Hook up on your van

That's a roundabout way of earth bonding your van, nothing wrong with the principle of that, but I'd never, ever do it via any form of mains plug or socket outlet.

 

Wouldn’t the rcd/consumer unit need to be the first thing? If the incoming supply is via a switched spur then it wouldn’t be protected would it? Unless I’m reading this wrong?

 

Only if it was a fixed installation, I'm meaning making up an extension lead, fused via a fused spur, with RCD protection at the twin socket.

 

I was just trying to come up with a simple way of safely earthing my through the window unit

 

You'd be better off just visually checking the cable regularly for any nicks or cuts. In reality the risks from an extension lead set up is very low.

 

i would have thought putting a hook up in can’t be that hard if you just want to power a couple of 240v sockets, then a simple garage consumer unit would do wouldn’t it?

I guess it’s tricker if you want to route mains power through a zig/Sargent type unit to charge the leisure battery and also integrate a solar controller.

 

Between jacking point and rear outrigger attached to floor. Comes up under the r&r bed:

 

Same as mine. I dont kneel down, just reach under to put the plug in or pull it out.
Main hazard is smacking your hand on the sill when the socket comes off the plug.

 

I mocked up a panel and then had a friend fabricate a metal box which i then put in water / electric / waste on the side, sprayed it the same colour and mounted it underneath. Not perfect pics but give you an idea. can send you more if you want. but it keeps all the services in one place. Took out the internal tank from the original interior and put in a modern pump connector from whale and then re-routed the old horrible waste to a new modern single pipe / no joins the to same place. thats the grey waste on the side. The electrics was just a flush mount which i add to the box as well. The photo is from camping this year. can take a close up if you want. Keeps it all neat and 'usable'

 

JK still sell these. I don’t know if they sell them as being suitable for use with campers, or if they’re more for using outside your camper, in an awning for example. Either way I can’t see where they advise against using them. Then again, it’s only about £20 more to get their hook up fitting kit, plus you don’t have the faff of feeding the cable through the window.

 

My approach has always been to keep it as simple and as flexible as possible, so fitting a fixed-installation consumer unit would not be how I'd do it.

 

@Merlin Cat . Just found another better pic which gives you an idea from the side. Not to everyones taste, but for me keeps it accessible and no holes in the side of the van. Also its away from the back (I think) quiet neat. I took to the old hole out when replacing the panel. This was us on our way to Devon this year. . Also fully connected inside to a charger etc for leisure battery when connected up and switches to mains battery as well to keep this nice and alive for when we want to move off

 

It’s alright as their hook up kit doesn’t fully comply either

 

It's an extension lead, you can use it where you like, perfectly safe provided you check it for damage regularly (visual inspection is one of the fundamental checks of the IEE Wiring Regs and has been for donkeys years.

 

Technically not complying with the regs under the regs under special locations.
Body of van must be earthed and double pole mcbs are needed

 

Mines on the side of the jacking point rear like rob.e and the one and only downer is having to crawl or lie down on the floor to fit it .
Fitting them in the noisy cupboard is OK but it leaves your engine flap vulnerable to possible theft of parts or silly buggers silly buggering as i believe you can't shut and lock .
Or it's drill the side and fit the plastic square attachment ....much the easier but not everyone likes the attachment .

I should just do what's the easiest .

 

As opposed to the HT leads, coil and all the other high voltage electrics inside the noisy cupboard?

PS don't forget to use a double pole MCB consumer unit.

 

my engine bay doesn't have a lock

 

I am tempted to say rollocks....but it's your skin, dude.