EHU Patch Lead for Reverse Polarity in France etc

[Thornebt]

I read on a post on here that some sites in France can be negative polarity and that it's necessary to have a 'patch lead' to correct it.

Where can I buy one of these please?

 

[Thornebt]

...and a polarity checker suitable for EU hook up?

 

[Two on Tour]

I read on a post on here that some sites in France can be negative polarity and that it's necessary to have a 'patch lead' to correct it.

Where can I buy one of these please?

Made my own negative polarity patch lead up and you can get a socket tester which will show you if the polarity is correct or reversed from Screwfix.

LAP MS6860D 16A Socket Tester 230V AC - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Pocket-sized, mains socket tester with LED indicators to show condition of circuit sockets. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

 

[Landy Andy]

Don’t bother personally. Just don’t play with the electrics whilst plugged in, and then you will be perfectly safe.

 

[Nirvanauk]

All available from Amazon. But I dont check these days.

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[Two on Tour]

Don’t bother personally. Just don’t play with the electrics whilst plugged in, and then you will be perfectly safe.

Some panels will not allow the 240 EHU to be used if the polarity is reversed and you have no choice but to use a reverse polarity patch lead to get mains 240 into the van.

 

[MisterB]

When

I read on a post on here that some sites in France can be negative polarity and that it's necessary to have a 'patch lead' to correct it.

Where can I buy one of these please?

You may also have read that lots of us don't worry about it and for very good reasons. Just do not start taking things apart when they're plugged in, but no sensible person would do that anyway ..

Do a bit more research on the forum (and then open up a few more cans of worms ... )

 

[MisterB]

Some panels will not allow the 240 EHU to be used if the polarity is reversed and you have no choice but to use a reverse polarity patch lead to get mains 240 into the van.

Name names ...... !! Lol

 

[bigtwin]

Name names ...... !! Lol

A shocking state of affairs!

Ian

 

[Two on Tour]

Name names ...... !! Lol

For a start off the PMS control panel we had in our PVC would not allow reversed polarity mains to operate in our van.

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[tonka]

If you want one, easy enough at camping places and on ebay etc..
Its just a plug and socket with the wires crossed.
In 20 years I have never bothered, although i do have one "somewhere"..

EU Europe Caravan Camping Mains Hook Up Polarity Reverse Adapter 16A +NOTES | eBay

16A 200-250v. If required, you can then simply insert this reversing-adapter on the source end of your mains cable, and thence into the power-point. The caravan mains electrical installation should not be used whilst a reversed polarity situation exists.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Speve]

Just turn the two pin plug upside down that will change polarity when you plug it in

 

[Rob Turner]

Dunna waste your money.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I carry one of those mains tester gadgets. I made up my own short reverse polarity lead. I only used that lead on one occasion abroad. If you need a 2-pin plug for some older foreign hook-ups you simply turn that plug upside down, as Speve said.

 

[ctc]

If you want one, easy enough at camping places and on ebay etc..
Its just a plug and socket with the wires crossed.
In 20 years I have never bothered, although i do have one "somewhere"..

EU Europe Caravan Camping Mains Hook Up Polarity Reverse Adapter 16A +NOTES | eBay

16A 200-250v. If required, you can then simply insert this reversing-adapter on the source end of your mains cable, and thence into the power-point. The caravan mains electrical installation should not be used whilst a reversed polarity situation exists.

www.ebay.co.uk

It's in your "come in handy" box.

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[Odd-no-more]

I used to worry about reverse polarity, but most vans now have double pole mcb's so it's nowhere near as important as it used to be. I do have a lead that I made up years ago but I've never used it.

 

[Ingwe]

I used to worry about reverse polarity, but most vans now have double pole mcb's so it's nowhere near as important as it used to be. I do have a lead that I made up years ago but I've never used it.

what he said.

 

[denisejoe]

Get a European van won’t matter then

 

[Brains]

We had a VW camper that would not work on reverse polarity, but not come across the problem in the last couple of decades, so guess more modern vans don't care.

 

[Odd-no-more]

We had a VW camper that would not work on reverse polarity, but not come across the problem in the last couple of decades, so guess more modern vans don't care.

Very little electrical stuff would have a problem with reverse polarity, even electronic stuff. It's a problem for gas boilers in houses, that have flame rectification to detect the flame, but not in a MOHO as all the equipment is 12 volts

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[autorouter]

I have an adapter from round blue plug to 13A socket. Also a socket tester. Using these I can test the hookup socket, hookup cable and motorhome sockets for any faults including reversed polarity and missing earth. They have come in handy for helping out other motorhomers with for example faulty hookup cables etc.

I'm not sure you can buy a reverse polarity adapter. I made one with a round blue plug and socket, with the live and neutral reversed. I always check the supply with a socket tester, usually in a motorhome socket. If the polarity is wrong I plug in the adapter. Reverse polarity is a safety issue with British MHs, but it's not the life-threatening problem it once was now that we all have RCD devices and doublepole circuit breakers fitted.

As Speve says, some European round '2-pin' plugs are reversible anyway, if you're on a site that uses those. German and Spanish ones are reversible, but French ones aren't.

 

[xsparks]

Like others I made my own. I'm not sure how legal what is basically an incorrectly wired plug or socket would be to sell. I should think it would need to be marked to make it obvious to the user.

 

[Widge]

Like others I made my own. I'm not sure how legal what is basically an incorrectly wired plug or socket would be to sell. I should think it would need to be marked to make it obvious to the user.

Maybe you need to use this wire.

 

[Lenny HB]

I never worry about it, breakers are double pole sockets are unswitched & most things used in the van are double insulated

 

[Suenliam]

When we first Mh'ed in France I didn't know about revered polarity so didn't worry about it. Then I joined a forum and got worried. Then I forgot about so didn't get a conversion adaptor. Now only worry when I read these posts Never had a problem but then I don't mess about with lecky 'cos I don't understand it.
Sue

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[Odd-no-more]

When we first Mh'ed in France I didn't know about revered polarity so didn't worry about it. Then I joined a forum and got worried. Then I forgot about so didn't get a conversion adaptor. Now only worry when I read these posts Never had a problem but then I don't mess about with lecky 'cos I don't understand it.
Sue

No need to think about it unless you have a very old MOHO

 

[Suenliam]

Thanks - got a new one so I'll forget about worrying. I'll still not get involved with any lecky workings though!
Sue

 

[autorouter]

I never worry about it, breakers are double pole sockets are unswitched & most things used in the van are double insulated

Don't forget to fit double pole fuses in those 13A plugs

 

[Odd-no-more]

Don't forget to fit double pole fuses in those 13A plugs


Naughy

 

[The Wino]

I would wager a fair bit of money that of you asked a hundred French motorhome owners there wouldn't be a single one with a reversed polarity lead.

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