Message Forums

Agree totally Val

The box on one site we go to has about 16 French 2 pin sockets in 2 columns and each one of these has to have an adapter either inside the box where it can trip out another socket by pressing against the trip button or outside the box on the ground(assuming a trailing lead such as yours).

The box also has door to close and that can press the adapters against the trips

A reverse polarity adapter at that end as well would be combersome and outside on wet grass 

Hi there ... we too are off to France at the end of August to Chateau Gandspette.  We are new to hook up in the UK having only just bought a system.  My husband went to our local camping shop today and asked what we'd need for EHU in France and they gave him an adaptor ... its blue at one end with three round pins and there is a white two round pin plug at the other end.

I'm really confused ... is this OK to use?  How do we plug this into our hook up unit, which obviously has UK sockets?  Do we need to be really worried about reverse polarity ... we have 2 young children so don't want to put their safety at risk.

HELP!

Quote: Originally posted by JohnG on 02/8/2007

---

RSM

If you have a reverse French 2 pin adaptor you can not reverse polarity if its on a euro type blue socket

 <Maybe I didnt explain it right. The blue 3 pin end is wired for reverse polarity. Are you saying this womt work?>

If you have a reverse blue euro plug socket lead you can use that on either end of the hook up cable with/without the French 2 pin adaptor.

 < I made up one of each>

My friend had a reverse polarity French 2 pin adaptor at Pin Parasol and it was reverse polarity on some of the blue Euro sockets so he had to get out the screwdriver and reverse the polarity.

<Thats what I done before we left UK>

I would be amazed if any French site had no reversed polarity sockets and the only way you could have that information is if you had personally checked every one.

The only way to tell is to plug in a polarity tester.

 < Done that to confirm RP at the site we used, and yep RP. Mind you the site was out of the stone age. [See my review]>

On the last rally we had a respected and well travelled friend who was adamant that you can't get reverse polarity with a 3 pin plug !!

< Lots of experienced people on here say you can. So I followed the advice given.Better safe than...>

Not trying to be pedantic but for less than £5 its not worth going away without a reverse polarity blue euro plug to blue euro socket

< Thats why I constructed 3 of them. To cover every eventuallity..I hope>

 

---

You seem to have it all covered but if you have a reverse polarity blue Euro plug to blue Euro socket adapter lead you don't "need" a reverse polarity French 2 pin adapter as well because you can use the above blue Euro with the 2 pin adapter---if you want to avoid carrying/buying an extra lead.

What I was saying wouldn't work is the French 2 pin reverse adaptor if the site doesn't have the French 2 pin socket as more and more are now equipped with the newer blue Euro plug.

On this topic the 2 pin adapter .leads on sale in UK are fitted with the French 2 pin with earth socket and side earth contacts as found in Germany etc.

If you have a German plug it will not go into a French 2pin socket as it doesn't have the socket for the French earth pin.

I've seen people with puzzled looks  wondering why they can't get their bought in Germany plug into a French hook up---no electric until the next morning and a trip to the shops!

Baldilocks

If you are on a site with the older French 2 pin(+earth socket) you just plug into the site socket the adapter you have purchased and then the blue plug on the end of your hook up goes into the adapter 

 Continental Mains Converter LeadMobile Mains Unit (Mini)
This plug goes into the blue socket on the other end
M196
SRP £73.00
Our Price £39.95
View Details
of this adapter

Reversed polarity means that if you have say a table lamp that is switched in the live then when it is switched "off" it will still be live as the switch has operated the neutral return.

In an exreme condition and on a wet campsite it could be possible for the circuit to be completed to earth via you Modern trips do give good protection but for less than £5 its worth having the reverse polarity adapter

You will also need a polarity tester which will check valiidity of earth and all connections as well.
I always plug it in in UK to check as well as the cables get treated quite harshly on site sometimes 

Got you John. Just having a look at sites for Germany next year. Hope I dont have to do all this again..

RSM

If you have this plug on the adapter lead you will be OK for Germany as well

CEE 7/7 hybrid Schuko/French