Building in a battery charger

i'm lost on why we need 2 breakers? i'll hold my hands up to modifying a mobile "tent" type in my bay and i'm pretty sure it was safe.... why would i need 2 trips/breakers in a van? i'm fine with wiring it all but not with the initial purchase, if a tent type with one curcuit is fine in a tent, why do you need 2 curcuits in a van?

 

Step potential steve. Believe it or not ive been discussing that very issue today as it seems modern substation designers dont seem to bother about it. Seeing as how its me thats switching the buggers they will now be doing exactly that. Graduate engineers are ace!

 

They do different things if I remember. The Earth Leakage trip protects your arse, the MCB, the wiring and stuff. Maybe!

 

We ended up with GRP steps and GRP handrails where they were in reach.

 

Nothing wrong with a Heath Robinson job me thinks

 

steam punk init!

 

so the moblie/tent one doesn't need the earth one?

 

No. Tents arent metal!

 

You are asking the wrong bloke. I think it's all about a van being steel insulated on rubber tyres having the potential to become live without you knowing or it tripping anything, as the van is insulated. When you step off, one foot on the ground and one hand on the bus...

 

I had a tent one fitted in my bus for the last 5 years, it ran all my hook up electrics, never had a problem and it dint kill me, have I been stupid

 

Of course every mains powered anything designed to be held should be double insulated nowadays and the chance of anything untoward occurring must be slim?

 

ask matty, you can feel the frustration oozing out of the poor bloke every time this topic comes up...which is quite often!

 

I have a tent one in my awning with 3 sockets. I take 1 of them to power the hook up in my van.

 

Only if you can reach your toaster from outside.

 

That's a joke. I know nerthing.

 

i did the same, all i did was open it up and run an earth cable from the innards to the van chassis..... i never died either.

 

Lol it was permanently fitted in the cuboard and I ran other sockets from it as well as using the plugs already in it, rain or shine it never failed

 

Think of the two things as seperate parts of a system designedvto do different things with the same aim. The mcb protects against overload, short circuit hence fire and shock too. The rcd backs up the mcb as they dont go fast enough to provide full shock protection and particukarly when not in an actual fixed situation where the supply and environmental conditions are unpredictable. The rcd is reallybthe key bit but doesnt donthe full job. Ive actually got fuses in my system as well fitted in the inlet as its a schuko european jobbie as fitted to vikings or similar. I will sort that at some point.

 

same....... the only reason i'm monitoring this thread is 'cos i wanted it a bit neater in the new van.

 

Do what you want. Its your life.