European Hook Up Adaptor Advice

[datadezign]

This may sound silly. But can anyone please advise which type of hook up Adaptor will I need for travelling around Europe. After having searched online it seems that it is a female UK 3 round pin socket attached to a 2 round pin plug on a short length cable. The reason I question this is I haven’t seen a European hook up bollard yet and wondering how a 2 pin type mains plug will connect to a bollard and still be waterproof. Our UK hook up plugs are by their design waterproof, hence why I am questioning if the Adaptors I have seen online are the correct ones. If this is correct will this type of Adaptor connect to most European countries hook up facilities, and if not what other type of adaptors do I need to buy, so I have a comprehensive Adaptor set for virtually any country?

 

[DBK]

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View attachment 596995

That one will fine.

I use one like this and never had problems with it. You may need it anywhere in Europe, I've used it in several countries.

www.amazon.co.uk/European-Adaptor-Coupler-Caravan-Camping/dp/B00EHI8WR4/

 

[Orion]

Can reverse polarity be an issue on some aires/sites? Simple enough to make up a ‘crossover’ adapter lead with 16A blue socket and plug (suitably labelled) if it’s worthwhile carrying one?

BTW. For an EU to 16A adapter with the straight plug and recess for the earth pin I found this supplier on eBay:

 

[Richard n Ann]

Can reverse polarity be an issue on some aires/sites? Simple enough to make up a ‘crossover’ adapter lead with 16A blue socket and plug (suitably labelled) if it’s worthwhile carrying one?

BTW. For an EU to 16A adapter with the straight plug and recess for the earth pin I found this supplier on eBay:

View attachment 597019

Hooray! A reverse polarity thread!

But it doesn't matter if it's reversed

 

[autorouter]

Can reverse polarity be an issue on some aires/sites? Simple enough to make up a ‘crossover’ adapter lead with 16A blue socket and plug (suitably labelled) if it’s worthwhile carrying one?

It's not really a problem with non-UK motorhomes. All the switches and circuit breakers are double-pole, ie they switch both live and neutral. In German/Spanish sockets the 2-pin plugs are reversible anyway.

UK motorhomes ought to be wired with an RCD (Residual Current Device), double-pole switches and circuit-breakers, but some older ones and some DIY-conversions aren't. There's also the problem of the fuse in the '13A' plug, which by definition is not double-pole, and is supposed to always be in the live supply wire.

If the motorhome is fitted with an RCD, as most are, then the safety issue largely disappears. However it's usually the older motorhomes and DIY conversions that are the ones that are not fitted with an RCD.

If your MH is not fitted with an RCD, it's actually easier and cheaper to fit an RCD than mess about with polarity-switching adapters etc, so that's what I'd recommend. You can tell if there's an RCD in your inlet box, it will have a 'Test' button. Other circuit breakers don't have a test button.

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[Ian Bosman]

Yes but 2 pin & Earth is the general description given to plugs & sockets made to BS4343.

I think in this context we are referring to two round pins, like as in a shaver socket with the earth either a pin in the socket, not the plug, or as in the German Schuko type where the earth is part of the side grips/latches. European practice is not to generally designate the live and neutral to a specific pin as the switching is two pole unlike the UK practice of only switching the live. Hence having a "switcher" adapter to ensure that you do get the live side on the UK socket correctly. One reason i always carry one of those light indicators that show 3 lights if correct for UK sockets.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think in this context we are referring to two round pins, like as in a shaver socket with the earth either a pin in the socket, not the plug, or as in the German Schuko type where the earth is part of the side grips/latches. European practice is not to generally designate the live and neutral to a specific pin as the switching is two pole unlike the UK practice of only switching the live. Hence having a "switcher" adapter to ensure that you do get the live side on the UK socket correctly. One reason i always carry one of those light indicators that show 3 lights if correct for UK sockets.

If you google " pin & earth connectors or plugs you will see 90% of the results are BS4343 connectors, it's a general term the trade uses for them.

 

[denisejoe]

Something we hadn't realised when we first crossed the Channel, was that when you arrive on a site or Aire, you need to check the Ampage available. This photo is at the Honfleur Aire, where just 5 Amps are available, so enough for lights and possibly fridge, but not enough for heating which you'd use your gas for.

We were at honfleur in December and had an electric heater on medium setting no problem

 

[Richard n Ann]

Our little plug in heater uses just 2 amps Bobby Dazzler.

500W Mini Personal Ceramic Fan Heater

Place the 500W Mini Personal Fan Heater on your desk or bedside table to stay warm when working, studying, or relaxing. The compact heater utilises an energy-efficient ceramic technology to help you cut your energy costs.

probreeze.com

 

[datadezign]

Thank you Orion, just ordered and with free delivery so saved £8!!

Many thanks

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[datadezign]

Not sure if anyone replied to my question on which countries use this 2 pin plug when the blue type is not available? I assume France, Germany and Spain … any others?

What type of Adaptor would be needed for other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia etc?

 

[Lenny HB]

Not sure if anyone replied to my question on which countries use this 2 pin plug when the blue type is not available? I assume France, Germany and Spain … any others?

What type of Adaptor would be needed for other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia etc?

Italy you sometimes find there own L type sockets which are totally different, most other countries use the 2 pin one.

 

[autorouter]

Switzerland house sockets are like the Italian ones, but a shallow V-shape rather than straight. But I never found a site with those sockets, they always had the round blue ones, so I never needed an adapter.

Denmark has round '2-pin' plugs that are different to the French/German/Spanish types, even though they look similar. I''ve not travelled round Denmark much, so I only saw the blue sockets on the sites I used. As you can imagine, adapters from Swiss/Itallian/Danish plugs to the French/German type are easily available in all the local DIY shops.

