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Topic: can I earth my caravan??

lunarvenus

18/4/2013 at 11:14am
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Hi every one, I have sited my caravan and as I was on a job today I just happened to look at a earth spike and thought would that be a good idea to put a earth spike next to caravan and run a earth cable in.

Just a thought.

Ali Girl

18/4/2013 at 11:25am
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Caravans are earthed though the hook up.
When I was in the army we used to earth our electronics repair wagons and our generators but this was to make the circuit.
If caravans needed to be earthed separately the manufacturers would include an earth point.

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Peridot

18/4/2013 at 12:04pm
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Quote: Originally posted by lunarvenus on 18/4/2013
... thought would that be a good idea to put a earth spike next to caravan and run a earth cable in.

When there's a fault on some other part of the site's electrical installation (or a neighbouring property), and the fault current decides to flow back through your earth spike and EHU lead, it won't seem like such a good idea

Opensauce

18/4/2013 at 1:46pm
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A caravan plugged into ehu is wired to earth, ie no different to an electrical appliance plugged into a socket in a house. Any earth spike would be elsewhere in the electricity supply.

lunarvenus

18/4/2013 at 7:28pm
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Fair point no need then.

DaveCoaches

19/4/2013 at 10:19am
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A caravan is predominantly wood. Even the aluminium skin is held together on sealant so earthing part of a caravan doesn't earth it all. That's why the lights have earth wires and don't rely on getting an earth through the body as is done with cars.

Earthing can be dangerous anyway. That's why shaver sockets which have no earth are the only sockets allowed in a bathroom. If there is no route for the current to take to earth or neutral (incidentally with PME systems the neutral is the earth), electricity is harmless.

saxo1

19/4/2013 at 11:52am
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"incidentally with PME systems the neutral is the earth),"

Earth is bonded to the neutral beyond the meter position,,there must still be a CPC (earth wire) inside the house.

Saxo1

DaveCoaches

19/4/2013 at 8:19pm
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Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 19/4/2013

"incidentally with PME systems the neutral is the earth),"
Earth is bonded to the neutral beyond the meter position,,there must still be a CPC (earth wire) inside the house.
Saxo1

Yes, but there is no incoming neutral, the earth is used for the neutral.

OliverDay

19/4/2013 at 8:38pm
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Quote: Originally posted by DaveCoaches on 19/4/2013
Yes, but there is no incoming neutral, the earth is used for the neutral.

I don't know what you are thinking about but the 'earth' is never used as a neutral.

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Ollie

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Camping Les Gorges du Loup

OliverDay

19/4/2013 at 8:58pm
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Quote: Originally posted by DaveCoaches on 19/4/2013
Earthing can be dangerous anyway. That's why shaver sockets which have no earth are the only sockets allowed in a bathroom. If there is no route for the current to take to earth or neutral (incidentally with PME systems the neutral is the earth), electricity is harmless.

It's normally the lack of earthing which can be dangerous.

The reason why only certain types of shaver sockets are allowed in bathrooms is due to them having isolating transformers. The shaver circuit is then electrically separate from the 'main' supply.

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Ollie

2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup

saxo1

19/4/2013 at 10:52pm
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The neutral is always into the property,the earth is connected to the neutral on the supply side of the supply cutout,they then become a combined neutral and earth.

Socket outlets are permitted in bathrooms provided they are 3m outside zone 1 and are protected by a 30mA RCD.

saxo1

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