Fitting 240v hook up

[PorkchopII]

Hi everyone,

I've decided to fit a 240v hook up into my T25, From looking at the forums I see that the most common mcb's used are 6amp & 10 amp. One thing I can't seem to find is what size rcd does everyone fit??

Also can you use the 1.5mm orange cable from the plug to the rcd or do you need to use the 2.5mm cable that is mentioned all over the forums?

[1664]

Hi everyone,

I've decided to fit a 240v hook up into my T25, From looking at the forums I see that the most common mcb's used are 6amp & 10 amp. One thing I can't seem to find is what size rcd does everyone fit??

Also can you use the 1.5mm orange cable from the plug to the rcd or do you need to use the 2.5mm cable that is mentioned all over the forums?

The rating of the incoming double pole RCD switch must be equal to or greater than the overcurrent device(s) protecting it, ie 16A. Most common I've seen have actually been 40A. Their earth fault tripping current must be 30mA whatever their rating. Latest 'regs' stipulate double pole mcb's too.

1.5mm cable is permissible for the hook up lead but only just. I'd get a 2.5mm one as it'll be physically more robust and you can run a decent length without the possibility of introducing volt drop issues. Not a problem using the same flexible cable from the hook up inlet to the consumer unit ("fusebox") or for the internal wiring of the camper sockets etc; better than solid domestic twin and earth which you shouldn't use. You cannot use a 1.5mm cable for a 16A circuit (eg, from the hook up inlet to the consumer unit) if it is surrounded by thermal insulation as this lowers it's rating.

[PorkchopII]

Thanks for the help.

I thought as it would be a 16amp circuit then I would get a 20amp rcd but I can't find one anywhere, it's ok to use a 40amp rcd instead though??

I'm also going to fit a trickle charger for the leisure battery for when we are on hook up as I have got fridge,lights & water pump wired to a zig unit already. Would It be best to wire it into the 6amp circuit directly? Would I then need to have another 6amp mcb to wire the plug into or can I split one 6amp circuit to the plug and charger?

[bigherb]

I use 25A ones like this, as you say 16A are hard to get and they seam to be very expensive.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 1127242942" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[1664]

I thought as it would be a 16amp circuit then I would get a 20amp rcd but I can't find one anywhere, it's ok to use a 40amp rcd instead though??

bigherb's RCD is fine, and as I said the most common (I've seen) seems to be 40A. As long as it's equal to or above 16A and is 30mA tripping current it doesn't matter....

I'm also going to fit a trickle charger for the leisure battery for when we are on hook up as I have got fridge,lights & water pump wired to a zig unit already. Would It be best to wire it into the 6amp circuit directly? Would I then need to have another 6amp mcb to wire the plug into or can I split one 6amp circuit to the plug and charger?

The only part of a fridge that should be connected to a Zig unit is the electronic gas ignition circuit (if your fridge is of that type); NOT the actual 12v feed to the heating element - that should have a separate relay. What Zig unit is it?

I'm not sure I'm following the next bit. What are you intending on wiring into the 6A mcb directly; the Zig? The charger? Both?

The arrangement in my van is an incoming 40A 30mA double pole RCD with 5A and 10A (single pole) mcb's. The 5A mcb feeds a single socket in the cupboard next to the consumer unit which the 240v side of the fridge is plugged into. The 10A mcb feeds a single socket above the kitchen unit for anything else I need to plug in while I'm hooked up; kettle, fan heater, laptop etc, and the Zig CF6 unit is spurred off the back of this socket in 0.75mm 3 core flex via a fused connection unit and the Zig has a 1A fuse on it's mains side.



You can run more than one socket in a radial circuit and there's no reason for them to be singles either, but I would keep things simple; perhaps one near the front and one near the back of the living area; the mcb's will limit the current you can draw - draw too much and they'll trip. I get on fine with just the one meself but then I don't have kids wanting to plug in all manner of shyte 24/7.......


E D I T: I originally stated that the Zig was spurred off the fridge socket - it isn't, it's off the socket over the kitchen unit. Have corrected the post text now.

[PorkchopII]

I've now got a 25amp RCD with a 6 & 10amp MCB to fit.

I can't remember what number my zig unit is (will post unit number when I get home) but It came fitted when I purchased the van. I have the live feed from the starter battery into the standard relay for charging then I have the lights, water pump & fridge wired into the zig through 10amp fuses.

