EHU Cable length

[Giles123]

Hi all
We have just ordered a Roller Team T-Line 700 as our first motorhome only having camped before so new to the EHU world. Wondering what people’s views are on what length of cable to get. Have seen a few comments in various places that 10m ones can be on the short side depending on the site layout but one comment suggested 25m which seems a bit belt, braces and piece of string especially as I get that you need to unroll the whole cable to avoid the overheating issue when in use.
As ever thanks in advance for all the comments!

 

[Pausim]

Do you fancy carrying and gripping a live 16a socket in the pouring rain.

Hell no!

That’s why we have Darwin Awards.

Tony

The trailing socket has a cap and should be at least IP44 rated. IP44 would not withstand immersion or pressure washing but should be safe against water splashes and rain.

 

[Jabstatt]

Why risk it but use a simple work process which completely removes all risk?

Tony

 

[Reallyretired]

It seems normal for the continentals to leave their ehu cable wound on the drum. I think the reason is that a lot of continental vans only have gas heating so only a low wattage load. A lot of sites only have a 6A or less hookups too.

 

[Landy Andy]

I am happy to leave mine on the roll. Only used to run the battery charger.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Barti Ddu]

Do you fancy carrying and gripping a live 16a socket in the pouring rain.

Hell no!

That’s why we have Darwin Awards.

Tony

I think talk of gripping live sockets in the rain and being a contender for the Darwin Awards is a bit sensationalist and melodramatic.

But, I'm always willing to learn (and if necessary change my ways) , so is there any real risk in normal usage scenarios to plugging into the EHU post first? At the moment I plug in whichever end I'm closest to first, which tends to be the van. Any reported deaths, injuries from doing this? I can't see where the additional risk arises. As Richard n Ann says if it's absolutely bucketing it down I wouldn't be outside playing with electricity anyway.

Ps. Not sure why I'm so interested anyway as we mostly wild camp, and out of typically 120 nights away each year, the number of times I use EHU each year I can count on my fingers.

 

[gilbaro]

We unwound our 25m cable which was just long enough to reach bollard. Left the stellplatz today and couldn't the reel which was Christmas present from my wife.
We obviously didn't pack it away quick enough and someone took a fancy to it.

 

[Richard n Ann]

I think talk of gripping live sockets in the rain and being a contender for the Darwin Awards is a bit sensationalist and melodramatic.

But, I'm always willing to learn (and if necessary change my ways) , so is there any real risk in normal usage scenarios to plugging into the EHU post first? At the moment I plug in whichever end I'm closest to first, which tends to be the van. Any reported deaths, injuries from doing this? I can't see where the additional risk arises. As Richard n Ann says if it's absolutely bucketing it down I wouldn't be outside playing with electricity anyway.

Ps. Not sure why I'm so interested anyway as we mostly wild camp, and out of typically 120 nights away each year, the number of times I use EHU each year I can count on my fingers.

Perhaps people who habitually do daft things think we ALL need these rules and regulations because we're all as daft as them, ie walking in the pouring rain holding a live lead

It always strikes me that people who love speed limits are poor drivers, anyway I'm drifting from topic

 

[Jabstatt]

I think talk of gripping live sockets in the rain and being a contender for the Darwin Awards is a bit sensationalist and melodramatic.

But, I'm always willing to learn (and if necessary change my ways) , so is there any real risk in normal usage scenarios to plugging into the EHU post first? At the moment I plug in whichever end I'm closest to first, which tends to be the van. Any reported deaths, injuries from doing this? I can't see where the additional risk arises. As Richard n Ann says if it's absolutely bucketing it down I wouldn't be outside playing with electricity anyway.

Ps. Not sure why I'm so interested anyway as we mostly wild camp, and out of typically 120 nights away each year, the number of times I use EHU each year I can count on my fingers.

Maybe you have never come across a colleague who was electrocuted this way.

Enough of this unnecessary risk.

Life is too precious.

Tony

 

[Phill D]

Maybe you have never come across a colleague who was electrocuted this way.

Enough of this unnecessary risk.

Life is too precious.

Tony

I agree it’s a risk especially the way some treat their EHU cables, and I use sensible practices when handling the cable.

However, I do not know of, or even had a mates , mate who knows of, anyone who has been electrocuted in this way.

I have personally seen a coiled cable begin to overheat and the integrity of the cable be compromised.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[varaizian]

I distracted myself, and several others, musing about plugging in leads and ignored the OP’s original question. I carry a 25m CCE cable and a 12.5m cable but with a French water-resistant socket and a Shuko plug on the other end. I presume that people mean Shuko when saying 2 pin? Together with a home-made 2m tail lead that fits the van and has a matching French water-resitant plug at the other end plus a pair of the short adaptor leads I have always been ok. As several have said Spain and Portugal often require longer leads so I also take a Shuko-based reel. I hope the OP realises that a full-form French plug will not fit into a Shuko socket.

 

[Coolcats]

25m.

Caravan Club sites often require this length. But no joins, they are cracking down this year and will ask you to unplug and move pitch.

During lock down I had a CE marked Y connector split for the van and the freezer the club warden didn’t not like this and advised connect to the moho and a lead from the Moho to the freezer so I get what they may not like a split connection.

 

[varaizian]

Incidentally I have taken on-board the comments about carrying live leads and will take them into account in future.

 

[Coolcats]

Maybe you have never come across a colleague who was electrocuted this way.

Enough of this unnecessary risk.

Life is too precious.

