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Many campsites is France and Germany use the European standard blue plug as we do in the UK. However you will find sites that still have the two pin continental style connectors. You can buy an  adaptor for about a fiver in most good camping accessory shop. Don't forget, particularly in France, that ampage is a lot lower than you usually encounter in the UK, 6 amp is average. In Germany 16amp is widespread.

David

Most use the familiar blue sockets.  Some sites use the older type sockets found indoors on the continent.  You need a converter for these.  Some sites abroad have Live + Neutral reversed (reverse polarity).  This in itself isn't a big issue if you have a modern distribution unit with double pole circuit breakers.  Where there can be problems is with UK appliances having a fuse in the plug, if the circuit breaker doesen't cut off both L + N.  You can get left with a blown fuse & a "live" neutral connected & the possibility of the metal casing on your toaster or worse still the whole caravan being live if there is an earth fault - like a cut wire or loose connection.  A tester is useful to check this.  They also check for nasties like no earth.  If polarity is reversed, it is a simple matter to swap the L + N in your EHU plug - remember to swap them back at the next site!

There is a lot of info on here about this.  Do a search for more details.

Steve.

There is a difference between the French 2 pin and the German 2 pin, known as a Schuko. The French socket has an earth pin which goes into a hole in the plug. The German connector has side earths.

I carry a couple of short leads ( half a metre long ) with the Blue 16A socket on one end and a German plug on one and a French plug on the other. The 'normal EHU cable can then be plugged into the appropriate cable if needed.

To avoid the reverse polarity situation I also made up a 1 metre long lead with the Blue connectors at each end and at one end I reversed the Live and Neutral connections. I marked both connectors with a permanent marker pen saying that it was a reverse polarity lead

Phil.

Reverse polarity.

Quote: Originally posted by Nimrodphil on 28/1/2010

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There is a difference between the French 2 pin and the German 2 pin, known as a Schuko. The French socket has an earth pin which goes into a hole in the plug. The German connector has side earths.

Phil.

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Phil

The same adaptor will fit either socket as they usually have both types of earth, internal and side straps. The German/Austrian site plug is better because you can just plug in the adaptor upside down to correct polarity.

David

 

Quote: Originally posted by jdt020471 on 29/1/2010

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So i have one of these

EHU Unit

Do I still need a reverse polarity adaptor lead?

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