Hi all. I have a 3 way fridge and, more often than not, that is the only thing I have connected to the mains electricity. I use a Camping Gaz lamp for light, run the bus electrics from the leisure battery and keep the gas in the bus locker for cooking. So, in order to save me getting out a 10m reel of cable to plug in on site and a surge protected socket thingy, I thought I would simply get one of the round blue 16 amp male plugs and put it straight onto the fridge cable, as this would plug straight into the on site socket and the fridge under the canopy/awning. The only problem is that these blue plugs do not have a fuse in them. Is there a way around this or am I destined to keep getting the cable reel out.......?
the reels dont have a fuse in them either, usually the hook up has a breaker right on the post you plug in.
Yep, point taken, but the normal 13 amp plug on the fridge is fused. This then plugs into my socket at the end of the cable.
Granted, but.... 1. I only carry one gas bottle that I use for coooking and heating in the bus. 2. It is a pain to get the bottle out of the bus and then level the fridge and get it working. 3. If the cost of the hook up is included with the pitch cost then why spend my gas!?!?!?!?!
another thing to think about is earthing with a proper hook up the chassis is earthed but using an extension lead to power you fridge will leave your chassis un-earthed you could run a wire from the casing of the fridge to the chassis to get over this problem
by law the RCD has to be fitted to the consumer unit on the camp site RCD's don't have a earth connection the old voltage operated trips do but you shouldn't be using them any more
But why would I have to earth it to the van if it is away from the van in the awning/under a canopy? If I leave the normal 13 amp 3 pin plug on it I would just use one of these I don't want to have a socket in the van to plug the fridge into when it is outside as I wouldn't be able to shut the sliding door with the cable in the way!
Does that mean the only way I should connect to the campsite electric is via a cable, then an RCD and then plug the 13 amp plug into this?
Sorry but hear i go again. Using one of the leads is fine if you remember they are for use in a tent or awning only. Think of your van as a metal box with a insulator on each corner (rubber tyre) now you put a lead through a door or window where it can get damaged or the if the fridge goes faulty you have a proplem. Apart from the fire risk if it sparks or overheats you could have a death to deal with as you now have a live box insulated from the ground. Now you or your child then steps out with one hand on the van and with bare feet steps onto the damp grass. I know campsites have rcds but these are not always working i have tested sites that 1/2 had not.
Right, thanks for the replies. So there are 2 issues here really. 1. If I want to site my fridge outside the bus and use the mains then I need to use one the the leads with RCD as shown above complete with one of these to put the end of the cable with the RCD in and then plug the fridge into it. A shame, as I was trying to save space an cut down on all the gear I carry to make more space for beer. Still, I guess it's safety 1st and ale 2nd! 2. If I want to put a socket inside my bus (with a male plug in the engine bay) then the cable through the metal work must be via a grommet and the plug socket in the bus must be complete with an RCD and earthed to the body of the bus. Does this make sense?
My fridge gets as cold on gas as it does on 240 volt The only time ive really used it on 240 volt was when it was a drinks fridge in my old workshop lol To use gas you dont have to be perfectly level just not a big angles I have no need for hook up but if your paying for it anyway you might aswell run the fridge on it
