Paul Merton motorhoming TV series (3 Viewers)

[uzsnowdrop]

But I use one and have took the wrong end a few times when distracted. Probably because I take the lead fully off and put the reel back in the van.

Just clip the bollard end in the reel and leave it by the post , leave about a metre cable out so the cable reel can lay on the floor, obv unrolling the whole thing so theres no

 

[Sandancers]

Use the same, they are great.
however, yesterday plonked it in the van while packing up and failed to notice the masses of slugs stuck to the underside where I’d left it in the long grass. Yuuk

A problem with cable on a reel which you wind up by turning a handle is that you don't see any damage which has been done to the cable.

We never used wind-up reels at work. By coiling the cable manually you are inherently observing and feeling the cable as you wind it, any damage to the outer covering is much easier to spot.

 

[ianp]

pelican , yes it clearly was ! Why would Emmit make it up ?
Whist everyone can suggest it was lighthearted , it isn’t a very good idea to show dangerous set up procedures like this . Makes it look even worse as it’s raining as well , and let’s not even comment on the coiled up reel .
View attachment 525230

I might be being thick here but what is so very wrong about plugging in the ehu to the van after plugging it into the supply?

 

[uzsnowdrop]

A problem with cable on a reel which you wind up by turning a handle is that you don't see any damage which has been done to the cable.

We never used wind-up reels at work. By coiling the cable manually you are inherently observing and feeling the cable as you wind it, any damage to the outer covering is much easier to spot.

Yep those orange reels are hand wound so when reeling it in I hold a cloth on the wire checking it and cleaning it at the same time.
Those wind up ones used by trades are much easier to use though!

 

[M-J]

Just clip the bollard end in the reel and leave it by the post , leave about a metre cable out so the cable reel can lay on the floor, obv unrolling the whole thing so theres no

Sounds like my immaculate cable reel would get dirty and wet giving me another job to do each trip cleaning it.

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[joe and sue]

Yep those orange reels are hand wound so when reeling it in I hold a cloth on the wire checking it and cleaning it at the same time.
Those wind up ones used by trades are much easier to use though!

One hand to hold the reel, one hand to wind the handle, one hand to hold cloth ????????????????????????????????????

 

[Swifter]

I might be being thick here but what is so very wrong about plugging in the ehu to the van after plugging it into the supply?

some people ( me in the past ) are worried about walking around with a live cable so prefer to plug into the van first and then the bollard to prevent risk of electrocution

 

[VXman]

I might be being thick here but what is so very wrong about plugging in the ehu to the van after plugging it into the supply?

I must be thick too. I do it all the time. More change of touching the live prongs at the van end???

 

[uzsnowdrop]

One hand to hold the reel, one hand to wind the handle, one hand to hold cloth ????????????????????????????????????

Nonono, cloth round wire in hand, cleans it on the way in, ooh err madam

 

[Swifter]

I must be thick too. I do it all the time. More change of touching the live prongs at the van end???

Nobody is being thick . It’s just personal preference when it comes to health and safety. Personally in the rain the picture below looks dangerous to me as the cable is now live and his fingers are very close to the exposed contacts as the end cover is open . This is only my opinion and not shared by many

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[Puddleduck]

The thing to remember if using hookup is when trailing your cable to the bollard is to take the correct end with you else it's a walk back to the Moho to get the other end.

No idea what you mean!

Me neither!!

 

[uzsnowdrop]

Nobody is being thick . It’s just personal preference when it comes to health and safely . Personally in the rain the picture below looks dangerous to me as the cable is now live and his fingers are very close to the exposed contacts as the end cover is open . This is only my opinion and not shared by many View attachment 525450

Me too, I wimp out at electricity..

 

[joe and sue]

Me too, I wimp out at electricity..

Yres, water you can see, gas you can smell, but leccy, !!!!!!!!!

 

[Bonsaiman]

Usually do bollard to van as I like to hear the ping as the microwave comes on so I know I'm hooked up and live
And I'm not stupid enough to put my fingers anywhere near the live prongs

 

[John Barrett]

Usually do bollard to van as I like to hear the ping as the microwave comes on so I know I'm hooked up and live
And I'm not stupid enough to put my fingers anywhere near the live prongs

The BSI people used to use a 'British Standard Finger' when testing and approving appliances. It is impossible to get a shock through your fingers at the van (female) end, unless you work hard at it of course by lifting the spring cover and poking a metal rod in there...

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[Spriddler]

The BSI people used to use a 'British Standard Finger' when testing and approving appliances. It is impossible to get a shock through your fingers at the van (female) end, unless you work hard at it of course by lifting the spring cover and poking a metal rod in there...

Indeed so. That's why the m/h end of an EHU lead has a female socket that doesn't have 'prongs'.
An EHU lead would need to have a male plug at both ends to have live prongs at the m/h end.

