Hookup Extension Advice

Jimsnap

Jimsnap

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Adria
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Is it ok to connect two 16 amp hookup leads together? Just wondering if it's ok in the rain?
Can't find a suitable waterproof plug/socket combination anywhere.
Thanks
Jim
 
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Upvote 1
You can get waterproof covers but it’s frowned upon to connect 2 hook up leads together on some sites exactly for this reason (rain, puddles etc)
You have also got the voltage drop to consider
 
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We have two hook up leads. A 15m and a 10m that we connect together if needed. 99% of the time we've ever been on hook up we have always just used the 10m or 15m. Makes it a lot easier in my opinion.
 
Upvote 1
That said, many of us carry two shorter leads rather than one very long one, and join them if they have to go any distance. I have also joined 2 x 25m, a 15m and a 10m (total 75m) for an outdoor event, with no discernible voltage drop although it was only for sound and lights, not for heating, kettles etc. If you can, get the connectors off the floor, and definitely away from puddles etc.

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Upvote 0
Guigsy said:
I've only got a 25m. If I can't reach the socket and I'm only there overnight, I often don't bother plugging in.
Click to expand...
Most of the time I don't bother plugging in if I'm right next to the socket. Tend to feel guilty if its a free aire with free lecky.
 
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MisterB said:
We have two hook up leads. A 15m and a 10m that we connect together if needed. 99% of the time we've ever been on hook up we have always just used the 10m or 15m. Makes it a lot easier in my opinion.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I want to do, cut my 25m one into two lengths.
 
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Jimsnap said:
Is it ok to connect two 16 amp hookup leads together? Just wondering if it's ok in the rain?
Can't find a suitable waterproof plug/socket combination anywhere.
Thanks
Jim
Click to expand...

Its frowned upon by the 'Clubs' although I have done it a few times without problems.
If its raining, I make certain the connection is raised above the ground, laying on something level, and wrapped tightly in clingfilm.

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Upvote 0
C&MHC actually have a written rule that you can’t join leads on their sites

I came back from a walk round Clumber Park to find a warden tapping his foot by my MH waiting to tell me why I couldn’t

Post was over 25m from my pitch 🤔🙁

Edit - mains input connection

He said children might play with the joint, to which I asked what stops them playing with the post 🤔 he did let me use it for my 2nd and last night there

My cables do have the glanded cable entries and I consider them water proof and safe , but rules is rules 🙄
 
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Upvote 0
DavidG58 said:
C&MHC actually have a written rule that you can’t join leads on their sites

I came back from a walk round Clumber Park to find a warden tapping his foot by my MH waiting to tell me why I couldn’t

Post was over 25m from my pitch 🤔🙁

He said children might play with the joint, to which I asked what stops them playing with the post 🤔 he did let me use it for my 2nd and last night there

My cables do have the glanded cable entries and I consider them water proof and safe , but rules is rules 🙄
Click to expand...

The rule is that they should never pitch you more than 25m from a EHU. :unsure:
 
Upvote 0
DavidG58 said:
C&MHC actually have a written rule that you can’t join leads on their sites

I came back from a walk round Clumber Park to find a warden tapping his foot by my MH waiting to tell me why I couldn’t

Post was over 25m from my pitch 🤔🙁

Edit - mains input connection

He said children might play with the joint, to which I asked what stops them playing with the post 🤔 he did let me use it for my 2nd and last night there

My cables do have the glanded cable entries and I consider them water proof and safe , but rules is rules 🙄
Click to expand...
C&MHC have a written rule?? Surely not! 🤪

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Upvote 0
Jimsnap said:
That's exactly what I want to do, cut my 25m one into two lengths.
Click to expand...
I have a 20m, a 10m and a 5m.
Use 5m at home when on charge and take with us, along with the other 2.
Have ip66 connectors if needed to join, but also use a jointing splash proof box over the connecting pieces, but it's rare I need to join.
Only used on uk sites, and have rarely been such a distance from an EHU bollard to warrant connecting.
Probably overkill, but I am happy with our selection.
 