It's a 12v Coleman camping fridge which also came with the van, I personally think it originally had a cigarette ligher plug but instead has been wired straight into the zig. There is no 240v/gas feed for the fridge. Should it be wred differently to the zig then?

I want to install a battery trickle charger into the 240v system to keep the leisure battery charged while on hook up as like I said before I have the lights, water pump & fridge running from the leisure battery so don't want it to run flat while camping! I'm only going to install 2 single sockets as I won't need anymore than that.....hopefully

Please let me know if there is a better way to wire the fridge & zig etc

Many thanks

[bigherb]

I connected my charger directly to the 5A MCB personally I prefer the double pole switching type just in case a site has been wired reverse polarity. That leaves the 10a for the sockets.

[1664]

If your Zig has a mains feed to it it will be either a CF6, a CF8 or a CF9. No mains feed will be just a three way distribution board with choice of which battery to use, eg CP400. (Google them)
I had assumed you had a three way absorption fridge. I'm not familiar with Coleman fridges but if it has no mains or gas connections it may well be a compressor fridge which is ok to be connected to a Zig - can you hear it running when it's turned on? Need more info there really.
Fine to run a battery charger off the mains but depending on which Zig you have this may cause a conflict in so far as the CF* Zigs also have trickle chargers which may be connected already. Depends on the Zig, a simple distribution one will be fine.

[PorkchopII]

Thanks for all the advice!

Just googled it and my zig is a CP400 so just a distribution unit. Would I be ok to wire a socket to the 6amp circuit then take a feed from the socket for the trickle charger leaving the socket free too use? Or would a better idea be to use the 6amp circuit just for the charger and then use the 10amp circuit for two sockets front and rear like you have done bigherb?

As soon as I switch on the fridge through the zig it fires up with the fan mounted in the front door, It can be used as a hot or cold fridge.

[1664]

I have corrected my previous post regarding my camper electrics. I incorrectly stated my Zig was spurred off the fridge socket - it isn't; it's spurred off the socket above the kitchen unit via a fused connection unit with a 3A fuse in it. Sorry 'bout that

Would I be ok to wire a socket to the 6amp circuit then take a feed from the socket for the trickle charger leaving the socket free too use? Or would a better idea be to use the 6amp circuit just for the charger and then use the 10amp circuit for two sockets front and rear like you have done bigherb?

Why not just fit a twin socket to the 6A circuit and have your trickle charger on a plugtop? That would still leave the other side of the socket to plug anything else in (small stuff as it's only a 6A breaker; no kettles or heaters etc). Then use the 10A circuit for anything else.

As soon as I switch on the fridge through the zig it fires up with the fan mounted in the front door, It can be used as a hot or cold fridge.

As I said I'm unfamiliar with them so you need to check the rating plate on the unit or the manual to find the maximum current or power consumption to check the Zig can cope. A ciggie lighter socket is rated at 15A if I remember correctly, the Zig maximum is 10A per circuit.

[PorkchopII]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll take your advice 1664 and have a double socket on a 6amp with the charger plugged into that with a single socket on the 10amp circuit.

Wish me luck!

[1664]

or possibly two singles at different places the van on the 10A. One high up for a kettle, toaster etc on worktops; one low level for fan heater, radiator perhaps? You're only going to do this once after all.

Having said all that I couldn't be ar$ed to run a low level socket but then I hardly ever use hook up.

[PorkchopII]

Do you mean have two 10amp sockets and use the 6amp circuit just for the charger?

I'm not planning on using the hook up all the time but would like it installed incase I want to use it, Plus I can plug it in at home to charge the battery before going away.

[1664]

No, I mean one twin socket on the 6A breaker with the charger plugged into one half leaving the other half free for anything else (except heavy load equipment users such as kettles and heaters).
Then two single sockets on the 10A breaker; one high level conveniently placed to plug in kettles, toasters or anything sat at worktop level, and another single low level for stuff that sits on the floor such as fan heaters or oil filled radiators. You still wouldn't be able to use a kettle and a fan heater together as it would trip the breaker. It's just more convenient to plug different things in at different levels to save cables running across the living area.

My opinion that's all

[PorkchopII]

Thanks for all the info 1664, I know exactly what I'm going to do now!

I think I'm mainly going to use the 10 amp for an oil filled radiator on those cold nights!