Steering wheel cosy!

[Pausim]

Now I'm wondering whether, if I didn't have the alarm, it would be worth having a short (2ft?) extension lead between my van and the main cable. Perhaps a well-lubricated one.
I have visions of sockets being wrenched out of van panelwork and visits to bodyshops afterwards. For those who have forgotten to disconnect (and I admit to having come very close myself), was it a highly destructive process, or did something cheap give way before too much damage was done?

Some sites don’t allow connectors (C&MC). Also the connectors clip together to maintain the electrical integrity and should not pull apart.

 

[quentinsf]

Some sites don’t allow connectors (C&MC). Also the connectors clip together to maintain the electrical integrity and should not pull apart.

Well, they shouldn't, but when it's a case of potential serious damage, what's the lesser evil? Having connectors that could pull safely apart, or having the bare wires ripped out of them?

 

[Super Spark]

I have a set of these, you can buy them pre-printed from the States but I just wrote on each one what it relates to and snap them around the steering wheel when pitched up. I then remove each one as the item is unhooked, closed, locked or stowed away.

Warning buzzer built in to electrics 10yr old kon tiki 669 still think it's a good van. Another alternative would be use batteries and gas. Nothing to forget

 

[Pausim]

Well, they shouldn't, but when it's a case of potential serious damage, what's the lesser evil? Having connectors that could pull safely apart, or having the bare wires ripped out of them?

What they should and shouldn’t do is another matter but the C&MC don’t like cable joints between motorhome and post. Also any connector on the wire between the motorhome and the post is less likely to pull safely apart than the connection on the motorhome because the two wire connector parts lock together. My van connection does not lock in place and should pull out allowing the flap to spring closed over the socket on the end of the wire. Where is the lesser evil?

 

[KNWH]

Now I'm wondering whether, if I didn't have the alarm, it would be worth having a short (2ft?) extension lead between my van and the main cable. Perhaps a well-lubricated one.
I have visions of sockets being wrenched out of van panelwork and visits to bodyshops afterwards. For those who have forgotten to disconnect (and I admit to having come very close myself), was it a highly destructive process, or did something cheap give way before too much damage was done?

I’ve seen someone do it, and it didn’t look cheap.
Wrenched the socket off the side of the MH
(The cable was by this time sideways to the socket and didn’t pull out)

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[G-RMPS]

Could have been me! Outer Hebrides.

 

[KNWH]

Could have been me! Outer Hebrides.

And me, just moving to top up the water, so didn’t go through normal check list.
Fortunately realised within 2 metres of setting off.
After that I made the tag for my ignition switch ( post #11)

 

[quentinsf]

In general, the club is right: cables should try to have fewer connections, not more, because every connection, if not properly made, can become a point of resistance and hence heat.
However, my cable does lock into my van, which is why I'd be tempted to make a short lead modified so that it doesn't. (And which wouldn't be pulled at right angles as I drove away.)

 

[Brains]

I have a cable bag
like this one
It lives in the drivers footwell when it does not have a cable in it.

 

[Nanniemate]

Radical but checking mirrors before moving off should help prevent this, my lower N/S picks up the step (as well as hearing it tetract) and the O/S pIcks up the power cable .

My drive way is the danger zone as I found out . When being disturbed during final checks, I had left the cable plugged in

There it was in my mirror big and bright and YELLOW

I had not realised it was in view until .....
...an oops was avoided

The step I have set up to see the cable socket a happy accident

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[KNWH]

Could have been me! Outer Hebrides.

Just realised that when I nearly did it (post #37) I was also in the Outer Hebrides!
Maybe having previously been off-grid for 10 days before didn’t help.

 

[Gellyneck]

I have a check list, works really well when we don't assume the other has done it

Yip, we've got a "shared checklist" on Microsoft ToDo that we tick off.

You name it, we've got it on our checklist.

EHU cable, TV aerial retracted, gas turned off, etc, etc, etc

 

[Ingwe]

And if all this talk of not remembering things makes you anxious, here’s a tip:

 

[stuartholmes]

I have a check list, works really well when we don't assume the other has done it

I never let 'the other' do anything that's 'mine' & she never lets me do anything that's 'hers'.

