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Subject Topic: Polarity? Post Reply Post New Topic
Persontony7
30/6/2007 at 11:56am
 Location: west coast scotland
 Outfit: Hymer Nova View tony7's Profile View Profile   Reply to tony7 Reply   Quote tony7 Quote  
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Going to France this summer and have read some reports about changing polarity on some sites. I ve been before and never did anything. Was I just Lucky and Could I have damaged electrics? also what do you do?

Thanks

Tony

 


Persontimtheenchanter
30/6/2007 at 1:02pm
 Location: Yeadon Leeds!
 Outfit: Swift Challenger & Defender 110SW View timtheenchanter's Profile View Profile   Reply to timtheenchanter Reply   Quote timtheenchanter Quote  
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generally you wont damage anything, the main concern is whils the polarity is reversed, the RCDs in your van will fail to function in event of an electrical fault, also switches will not isolate lights etc as they will be switched on the wrong side, ie the neutral.

to overcome this, get a socket tester (about £5) and make up/buy an adaptor lead, ie one with the live and neutral crossed over at one end, but make sure you mark this clearly as such.


Personmiffin
01/7/2007 at 10:11am
 Location: Whitley Bay
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That is weird. I thought France was a leader in Euro compatibility.

-------------
Brian


PersonDavid Klyne
01/7/2007 at 10:28am
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome View David Klyne's Profile View Profile   Reply to David Klyne Reply   Quote David Klyne Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by miffin on 01/7/2007

That is weird. I thought France was a leader in Euro compatibility.

Umm, Thats an interesting concept!!

Now seriously as Tim has said reverse polarity won't damage any of your 230 volt appliances but it leaves you open to a problem if there is a fault with one of your appliances as it could still be live when you think it is off. You could argue that the Frence system is safer because they switch on both live and neutral rather than just live as in the UK. As a result of their switching on both poles they don't really have to worry too much which way round they wire plugs up.

David


Persontrevorpriest
05/7/2007 at 2:58pm
 Location: oxfordshire
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Yes you were lucky as having the polarity wrong leaves items live when you think they are tuned off. Easy way is to use a small electric screwdriver that shows which is live terminal. Facing the plug going into the van the small connector on the right when the big connector is at the bottom is correct.As you are not always getting a good earth I use a piece of cable from the earth terminal to the top of the srewdriver to check. Having recently returned from France I experienced every combination of International and French connections with all variations of polarity

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trevor


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PersonJohnG
05/7/2007 at 3:46pm
 Location: Newcastle u Lyme
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1
 

It depends on whether the French site has the older domestic type of site socket (ie two pins and an earth socket on the plug you put in)

OR if it has the newer and increasingly more common Euro blue type of socket.

SO what you need is one adaptor to cover the first situation that converts the old type French socket to the newer Euro blue socket and thus your existing van lead.

If when you plug in the polarity tester in the van etc you have reversed polarity you then put in your reversed lead (clearly marked) which has a blue Euro plug at one end and a blue Euro socket at the other

When confronted by the Euro socket on the site electrics follow  the same  procedure but without the first adaptor.!! 

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-------------
John



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