240v electrics

[bencey]

Can anyone help me please I am at the stage of feeding in my cables
Does the fridge socket need to be on a different socket from the rest and does all the sockets go into 1 circuit breaker on the consumer unit

 

[meanders]

It depends on many things? How big is the consumer unit. Are there spare ways. Is it a fridge freezer (I prefer my freezer on a dedicated circuit). What's the total load of the devices... Etc Etc. It is almost impossible to answer your question with so little information. Bearing on mind 230V can and does kill, if you are unsure you must consult a qualified sparky, preferably one with experience of leisure vehicles.

 

[bencey]

Thanks for that

 

[meanders]

Sorry to be so harsh, but it seems you have just signed up to ask this question.

Just to add. If you do it yourself without being "competent" and something dramatic goes wrong and someone else gets hurt or killed, if you are still around to tell the tale, expect to be explaining your actions to a judge.

The other scenario is that if the van goes up in flames, your insurance company will use any excuse they can find not to pay out.

Same lessons go for the gas installation.

 

[Richard n Ann]

On mine all the sockets go into 1 circuit breaker. The charger, heater and water heater have their own.

Edit: fridge must have been on sockets originally but it's a 12v compressor fridge now.

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[bencey]

Sorry to be so harsh, but it seems you have just signed up to ask this question.

Just to add. If you do it yourself without being "competent" and something dramatic goes wrong and someone else gets hurt or killed, if you are still around to tell the tale, expect to be explaining your actions to a judge.

The other scenario is that if the van goes up in flames, your insurance company will use any excuse they can find not to pay out.

Same lessons go for the gas installation.

Sorry you think that but I will pay my subs today if needed the reason I am joining is this is my first time doing a conversion and thought joining a group would help me get through this journey I am a joiner so have no problems with the conversion it’s just the electric side of things I’m not sure off
Thought your reply has just put me off

 

[RogerIvy]

If you're planning to fit an inverter or Multiplus you should try to not share the fridge and charger with the rest of the habitation.
....so if you're currently building this from scratch then try to keep separate

I agree with meanders ... sorry to be so blunt but if you need to ask the question ....

 

[bencey]

On mine all the sockets go into 1 circuit breaker. The charger, cooker and water heater have their own.

Edit: fridge must have been on sockets originally but it's a 12v compressor fridge now

Thanks Richard n Ann that’s a great help

 

[bencey]

If you're planning to fit an inverter or Multiplus you should try to not share the fridge and charger with the rest of the habitation.
....so if you're currently building this from scratch then try to keep separate

I agree with meanders ... sorry to be so blunt but if you need to ask the question ....

 

[Lenny HB]

.
As Roger says best to seperate them but if it is a basic install they can all go to one breaker.
My Hymer just has an RCD and one 10 amp breaker, it was a bit of a pain seperating the charger and fridge when I fitted an auto changeover for my inverter.

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[VXman]

Sorry to be so harsh, but it seems you have just signed up to ask this question.

Just to add. If you do it yourself without being "competent" and something dramatic goes wrong and someone else gets hurt or killed, if you are still around to tell the tale, expect to be explaining your actions to a judge.

The other scenario is that if the van goes up in flames, your insurance company will use any excuse they can find not to pay out.

Same lessons go for the gas installation.

There is always one.

 

[bencey]

Thanks Rogerlvy
I am not using a inverter just want to use on campsite hook up
I do see meanders point but I will be joining this as it’s the first time converting a van and thought the knowledge on the forum would be helpful

.
As Roger says best to seperate them but if it is a basic install they can all go to one breaker.
My Hymer just has an RCD and one 10 amp breaker, it was a bit of a pain seperating the charger and fridge when I fitted an auto changeover for my inverter.

thanks Lenny HB

 

[bencey]

There is always one.

Thanks VXman I’ve just paid my subs so I can gain from the experience of the forum

 

[Richard n Ann]

Thanks Rogerlvy
I am not using a inverter just want to use on campsite hook up
I do see meanders point but I will be joining this as it’s the first time converting a van and thought the knowledge on the forum would be helpful

thanks Lenny HB

You'll be fine you'd have to be spectacularly clueless to mess up with only 3 wires (LNE) ask away if you need any more help

 

[bencey]

You'll be fine you'd have to be spectacularly clueless to mess up with only 3 wires (LNE) ask away if you need any more help

Thank you to all for your replies looking forward to converting my van and get out on the road

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[autorouter]

Can anyone help me please I am at the stage of feeding in my cables
Does the fridge socket need to be on a different socket from the rest and does all the sockets go into 1 circuit breaker on the consumer unit

This is a reasonable question, even for a qualified electrician who has worked on houses but not on a motorhome. It's a design choice, but if it was mine I would run a separate wire for the fridge from the consumer unit. Minimal installations have everything going to a single MCB, but I'd have at least two MCBs.

