Mains hook-up

Discussion in 'Mech Tech' started by PaulC100, Jul 27, 2020.

  1. It's an extension lead with breakers, right?

    Can't see anything wrong with that in principle.

    Sent from my SM-N9500 using Tapatalk
     
  2. It’s not designed to be used from a camper, but from a tent / awning.
     
    F_Pantos likes this.
  3. I just bought one - a bargain at £25 - should be easily adaptable for my campervan - just need to find space for it next to the Propex. Seems to be good quality too.
     
    iblaze likes this.
  4. Do a search on here and have a read. Any answers will end up in arguments and bad advice. leccys will tell you the right way to do it and everyone else will argue with them as everyone’s a libertarian on here tha knows!

    my advice.... get electricians to do electrical work. If you have to ask then you shouldn’t be doing it!
     
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  5. davidoft

    davidoft Sponsor


    I’ve got some qualifications, they came with a readers digest DIY book , Is this good enough;)
     
    rob.e, Meltman and grandmst like this.
  6. Faust

    Faust Supporter

    Theoretically all our buses are death traps in the respect of wiring and braking system ...appallingly thin front panels a steering wheel which is as on par with a willys jeep .
    Heating system pouring oil ...poss exhaust fumes and a few shards of asbestos for good measure ..what the hell iam a libertarian ;):thumbsup:
     
    Day likes this.
  7. A librarian?
     
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  8. Faust

    Faust Supporter

    Burnt
     
  9. You need a proper double pole MCB and RCD consumer unit properly fitted. The Consumer units from a house are generally not suited to Campervans, to do it properly look for a double pole consumer unit that takes double pole MCB. The idea is that you can't guarantee the polarity of your hookup so having a switch on both live and neutral protects you at campsites where the wiring has been done to a poor standard.
     
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  10. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    I think you've just qualified yourself:p
     
  11. Something majorly wrong with that sentence.

    How is anyone expected to learn anything.
     
    Coda likes this.
  12. theBusmonkey

    theBusmonkey Sponsor

    I think you understand the spirit of that answer grandmst. ;)
    All too often advice freely given from lads and lasses on this forum who carry the correct knowledge, backed up with training and quals that references safety and best practice, is diluted by guesswork and poor and dangerous advice from others that have no clue.
    Techenders for example is an amazing opportunity, for people who are unsure, to learn and DIY with advice and guidance from people such as @Dicky free of charge.
    So really there is nothing majorly wrong with that statement which was a personal opinion and followed advice to search through the extensive archives on this subject...to which Dicky and @matty have contributed to extensively over the years:thumbsup:
     
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  13. mikedjames

    mikedjames Supporter

    You know, I would be more worried about the USB outputs on that lead than the idea of it being an extension lead.


    But its probably got a TuV certification coming from a German supermarket.


    There are some dangerous designs out there for low power USB outlets..

    The real issue with using extension leads in general is that the bus body isnt solidly connected to what is designated as an earth lead. So that if you short the live side of the lead to the bus body ,the bus body is live.

    Having the breakers at the outlet ends, that means crushing the cable feeding the socket in a door for example you are relying on the RCD of the campsite to protect you as you grab the door handle to open it..

    In a proper installation, the inlet lead goes through a socket on the OUTSIDE of the bus, is protected with grommets through metal and has the mains earth bonded to the body of the bus. Then it goes to the protection circuits then to the mains sockets inside. ( all you neat engine bay mains socket types bear that in mind..)


    So basically its OK in a tent or an awning with leads going into the bus but like all extension leads you are relying on protection upstream of the lead for the wire where it goes into the bus.

    Electrical work is basically logic.. minimise risk of fire using sufficiently rated wire, prevent people touching live parts, protect against fraying and heat from heat sources and big bundles of power carrying wiring, which degrades insulation. Provide earth paths capable of carrying all the current.
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2020
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  14. matty

    matty Supporter

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  15. My Apologies, im not so much in the inner circle and never attended a Techenders event to be honest.
     
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  16. Judging how much of a clue someone has is always very difficult. It's made even more difficult by not knowing people's experience. i.e. I am not an electrician but years ago worked as an electrician's mate installing PA, CCTV and night club install. My apprenticeship 40 years ago was as a shipwright but the mate I was working for on the electrics talked me through what was needed and how to do stuff precisely & safely. In the case of mains electrics, this is the bit that I still tread carefully with, treat it with respect and if doing a bus hook up install would still get my electrician mate involved.

    For the OP just don't run the cable through a door and them slam it closed on the cable you might get a shock.
     
    theBusmonkey likes this.
  17. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    There is no inner circle, just a big circle with plenty gaps for everyone. :)
    The techenders crew is a constantly changing ever rolling ball...apart from @Baysearcher who was just a boy 20 years ago. :)
     
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  18. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    God, I remember those days (just)!
     
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  19. Zed

    Zed Gradually getting grumpier

    A completely different crew then with Disturbed Bonsai, JFF, Jamie, Peter Davies, DaveyJesus, the raving reverend and Tuesday, Roddy and that hippy who fell asleep under his van and half the vans falling apart.
     
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