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Captain Yoghurtpot said:
I have a 20m, a 10m and a 5m.
Use 5m at home when on charge and take with us, along with the other 2.
Have ip66 connectors if needed to join, but also use a jointing splash proof box over the connecting pieces, but it's rare I need to join.
Only used on uk sites, and have rarely been such a distance from an EHU bollard to warrant connecting.
Probably overkill, but I am happy with our selection.
Click to expand...
50m not uncommon on French Aires, the French Germans and Dutch carry 50m leads.
 
Upvote 0
I carry 2 x 20m leads plus adapters, usually used in anger in Slovenia and in Italy when the vans have 2 or more plugs each sometimes, going further involves less bloodshed than asking to remove a plug ......
 
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I carry a 10m and a 25m. The 10m is used the most however both are often needed on the site at Carcassonne, one of swmbos favourites.
 
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Lenny HB said:
50m not uncommon on French Aires, the French Germans and Dutch carry 50m leads.
Click to expand...
Wow!
Would not to wind that in on a wet cold site.
How big would the winding drum be?
And where do you store it?

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Lenny HB said:
Most of the time I don't bother plugging in if I'm right next to the socket. Tend to feel guilty if its a free aire with free lecky.
Click to expand...
I'm with you Lenny, but we visited a Stellplatz on one occasion that charged for EHU, no option not to, and I'd left the damn cable in the UK :rolleyes:

Cheers
Red.

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Upvote 0
The blue plug and socket is water resistant to a point.
Water will have to enter the socket between two tubular walls then turn 180° and go a further 60mm through the second double tubes before it gets anywhere near the live pins.
Obviously not suitable for laying in puddles etc but reasonably rainproof.
Partly join the plug and socket of your current HU lead.....you'll see what I mean
 
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ctc said:
Just cut it and fit decent quality plug and sockets. I've left mine out in heavy rain and on wet grass, nothing happened.
Click to expand...
I've done it now, 15 and 10 :)
 
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What a load of twaddle is spoken by our UK sites an clubs. Why on earth they didn't learn how our neighbours in Europe did things whilst we were associated with them (in the EU) I will never know.
Long, joined (or even shared) EHU cables are quite normal and accepted in most European countries so why the pedantic attitude here in the UK?
By shared I mean one of these...

1686179038069.png

Often used on French Aires.
 
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Upvote 0
rod_vw said:
What a load of twaddle is spoken by our UK sites an clubs. Why on earth they didn't learn how our neighbours in Europe did things whilst we were associated with them (in the EU) I will never know.
Long, joined (or even shared) EHU cables are quite normal and accepted in most European countries so why the pedantic attitude here in the UK?
By shared I mean one of these...

View attachment 765589
Often used on French Aires.
Click to expand...

I tried using one of those in France earlier this year. The problem I had was that because someone had used one in the other socket, due to the orientation of the outlets you couldn't use two of the splitters in adjacent outlets.
It wasn't a great issue as we had installed a Fogstar lithium battery. A couple of older French guys were really trying to be helpful so I explained (or tried to) that I had a lithium battery, so didn't need EHU for our one night stop. It took about ten minutes if them shaking their heads before one of them twigged ' ah, battery lithium' as opposed to 'lithium battery' which I had been saying !!

When we got home I tried unscrewing the connector and reorientated the outlets, this meant they were only held together by one screw. For a temp solution I think that would be ok but am considering just making up a short extension cable of around 18" into which the adapter could be fitted away from the plug in point!

Though perhaps I don't actually need a EHU cable of any sort if I manage my lithium and power usage, depending on where and when we are travelling to of course, but my one week bumble around Brittany showed it was possible without EHU, solar or a B2B
 
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I used to use a std 3 pin plug to the blue caravan connector adapter in a waterproof outside socket at home. I finally fitted a proper socket for the blue plug. When I unplugged the 3 pin adapter the blue plug had a lot of water in it where it had entered past the cable entry gland, it was sill working and had never tripped out :oops:
 
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