 

[datadezign]

Thank you all very much appreciated, appears that most sites use the blue sockets, so should not worry to much about the odd one that doesn’t. We do off grid occasionally anyway with the solar panels and 2 leisure batteries, so I suppose why I am worrying….. !!

 

[DBK]

Not sure if anyone replied to my question on which countries use this 2 pin plug when the blue type is not available? I assume France, Germany and Spain … any others?

What type of Adaptor would be needed for other countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia etc?

I wouldn't worry about any other type of electrical connector, the round blue and the two pin type will be all you need. If a site uses something obscure they will have an adaptor you can borrow. I've come across this in Spain once and it was their way of ensuring no one used electricity without paying for it!

What you will want is a selection of connectors for taps. The usual Hozelok screw on adapter comes as standard as two sizes but you may come across a tap which needs a 1" adaptor like the one shown below. They cost next to nothing so worth carrying. A male to male Hozelok adapter is also worth having. I've needed one a few times in France.

And then there's gas if you have a refillable system.....

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[datadezign]

Thank you and yes already have various Hozelock adaptors and also LPG gas lo adaptors the gas lo ones I bought when we first purchased the van 5.5 years and never used!! One for France one for Spain and the other for Germany. Are there any other gas lo adaptors I may need for other countries such as Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia etc?

 

[DBK]

Thank you and yes already have various Hozelock adaptors and also LPG gas lo adaptors the gas lo ones I bought when we first purchased the van 5.5 years and never used!! One for France one for Spain and the other for Germany. Are there any other gas lo adaptors I may need for other countries such as Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Croatia etc?

If you've got the three different gas adaptors you will be covered for everywhere. The only awkward place is Italy where they won't (normally) let you top up gas on the autostrada and you have to find an independent garage in a town. I think its because gas for cooking is taxed differently to gas for propulsion, that is cars running on LPG.

 

[datadezign]

Thanks everyone again for all your very constructive and informative advise and guidance much appreciated. Just out of interest if anyone needs one of the 2 pin straight plug adaptors, a family member found this one for me, which worked out the cheapest. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Schuko-E...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1 something like this?

 

[DBK]

Thanks everyone again for all your very constructive and informative advise and guidance much appreciated. Just out of interest if anyone needs one of the 2 pin straight plug adaptors, a family member found this one for me, which worked out the cheapest. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Schuko-E...d=link&campid=5338547443&toolid=20001&mkevt=1 something like this?

That doesn't look as if it has the hole you need for French sockets. The link I posted does.

 

[Lenny HB]

That doesn't look as if it has the hole you need for French sockets. The link I posted does.

I was just going to say that.

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[datadezign]

That doesn't look as if it has the hole you need for French sockets. The link I posted does.

Hi DBK,

Back to confused now in your reply when I posted this link:

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You said this was fine, now you’ve said that it doesn’t have the ‘HOLE’ at the top. Didn’t realise when looking online and at a glance they all look the same, that in fact some have this ‘HOLE’ at the top. So it appears I need to order this one to to have absolute belt and braces, although most are saying that it’s is highly unlikely I will need any of them!!!!

So far I’ve got 2 x 90’ angled plug 2 pin Adaptor leads / 2 x straight plug Adaptor leads, and now need one that has a ‘HOLE’ at the top!!

 

[orridge]

Thank you all very much appreciated, appears that most sites use the blue sockets, so should not worry to much about the odd one that doesn’t. We do off grid occasionally anyway with the solar panels and 2 leisure batteries, so I suppose why I am worrying….. !!

We only found Switzerland to be the odd one out not using either the standard 3 pin or the continental 2 pin but the campsites are used to that and have plenty to loan out if needed but its become less and less or a problem as most use the same three pin plugs.

 

[pappajohn]

Don't forget tap adaptors
Many water taps have either a large version of our screw on adaptors and some have no fixing at all.
Screw thread connectors usually come as a pair, large and small, and you may need a push on connector for the screwless type

 

[pappajohn]

Can reverse polarity be an issue on some aires/sites? Simple enough to make up a ‘crossover’ adapter lead with 16A blue socket and plug (suitably labelled) if it’s worthwhile carrying one?

BTW. For an EU to 16A adapter with the straight plug and recess for the earth pin I found this supplier on eBay:

View attachment 597019

Reverse polarity is a myth.
Everything still works in reverse polarity or the European countries wouldn't have electrical systems.

 

[Richard n Ann]

So far I’ve got 2 x 90’ angled plug 2 pin Adaptor leads / 2 x straight plug Adaptor leads, and now need one that has a ‘HOLE’ at the top!!

You'll be fine with that lot I'm sure. We've only got one right angle thing and it always works when needed. I don't even know exactly which one it is, I never knew there were so many

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[datadezign]

I think we should just go and suck it and see as they say ….as think I covered most things

Ready to rock & roll

 

[DBK]

Hi DBK,

Back to confused now in your reply when I posted this link:

Broken Link Removed

You said this was fine, now you’ve said that it doesn’t have the ‘HOLE’ at the top. Didn’t realise when looking online and at a glance they all look the same, that in fact some have this ‘HOLE’ at the top. So it appears I need to order this one to to have absolute belt and braces, although most are saying that it’s is highly unlikely I will need any of them!!!!

So far I’ve got 2 x 90’ angled plug 2 pin Adaptor leads / 2 x straight plug Adaptor leads, and now need one that has a ‘HOLE’ at the top!!

I think we are both confused! All I know is the French "2 pin" sockets have an earth pin which sticks out and your plug will need to accommodate this. The image below shows this. The illustration is an adaptor but the bit facing you can cope with both French and German type sockets. But as you say you probably won't need it. It's in Spain I think where I've come across most 2 pin sockets of the German type design and a plug like the one below will fit them.