 

[Swifter]

Indeed so. That's why the m/h end of an EHU lead has a female socket that doesn't have 'prongs'.
An EHU lead would need to have a male plug at both ends to have live prongs at the m/h end.

Is there any risk of electrocution if it is raining heavily ?

 

[Spriddler]

Is there any risk of electrocution if it is raining heavily ?

Yes, but I'd think no more than there would be when plugging the male end into the EHU socket or touching the bollard in heavy rain and/or with wet hands.
'Electrocution' would/should be prevented by the RCD in the bollard tripping out.

 

[Clarky]

Teacups and storms are the words that come to mind reading this thread.
Oh, pedants might also be involved.

Richard.

 

[Bonsaiman]

Indeed so. That's why the m/h end of an EHU lead has a female socket that doesn't have 'prongs'.
An EHU lead would need to have a male plug at both ends to have live prongs at the m/h end.

of course got my ends mixed up

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[AndyPK]

Teacups and storms are the words that come to mind reading this thread.
Oh, pedants might also be involved.

Richard.

Tin hats on!

 

[JJ]

I don't reckon many folk on here understand "risk" and "probabilty".

If you are of the type of person who worries about plugging in your EHU cable correctly, I shudder to think about all the other things you worry about in life.

Do you ever cross the road on foot...?

JJ

 

[Swifter]

I don't reckon many folk on here understand "risk" and "probabilty".

If you are of the type of person who worries about plugging in your EHU cable correctly, I shudder to think about all the other things you worry about in life.

Do you ever cross the road on foot...?

JJ

Just what I’ve been told when learning about motorhomes . I also thought payload and overloading the vehicle was a safety issue as well but maybe that’s not a problem either ?Should I completely ignore any health and safety advice and just do as I please ?

 

[ShiftZZ]

But in what order!!

Jeeze, now you have me flummoxed.. anyhow when is the magazine out so I can get some new upholstery for the van

 

[Langtoftlad]

Just what I’ve been told when learning about motorhomes . I also thought payload and overloading the vehicle was a safety issue as well but maybe that’s not a problem either ?Should I completely ignore any health and safety advice and just do as I please ?

No need to be "sensitive".
H&S advice is always worth listening to [depending on the source] but more can always be learned - and then one can make informed decisions about what advice to take and what not to bother.

You mentioned payload - my take is that if your van can be uprated simply by paperwork, then "overloading" to that limit is not a safety issue but one of legality.

I too was advised to plug in MH first, then bollard for safety reasons but I never realised the extra safety features of an EHU cable such as the MH end being 'female' so any potentially live pins were safely tucked away from fat fingers - which is good to know as I frequently forget to plug in the "safest" way.

So I've learned something today from all the teacups & pedantry

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[Swifter]

No need to be "sensitive".
H&S advice is always worth listening to [depending on the source] but more can always be learned - and then one can make informed decisions about what advice to take and what not to bother.

You mentioned payload - my take is that if your van can be uprated simply by paperwork, then "overloading" to that limit is not a safety issue but one of legality.

I too was advised to plug in MH first, then bollard for safety reasons but I never realised the extra safety features of an EHU cable such as the MH end being 'female' so any potentially live pins were safely tucked away from fat fingers - which is good to know as I frequently forget to plug in the "safest" way.

So I've learned something today from all the teacups & pedantry

Didn’t mean to be “ sensitive “
good post
It’s good to learn
As Jim said , thousands of EHU cables must be plugged in every week . If there was a real danger , we would have heard about it .

 

[Spriddler]

of course got my ends mixed up

I've heard that you can get surgery to change them on the NHS.

 

[JJ]

Just what I’ve been told when learning about motorhomes . I also thought payload and overloading the vehicle was a safety issue as well but maybe that’s not a problem either? Should I completely ignore any health and safety advice and just do as I please ?

Mr Swifter,

You choose your own actions... please whom so ever you want!

Never listen to me!

I doubt my "advice" would be of any use to you.

I do a different kind of motorhoming to the majority of Funsters.

I don't weigh my van.
I don't do habitation checks.
I don't check my tyre pressures every trip.
I don't fasten a square sign thingy on my bike rack.
I do sometimes run a genny in an emergency.
I drink water direct from my tank.
I do sometimes point "Percy" at a nearby hedge (especially if it is my hedge).
I do drive in my (fake) crocs.

I started "motorhoming" before there were such things as pay loads or habitation checks or EHU's etc.

Some folk are rigid rule followers...
Some folk worry and stress over thousands of matters.

I'm not one of those.

I moved into my "van of the day" over 35 years ago... still alive (only just) but still alive!


JJ

 

[AG 2602]

Is there any risk of electrocution if it is raining heavily ?

Yes but I have had this written into the wife's life insurance just in case

 

[ShiftZZ]

Doesn't matter if it has 'cause when I get my hands on him he'll need even more!

Like being mauled by a dead beetle or Nora Batty

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