At the end of our previous outing while packing away the external socket on our Bailey Bordeaux appeared to fail. I decided to leave it until our last outing to sort it but to our surprise the socket worked. Then again this time as we were pacing away it stopped working again. I decided to investigate it this time and found that the socket outside is wired through the frige on off switch inside the wardrobe. Is this usual as I might want to use the ouside power socket while the fridge runs on gas. Why is it not wired to the live side of the switch if that is the nearest supply? It just seems rather strange.
------------- Nigel
March 2012 - Dove Meadows
6th July Moving to Hayle
just needs the feed from the switch to be moved over to the supply side rsther than the appliance side, easy mistake to be made (but if it was dealer fit, should have been checked.)
Connecting a socket is a pretty straightforward job and clearly someone has made a mistake. This could have been a genuine mistake (the OP has not described anything dangerous) or it could have been done by an idiot.
What sort of cable have they used? Is it flex (similar to that used on household appliances) or have they used twin and earth as would be used to connect a socket up in a house where the wires would be concealed in a wall, ceiling or floor.
The twin and earth is not intended to bend once installed and if it does, can break. Also the earth does not have any insulation, but a length of sleeving is slipped over the ends. This is not suitable for use in a caravan. If this has been used, disconnect it at the fridge and either get it connected up properly the external socket altogether.
If flex has been used, check it is heavy enough (should be as thick as an EHU cable) and that there are no strands of bare copper hanging out of the terminals at either end and the terminals are tight. Also check that it is wired correctly, ie brown is to the live, blue is neutral and green/yellow is to the earth.
As I say, it could have been a silly mistake, or could have been connected by a total retard who has made other mistakes that could be dangerous.
Its a Bailey Bordeaux 2004 so I assume any remedy is for me to resolve. The plug is wired with 13amp white 3 core. I agree that it might just be a simple mistake as I cant see any benefit in wiring it to the switch side rather than the feed side. We have one more trip booked this year in November and then the van will go for service in March. I think I will ask them to look at it then. It seems strange but I am happier that I'm not going bonkers
------------- Nigel
March 2012 - Dove Meadows
6th July Moving to Hayle
It's possible that a previous owner had it wired that way because they had an additional fridge connected to it so when the internal one was switched off so was the other one.
------------- Caravanning is a way of getting a cheap holiday out of an expensive hobby