Club 80-90 Forums

Mrs Snoz has decided that she needs more plug sockets in our Westy pop-top, 'cos she's fed up with extention leads here, there & everywhere (sound familiar?) I have no problems with this & I realise that there are several ways to approach things here.
Initially, We need a double outlet at the front end (telly & sat receiver), One near the wardrobe door..toaster, 'leccy kettle, hairdryer (hers) & or chargers for phone & stuff, one near the sliding door for outside applications...awning lighting/'pooter/possibly 'leccy hob unit.
Suggestions & comments are really welcome - even though I have a good idea of how to go about it.

I do appreciate the restrictions on amps etc, however if you want to comment on safety, please do - 'cos it can keep all of us on our toes when we have a reminder or two.

Oh aesthetics also come into play - I've just found some 'trendy' domestic outlets that will blend with the grey units, & are not very 'houshold' looking but comments & advice are more than welcome.

The original 2 pin westy unit with the breaker will be left in situ.

Thankfully Mrs S's 'toys' are battery driven - so I don't need outlets near the back of the van...........

All ideas & comments/suggestions will be gratefully received & digested.

I think I read somewhere that a ring main is better than individual spurs to share the power load. It will keep the amount of stray wiring down too.
Your RCD should still protect the system, but it depends also if there's a lower limit on the external supply. If the supply limit is less than your RCD trip, you run the risk of tripping the whole campsite and you won't be the most popular person around.
Some sort of ammeter / visual display would be a bit nifty so you know when you are pushing your luck!

Don't forget a built in battery charger for Mrs Snozzy's toys

A ring main is pointless in a camper as the hook up is only 16amp max. Although there are RCD's that protect against too much current demand, the RCD's fitted to the vast (and I do mean 'vast') majority of campers just monitor earth leakage currents to protect against electric shock; relying on the adjacent circuit breakers to limit the current demand. Besides which, the campsite's hook up point will also have a 16amp max circuit breaker to prevent you knocking out the entire site - the very worst you could do is knock off yours and an immediate neighbour's if it's the old style hook up where one circuit breaker may protect two hook up points.....

Hi. Also be aware that in Europe a lot of campsites only have 10 Amp supply on the pillar and the RCD set to 30ma,plus a breaker set to 10amps ( this is not an RCD but an overload device) your RCD should be 20ma and as 1664 says, this is to protect not limit. Sorry to be a bit negative, but better to be safe than sorry.

Regards, Graham.

European sites are typically 10 amps but can be even less at 6 amps.
Yeah more sockets for convenience but obviously with an awareness of the supply limitations.
One thing that hits you in europe is that mains cables look more like lawn mower extensions they are that thin..really.
Martin

Cheers Guys, I'm aware of the pathetic power supply on mailand Europe, & also I have no intention of overloading the system - it's purely for convenience therefore I'm popping a double switched socket just to the rear of the drivers seat (TV & sat rcvr.), another on the window side of the westy wardobe door, just above the table & possibly one near the sliding door on the lower r&r seat panel. