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Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
15/6/2017 at 11:41pm
Location: St ALBANS
Outfit: Riva(Dandy) Destiny. Peugeot 5008
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Joined: 04/5/2007 Platinum Member 
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Brief answer as to why correct polarity should be observed.
As an advocate of checking and correcting polarity let me say from the outset that the chance coming to harm by connecting to a reversed polarity supply is small. It requires a secondary incident for there to be a significant risk and then there is the possibility that the RCD may prevent electrocution.
Mains electricity is an alternating current (AC). Many people assume that the supply alternates between the live phase and neutral wire. This misconception leads some people to think that polarity is irrelevant. In fact electricity is delivered from the live cable only, in a + / - sine wave at 50 cycles per second. However, this does not mean that it is safe to touch the neutral wire!
When people camp they may take a wide range of electrical equipment, (heaters, toasters hair driers, lights, etc.) It is often said, there is double pole switching (live and neutral) so no problem. I have yet to find double pole switching on a portable appliance. When connected to a reversed polarity supply the element will be live to touch even though it is not switched on. The only appliances I have found with double pole switching are the fridge and water heater in our camper which is hard wired to the consumer unit. Even then the manufacturers state that correct polarity must be observed when installing.
Because of safety issues with reverse polarity the use of double pole consumer units, sockets and light switches in electrical installations on the continent is fairly common or mandatory, but there are still many single pole switches and sockets in use.
Since 1992, because of the possibility of continental touring, UK caravans have been fitted with double pole MCB’s, RCD and may have double pole sockets.
In normal use, the reliability of an RCD tripping is approx. 97%. The odds of it not working are greater than winning the lottery! Its reliability is maximised by using the test button regularly. In addition, the speed and current at which they are set to avoid nuisance tripping may not protect the very young and or those with a weak heart. It is far better to have an RCD but do not depend upon it to save a life!
Although aware of the possibility, I encountered a situation where an RCD would not trip (done by pressing the test button). In brief, a neutral meter tail was unintentionally disconnected during work, rendering two RCD’s useless as safety devices, leaving the live phase on. This scenario could occur with single pole switching when polarity is reversed.
The 13 amp plug (BS 1363), as used in the UK and approx 50 other countries, is unique in that it is the only plug in the world which contains a fuse. The fuse (available as 3, 5, or 13amps) should be slightly larger than the consumption of the appliance or wire size it protects. If there is a fault or short (contact between live and neutral or earth) in either the wire from the plug or the appliance, the fuse will blow, rendering the situation safe. The primary function of a fuse is to prevent fire in the appliance and / or cable. Unlike an RCD it will not protect a person from a fatal electric shock but the wire and appliance are safe once the fuse has blown. If the fuse is on a neutral line, when polarity is reversed, it will not function as a safety device.
On the Continent, the appliance and wiring are dependent on the MCB in the Consumer Board and do not get the same degree of protection as with a plug fuse.
Both caravan clubs give sound advice on the safe use of electricity and BS7671 prohibits the use of reversed polarity electricity in the UK. Why? The reason I check and if necessary correct polarity is so that I have peace of mind knowing I have done everything to minimise the possibility of an incident.
Regards Bob.
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16/6/2017 at 9:07am
Location: West - North Yorkshire
Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate
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My take is that if it was a serious problem, and we all ran the risk of electrocution when operating our appliances in Europe, that EU Health and Safety requirements would make it mandatory that Estate Agents, restaurants, WiFi hot spots, hotel chains, and booking websites such as booking.com would be obliged to bring this risk to our attention. Also they would need to make susre that any plug sockets, anywhere, would display a 'Danger of death' notice, in English, in case a visitor from GB plugged something in. The wiring in Europe has the same 'differences' in houses, hotels, and cafes and restaurants.
Never, ever, have I seen such a warning apart from on forums such as this, and via the Caravan Club so I wonder just what it is that makes caravanners at more risk than other holidaymakers or visitors.
However I'm sure that none of us 'non-testers' will ever convince the 'testers' to change their views.
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Topic: Polarity tester
