

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 01.08.2017 · #12

Quote by the fat controller

on the issue of reverse polarity am I missing something here in that if you get a reversed polarity reading surely all you have to do is take out the two pin plug and turn it around

My thoughts exactly. Most electrical wiring has been standardised for years.

Daffysparks

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 01.08.2017 · #13

Only thing most are three pin plugs hard to turn around and plug in. Might need a lump hammer

JJF

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 01.08.2017 · #14

Quote by the fat controller

on the issue of reverse polarity am I missing something here in that if you get a reversed polarity reading surely all you have to do is take out the two pin plug and turn it around

John, I think folk are referring to the 16A 3 pin blue socket..... I know what you mean re:French type plug.
I bought one of these, reversed the live/neutral in one of the outlets and painted the lid yellow to cure the reverse polarity issue, and to boot it acts as a splitter if short on hook up points.

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2 pin

· Posted: 18.08.2017 · #15

3 pin

Betty Swollocks

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 19.08.2017 · #16

I've now been in France for 6 nights and can confirm the blue UK/Irish 3 pin builder's type plug thing has been what I'm using.

A friend's Dad who's been doing France for the past 35 years loaned me two French plugs, one of which is reversed polarity.

I accepted it but am of the opinion that it's no longer needed.

10 or more years ago, cowboy electricians did some wiring which wasn't up to scratch.

Apparently it's all up to our standard now and no need for anything other than the usual 3 pin blue plug I'm told.

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 19.08.2017 · #17

My understanding is that it's not dodgy electricians, but differences in switching protocol in that Europeans still switch both live and neutral feeds.
https://caravanchronicles.com/…-polarity/

I was in Portglenone last time home and when I hooked up, I was surprised to see my 'Reverse Polarity' warning light on. They have Euro style service points. I hadn't any choice but to use it.

When I got home I made up a reverse polarity adapter - similar to what JJF describes above.

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 19.08.2017 · #18

Quote by Betty Swollocks

There is still some of the two pin plugs in use possibly more in the older campsites and aires

Betty Swollocks

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 19.08.2017 · #19

Arrived in campsite number two

Same connection as UK.

I've got the French connection but doubt that I will need it.

Looks like the answer to my question is....

French campsites use the same 3 pin blue plugs as us.

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Re: What electric hook-up for France?

· Posted: 20.08.2017 · #20

The blue connection is a euro connection but some sites need a local 3 pin connection just like our house plug but the French version of it which can be bought localy in france just change your house 3,pin for their s

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