Just seen some hook up leads for sale on ebay and are listed as new but are homemade with blue 240volt plug and a 4 way extension socket, has anybody come across these as with no rcd attached these are very dangerous items to use especially where small children are around! anybody new to camping with no electrical knowledge could end up with one thinking they have bought a bargin.
I suggest everyone sends a question to the seller asking for details of the RCD on this item. Might give them the message. Or can this be reported to ebay?
Edit - I used the 'Report this Item' link and listed it as a hazardous electrical item. We'll see what happens.
You are absolutely correct that these are lethal items as they are not designed for protection against the outdoor elements. Even if they are kept in the tent under the canvas, they stiil pose a safety risk regarding damp and condensation. To be quite honest, I don't know why the health & safety committee have not clamped down on the sale of these dangerous items and the people who sell them on Ebay obviously know nothing about outdoor electrical safety and even if they do it just encourages them to gain more profit if people continue to buy them. People who are new to camping etc. are probably not aware of the dangers involved as damp and electricity definitely don't mix and is a lethal concoction that applies a very serious risk of electricution. I don't think that anything will be implemented to halt the sale of these cables until someone actually gets seriously injured or killed. I will go as far as to say that I did once ask the seller a question if the item came with a recognised safety guarantee. The seller didn't respond to my question so it says it all really. They obviously didn't want to commit themselves to answer a safety question but quite willing to sell and put mine and everybody elses life at risk. I think that these outdoor DIY cables should be completely banned unless they have the proper rubber sealings and carry an official tested guarantee certificate.
That would never pass a site inspection.how are they allowed to sell them?
------------- Think this year is to follow old meet friends for 2014.
If you cant do someone a good turn,don`t do them a bad one,its nice to be nice you know,and little things mean much more later in life.
Pete.
I think that this is more of a trading standards matter than an ebay issue if they are selling from their own website. If I get time later I might look into it a bit further as I would hate myself if someone got injured or worse do to me not doing anything about reporting it. Might be an idea if a few people from here reported it to Trading Standards this week so that they realise something needs doing.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
does anyone know if it is against the law to use this type of lead?i thought it was the site that had to supply the rcd/mcb protection and not the camper?don't get me wrong i would not even consider useing one,but wondered about the legal part of it.
Quote: Originally posted by wongers on 14/2/2011
does anyone know if it is against the law to use this type of lead?i thought it was the site that had to supply the rcd/mcb protection and not the camper?don't get me wrong i would not even consider useing one,but wondered about the legal part of it.
Don't know, but I've just found this. The last sentence is particularly relevant - it appears the the user is assumed (or required) to have independent RCD protection.
The latest IEE wiring regs cover camping and caravanning. The unit supplied by power must have independent 2 pole RCD. The ones in the site supply have delays to avoid tripping multiple supplies when there is a single fault.
The regs require the site to provide RCD and overcurrent protection but the site RCD may be delayed to avoid tripping the supply to others on the same post so it doesn't provide adequate protection.
The latest 17th edition regs require each socket to have it's own RCD so I can't see the need to use a time delayed one in this case.
The supply regs don't apply to tents but it is recommended that the rules applicable to caravans are applied.
They aren't breaking any law and they aren't the only ones on ebay selling similar items,I doubt trading standards will be interested as they havent made any untrue statements.
Saxo1
I saw these on E.bay last week and I wondered if they were legal,no way would i consider buying one ,I asked the seller a question and got a reply, this is the reply
Hi, campsites are required to fit an rcd to their supply, their is
no need for you to supply another
I think it needs some common sense,unfortunately if you look at the feedback on the ebay sellers there are lots of people lacking.
I was reading a review of a site last week and the poster commented that they had to show their hook up lead and connections before they were allowed on site.
We saw an old camper van turn up on site in Devon last year and they connected a normal household reel extension to the site bollard,they were asked to leave the same day.
As we use a caravan we don't have to worry about things like this but i agree these things are dangerous