Much safer for many reasons!

 

[stuartholmes]

Some sites don’t allow connectors (C&MC). Also the connectors clip together to maintain the electrical integrity and should not pull apart.

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[stuartholmes]

What they should and shouldn’t do is another matter but the C&MC don’t like cable joints between motorhome and post. Also any connector on the wire between the motorhome and the post is less likely to pull safely apart than the connection on the motorhome because the two wire connector parts lock together. My van connection does not lock in place and should pull out allowing the flap to spring closed over the socket on the end of the wire. Where is the lesser evil?

This is the theory & theoretically I agree with it.

In practice however...

Aged about ten I watched in horror from astride the trailer 'van drawbar where I had been entrusted with various decoupling tasks as my father drove away after I'd done the ball-hook but before the electrical...

He was probably triggered by feeling the car come loose so thereafter we changed the order of steps (disconnect wires first!!) but I'm still traumatised by the sight of seven wires parting company with their plug - and the unhappy day my dad spent trying to work out which one went back where...

So starting with when we had a tent with fluorsecent tube powered by car lighter socket I made it a rule to run the ehu wire through the steering wheel.

It never failed me until I saw the suggestion to store ehu storage bag on the dashboard, same principle as some have suggested above. I've started doing this with a little microfiber cloth that otherwise lives in the door pocket but it does require extra brain-space so I don't really trust it.

So for double protection I also have a short extension lead with connectors that I've modified (hacked at with Stanley knife) so they come apart easily enough but not too easily if I drive away while plugged in.
I accept that it's not officially approved by the people at a 'club' I won't mention but it was proved to work for me when a motorist behind drew my attention to a dangling wire...

(Hopefully obviously but to be clear, the bit left connected to the site outlet, or in this case my front drive at home, is the same as the bit on the outlet post so I can't see it's any more dangerous. I'm sure somebody will tell me otherwise...?)

 

[h8ten]

Warning buzzer built in to electrics 10yr old kon tiki 669 still think it's a good van. Another alternative would be use batteries and gas. Nothing to forget

I've just been out to the van on EHU at home, turned on the ignition and lo and behold, there was a buzzing noise from the rear. You learn something new every day.

 

[SarahBattyll]

Do you have some other device to remind you to put this reminder device on after you've connected the EHU?

Well I’m so proud of my cheery steering wheel cosy I literally put it on the steering wheel every single time I park her up so it’s now become a complete habit

 

[SarahBattyll]

"So - hands up those who’ve driven away in your MoHo only to hear a twang!"

My hand's up. Couldn't believe how far the cable stretched. Had to replace the socket.

Thank you for owning up I feel much better now I feel your pain!!!

 

[SarahBattyll]

And if all this talk of not remembering things makes you anxious, here’s a tip:

View attachment 1002556

Now that made me laugh very loudly

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[B-JandBella]

So - hands up those who’ve driven away in your MoHo only to hear a twang! Approx 20m from the hook up??? Is it just me? I’ve packed up for days adventure ahead, dog in, been for a wee, cleaned my teeth - glasses are found and on my face, yup - that’s everything, key turned, brmmm TWANG… bug###r!
Right, new plan, carrier bag placed over steering wheel when I park and only removed once electrics are disengaged and packed safely in back - brilliant solution albeit not particularly attractive.
Steering wheel cosy idea born - I needed to make something that looked good, reminded me of vital thing not to forget and also had to make me smile…
See attached photo



View attachment 1001835

Some people are EXTREMELY clever in the fact that this has never happened to them (YET!) and I think that your idea is fantastic in that it will always remind you before setting off. Well done you!

As we get older, which we all will hopefully, we do tend to get slightly forgetful about things. It's so easy.
I forgot the wife once! Yes, only once and she has reminded every trip. Couldn't understand how it was so quiet whilst driving along!!

 

[KennyW]

Have a checklist that's placed in front of the speedo, go through it then a walk around, so far so good!!