Tony

Electricity is dangerous, a mates Son was electrocuted and died when he touched a record turn table and his toe touched a pipe in the lounge. The turn table wasn’t earthed and had been in use for years….

 

[Roby2008]

2 x20m wirh 16amp plugs, 1 x EU plug adapter, 1 x UK plug adapter,....and a splitter for emergencies..

2nd cable added 20% of the time over the last 10yrs I reckon.

No cable roll, loose wound.

I never worry about reverse polarity, EU van with EU sockets.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Gav61]

10m 80%of time ..
25m usually needed in Spain and France.
Most sites seem to use conventional UK type plugs/sockets but always carry the adapter.
Happy MH ing

 

[Jon Stewart]

At one point you automatically got a new cable with a new van. I am not sure that is the case anymore.

Not included, just like spare wheel etc, or else there'd be no payload, rather than not enough!

 

[Barriesimpson]

considering I only plug in at home or friends I have a 25m, 15m,5m, + 3m splitter, female to 2pin , female to uk 3pin, 2pin to female 90º elbow ,male to female 90º blue plug/socket adaptor complete with 2pin female outlet,short 2pin male to female. plus other tat.think the cable bag weighs around 20kgs

I think you are missing a couple of adapters to make the full kit

 

[autorouter]

I am happy to leave mine on the roll. Only used to run the battery charger.

If you buy a cable that is already on a roll, then the manufacturers will specify two amps ratings - one fully unwound and another fully wound. If the fully unwound limit is 16A then the fully wound limit will be in the range of 6A to 10A.

So you can use that principle to decide on how many amps you can send along a fully wound cable. I'd say 6A was OK, but over 8A you'd have to fully unwind it. In summer with gas water heating and cooking, 6A is plenty. A fridge takes about 1A.

 

[cyberyacht]

The length required is 2 metres more than you have readily available.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Barriesimpson]

The length required is 2 metres more than you have readily available.

But worse would be 10cm....

 

[Nirvanauk]

I can't believe that this thread is still going.

 

[Barriesimpson]

I can't believe that this thread is still going.

I can't believe that you can't believe, who would believe if nobody believes?

 

[Burge]

Believe ME

 

[Brains]

2 x 25m leads
(All marked with our number plate at the ends, for German campsites where multiple splitters are often used)

Plus:

• 4 way C Form splitter
• 3 pin plug to C form
• C form to 3 pin socket
• EU 2 pin to C form
• Conventional 3 pin plug to 4 way socket with surge protection (for running lights and laptops under the awning.)
• 2 x 5m 3 pin plugs attached to a cable to a light socket (Like a nice inspection lamp) for lighting the awning
• and of course 20m of outdoor Xmas lights

Every item has been used at least once this year.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Barriesimpson]

Believe ME

I do.

 

[Richard n Ann]

We're on an ACSI site for a couple of nights so EHU is included
Last night after a few San Miguels I connected up our 1.5mm 25m cable and chucked the spare on the ground
Luckily nothing happened

 

[Ray-Vic]

The risk involved with carrying a cable which has been connected to a power outlet is pretty low. There is risk, of course, as there is with crossing a road, or carrying full gas bottles on our vans, but the risk is mitigated by other measures applied such as using the green cross code (for those of us of a certain age) or having safety valves etc on our bottles. This is no different to having IP rated commando sockets and double insulated cable which, theoretically, reduces the risk of electrocution to a level that is low, and to the point that the actual risk (rather than possible risk) of electrocution is highly unlikely. The biggest risk is pulling the socket off the motorhome end of the cable with the other end plugged in, but that could happen in normal use if you snag the cable.

I'll give you an example of how risk can change in this instance. I plug the motorhome end of my cable in first and then, unknown to me, whilst uncoiling the cable back to the post from which I can't see my motorhome socket, I've tugged a little too hard and the cable has pulled out of the plug as the terminals have loosened over time. I now plug the other end into the post and I now have exposed live cable ends which I haven't seen. If I did it the other way and pulled the cable out of the post end I would have a safe cable.

I would add to this that like others I tend to plug into the motorhome first anyway but that isn't because of the risk of electrocution, it's just because I'm already at the motorhome having taken the cable from the garage.

I speak as someone who spent an extended time in hospital many years ago following a very bad 185VDC electric shock resulting in severe burns and internal organ damage, so I certainly don't take things lightly in this regard, but I am also realistic when carrying out dynamic risk assessments, which is basically all we are doing here.

As with all things involving risk, it is down to the individual to assess their perceived risk level, and do what they feel is the best thing for them. There is no right or wrong way, just be careful whichever way you do it as you could trip over the cable (there's another risk!).

 

[carolyn]

we carry both a 25m and a 10m cable and for the first time in 13 years 2 nights ago we had to join them together in the cold and wet. Fortunately one of our travelling companions had one of those join protectors so I didn’t have to cobble something together with bin bags and duct tape in the dark. Another item on my “to buy” list.

 

[mikebiggles]

Hi all
We have just ordered a Roller Team T-Line 700 as our first motorhome only having camped before so new to the EHU world. Wondering what people’s views are on what length of cable to get. Have seen a few comments in various places that 10m ones can be on the short side depending on the site layout but one comment suggested 25m which seems a bit belt, braces and piece of string especially as I get that you need to unroll the whole cable to avoid the overheating issue when in use.
As ever thanks in advance for all the comments!

25m for us. Takes 2 mins to uncoil and same to coil back up when finished, Never been caught short

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[swemmy666]

How common is it to find you need to use the reverse polarity lead?

and how do you test before plugging in your cable?