When you get a consumer unit, it's not a good idea to get one of those minimum size 'garage' consumer units. I prefer something like the picture in Richard n Ann's post which shows the kind of thing required. Also it's important that the RCD and MCBs for a motorhome need to be double pole, unlike the single-pole types found in all UK domestic consumer units. You will struggle to find these in DIY stores, and you'll have to go to specialist electrics places like CEF, or a caravan accessories shop, to get double-pole breakers. You'll probably have to buy an empty consumer unit box, and then buy the breakers to go in it separately, rather than buying a ready-made consumer unit.

 

[bencey]

This is a reasonable question, even for a qualified electrician who has worked on houses but not on a motorhome. It's a design choice, but if it was mine I would run a separate wire for the fridge from the consumer unit. Minimal installations have everything going to a single MCB, but I'd have at least two MCBs.

When you get a consumer unit, it's not a good idea to get one of those minimum size 'garage' consumer units. I prefer something like the picture in Richard n Ann's post which shows the kind of thing required. Also it's important that the RCD and MCBs for a motorhome need to be double pole, unlike the single-pole types found in all UK domestic consumer units. You will struggle to find these in DIY stores, and you'll have to go to specialist electrics places like CEF, or a caravan accessories shop, to get double-pole breakers. You'll probably have to buy an empty consumer unit box, and then buy the breakers to go in it separately, rather than buying a ready-made consumer unit.

Thanks Autorouter that’s brilliant info and answers all I need to know
It’s a 2 way 12v fridge/240v the 12v cables are 6mm / 50amps running roughly 6meters should I upgrade them to 8 or 10

 

[meanders]

You'll be fine you'd have to be spectacularly clueless to mess up with only 3 wires (LNE) ask away if you need any more help

Sorry to say on two counts.
1. Your advice is in my opinion dangerous. If it was just wiring, I would agree but there are many other factors to consider.
2. I didn't mean to put bencey off anything other than keeping themselves safe. Welcome aboard by the way. I notice you have now become a full member.

That said, I make no apology for pointing out the dangers and possible consequences and have seen the results of some well intentioned but incompetent installations. Is anyone here going to volunteer to attend a coroner's court to say they advised someone to get on with it as it's only three wires? We ALL have a duty to keep everyone else safe. bencey had only signed up today.

Fortunately another technical forum I frequent where high power, working at height, loadings etc are discussed, if any posts a vague question, they will always get the 'if you need to ask, you shouldn't be doing it, and no other member will ever challenge that response because it is sound advice.

 

[bencey]

Hi Meanders
It is just wiring I’ve been in the building trade and caravan industry for over40 years and I would not do anything that I think would be dangerous that’s why we have circuit breakers and wire sizing to adhere too
Thanks for your information

 

[autorouter]

What you'll find with long runs of 12V wiring is that the voltage drop is the important consideration. Use a voltage drop calculator like this one:

Voltage Drop Calculator | 12 Volt Planet Cable Calculator

Use our Voltage Drop Calculator to select the correct Cable for your campervan, motorhome or boat wiring application. Cable Calculator for Auto and Marine Electrical Components from 12 Volt Planet - Cable Size Calculator

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

I don't know what amps your fridge takes at 12V, but feed that into the calculator and keep the voltage drop below 3 or 4%. Is it a compressor fridge - probably 10A or less? The calculator shows 3.14% for a 6m run of 6mm sq cable, which is fine. If the voltage drop is OK, the amps capacity will be well within the spec of the cable, so no need to worry about that.

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[bencey]

Hi yes it will be a compressor fridge
I cannot thank you enough for your help

 

[RogerIvy]

Hi yes it will be a compressor fridge
I cannot thank you enough for your help

Are you going for a household fridge running off inverter or 12v?
We went with 12v compressor (also runs off mins) but it cost about 1k. I know of quite a few people that went the route of household fridge at about £200 running off their inverter.