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Quote: Originally posted by Kabbes on 08/7/2009Looks like this.

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Quote: Originally posted by racingsnake on 10/7/2009

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Even better, if you register on the ACSI website, you can download all the GPS co-ordinates for your GPS, for all the sites they know about....

I've also ordered the paper book, 3.20 delivered!

Great, and thanks to all of you for your help.

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I too take a continental adapter as you never know when you will need it.

Reverse polarity is not a big deal as you say , in fact it's not a deal at all.

Do you ever see the French people rewiring their electrical appliances or hook up leads ? No because they are the same as we buy here and will work the same here as in France.

Just my opinion of course , Dave.

To say that you don’t bother to check polarity, things seem to work, is like saying “I don’t bother to wear a seat belt and am OK”.  It’s not until you have an accident or fault that you may have a serious injury.

In an ideal world everyone’s electrical systems should be perfect and it should not make much difference if polarity is reversed. However if someone does have a faulty or substandard system your views could result in that person having a serious accident.

On two previous threads I have written about the high fatality rate due to electrocution in France. The statistics for Germany and Switzerland where there are also problems of reverse polarity, are similarly high.

They do not have the high standards of inspection we have in the UK and it is estimated by the Commision de la Securite des Consommateurs that 40 % of French electrical systems are substandard.

I would expect the electrical systems on the larger campsites which I tend to frequent to be reasonably good. However I take care for those using our camper as far as is possible by carry out a few simple checks (which takes approx 1 minute) when setting up.

Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 11/7/2009

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Does the 40% of French systems referred to include domestic installations?I wonder what percentage of U.K.domestic installations are sub standard, rather similar I suspect.
Saxo1

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Spot on. At least 40% of pre-1970`s houses in the Uk I would say. Slightly less say 30% of post 70`s.

revere polarity is a safety issue but its been discussed to death here so lets not bother anymore. Just search the archives.

The figure of 40% refers mainly to domestic instalations as their are very few facts and figures collated in france regarding health and safety.  A Certificate of conformity is required on all new connections to the grid since approx 1987 and no compulsorary checks are made on systems pre dating that time.  It is a requiremnst of the French electrical standard NF C 15 100 that correct polarity is observed on 3 pin sockets ie the pin on the right is live.  It is believed that occasional problems of reversed polarity in the continental electrical system have persisted because they do not have fused plugs and some theirfore don't see it as a problem when wires are the wrong way round!

If such a high proportion of domestic properties in  the UK were substandard it would lead me to ask why fatilities were so much higher on the continent?

Bob

It depends on your definition of sub-standard. I spend a lot of time testing electrical installations in the UK. 8 out of 10 installations have faults and about half of those are, or could potentially be ,dangerous given other factors such as moisture, faulty appliances etc.

The days of dodgy sparkies are numbered in the UK ( Part P 2005) but only last month I changed a consumer unit and tested the installation to find that all the sockets had live and neutral reversed when the home-owner had changed them a few years earlier.

In France who knows.........i check at sites in the UK too!

Bodgeit

If you are doing testing you must have a fair Idea of the situation in the UK.  As someone carrying out various work in houses I too have uncovered some nasties!  However on electrical safety I believe we are actually ahead of our friends across the channel.  In this months CC magazine they advise checking polarity on UK sites as well.

I make no apology for being fanatical about safety as we have only one life.

Regards Bob