mains hook up dumb questions

[TomDub85]

So today I went and got my mains hook up leads and adapter to also use from the house , get home ready to test electrics and mainly fridge to find everything is the wrong way around . my van has The female (holes)socket attached is this correct ? Or should it be male (pins)? When I arrive at site I'm guessing I plug the male end of the socket into the electric box that will be female.

So I'm thinking through my options change the socket on my van , change the cable to have male on either end or buy another adapter and change that ?

Any ideas would be great cannot find a adapted socket so re wiring something seems my only option so far.

Thanks in advance Tom

[TomDub85]

. This is what I have on the van

[AdrianC]

So I'm thinking through my options change the socket on my van

^ this

Basic electrical safety - the live end always has the female, not the male, to reduce the risk of some numpty electrocuting themselves by sticking their fingers in.

From a practicality point of view, too - if you lose your hookup cable, you can just buy another one anywhere, and don't have to fanny about to adapt it to your peculiarities.

[TomDub85]

Thanks just confirmed my ideas from what I can see the mains only power the fridge as there is no other fuse box inside the van , so maybe it will be better to just refit a whole new system then also have plugs.
Can you wire the zig unit to the mains hook up fuse box so can it can power from either mains or leisure batt .

Sorry for dumb questions bolts and nuts I'm fine wires and electrics I'm fresh faced .

[bigherb]

That is the only socket? Sometimes people have an in and an out socket to power things in the awning etc.

[TomDub85]

That is the only socket? Sometimes people have an in and an out socket to power things in the awning etc.

Yeh that's the only socket no idea how it was previously used ? Its wired direct to the fridge going to change it for a flush inlet on Friday and fingers crossed it powers Tue fridge ok , will be putting in new fuse box so I can have few plugs built into the van . for now I have my hook up cable and another with the plugs on the end in was given today so will have to swap and change fridge/plugs.

[Ralf85]

So today I went and got my mains hook up leads and adapter to also use from the house , get home ready to test electrics and mainly fridge to find everything is the wrong way around . my van has The female (holes)socket attached is this correct ? Or should it be male (pins)? When I arrive at site I'm guessing I plug the male end of the socket into the electric box that will be female.

Normally it should be a plug with pins at the van end and then pins to plug into the female socket on the site connector. Also that female socket looks as if you are likely to get water getting in and a possible broken circuit breaker or blown fuse. I'd change that to a water resistant setup like we have on westies.

[Oldiebut goodie]

WHS^^^^Should be pins + it's mounted upside down also, the water will get in the top when the flap is closed.There must be another one somewhere and that is an outlet.

[TomDub85]

Thanks I'm installing a inlet , I have no idea how the last person would of used this but rather than cutting up a £30 lead I'll be playing safe and sensible and installing a new flush water tight inlet . this is what I'll be buying http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/mains-flush ... re-p155305" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

The wiring goes direct to the fridge so my thinking is if I change over I should have mains power 240v to my 3 way fridge , anything I need look out to before I do this ?

[TomDub85]

Do I need to run through a fuse box ?

[billybigspud]

Do I need to run through a fuse box ?

Yup

Have a good search on here.

[TomDub85]

ow dear looks like I'm getting plugs in the van dam fresh electrics it is then . http://www.xtremevan.co.uk/product_info ... ts_id=5013" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; would this do the job ? Or do I need anything extra to connect fridge to mains ?

Thanks for all the help I would be lost and blowing up my electrics otherwise

[billybigspud]

That will be ok. Cannot see the mcb sizes but they are probably 2 16's which will be fine. I suppose you could fit a socket near the fridge and put a plug actually on the fridge. You could isolate it then without having to trip the breaker and it would be 2 pole (L & N).

[TomDub85]

. You sir deserve a beer you have just save me £60 temporally going put a plug onto The fridge and connect to my mains hook cable that has the built in fuse box and plug sockets , quick fix but it will do for now saves me spending that cash when I it could go better places like petrol to go camping . I raise a glass took me all night to work out this simple solution .

[AdrianC]

quick fix but it will do for now

Plugging the fridge in to a socket is good enough for your house, and it's good enough for Westfalia...