hook up problems - recommendations?

[janieh]

I've failed miserably to get anything sorted on this, and now need to do it asap! I tried unscrewing the socket and pulling it out and it just didn't want to come! I'm not sure why? it felt like maybe the wire was too tight and I didn't want to just pull it off. So I wasn't able to look at the wires at all.

My concern, if I just call out an electrician is that they won't know how to actually get access to the wires to see what's going on. Which is basically where I'm stuck as well! I'd like to be able to just look at it all and check all the wiring. Any advice on getting access to the bits behind the cupboard? the actual wiring can't be very complicated as it's not far from the hook up to the socket.

cheers
jane.

[Grantourer]

Hi, if you lift out the base of the right hand cupboard, under the fold away table, as you look from the door you will see all the mains electrics in a compartment. The screws come undone due to the type of current we use. Alternating, basiclly it rattles the connections and eventually they come loss. I work in events industry, and we have a guy whose sole job is to retighten mains cable connections!!!!!!

Regards, Graham

[Red Westie]

I'm not suggesting you do anything reckless but buying a couple of metres of 13amp three core white flex will set you back about £1.50 and replacing the cable is almost as easy as painting by numbers....just to take the 25 year old cable out the equation.

Martin

[Bessie the camper]

I've failed miserably to get anything sorted on this, and now need to do it asap! I tried unscrewing the socket and pulling it out and it just didn't want to come! I'm not sure why? it felt like maybe the wire was too tight and I didn't want to just pull it off. So I wasn't able to look at the wires at all.

My concern, if I just call out an electrician is that they won't know how to actually get access to the wires to see what's going on. Which is basically where I'm stuck as well! I'd like to be able to just look at it all and check all the wiring. Any advice on getting access to the bits behind the cupboard? the actual wiring can't be very complicated as it's not far from the hook up to the socket.

cheers
jane.

when you unscrewed the socket can you pull it away abit to see the terminals if so just try n tighten them my mate had this problem in his caravan and i talked him through it ..... do you have any mcb / rcd unit in the van if so post me pic and i can talk you through it if i know what im looking at

[janieh]

Thanks everyone. That's helpful - I'll do some more investigation tonight to see if I can see what's going on. Yes, there is an RCD involved -that's what keeps flicking off.

Cheers
Jane.

[Bessie the camper]

Right next to the rcd there will be mcb mine has 2 switch the mcb off then plug in the power supply and see if the rcd stays on if it does switch the next mcb on and see if that stay if not then it's the cable or what it feeds if it's ok try the next mcb and do same but if the rcd trips with the mcb off disconnect the outgoing wires of the rcd if that trips then there is a fault with rcd but if it stays on connect wires back make sure power off when doing then disconnect the netrual outgoing wires and then switch back on if ok connect one at a time and see which on trips which ever one trips there will be a fault on that cable
Hope this helps

[janieh]

Well thanks for the advice everyone. I've had a closer look at the electrics, but am unfortunately more confused now!

I've uploaded some photos so you can see what I'm on about:
http://picasaweb.google.com/jane.hersey ... directlink

Right behind the RCD and socket I now see why I couldn't pull it out when unscrewed. You can see in my fourth photo - there is a metal box and you can't really see any of the wiring other than the big thick cable which seems pretty secure. there is also a funny white plastic box which all the cables from the socket go through. there is a slightly dodgy looking arrangement where the earth is at the back of that cupboard. Under the sink and behind the fridge there are also a lot more rubbishy think little wires, however, I'm kind of assuming that they wouldn't be involved in the mains current as they look so flimsy!

What I haven't managed to work out is what acutally runs off the mains when it's on. Is it just the fridge and the socket, or is it all the electrics?

As the wiring is looking pretty complicated to me, I'm thinking I may be best getting an electrician. However, I'm a bit worried about them getting access to everything if they're not used to VWs. Does anyone know of anybody that can do work on camper interiors in London? or how do you go about actually removing the furniture. it looks tricky - as the bed is in the way of the cupboards.

Thanks all!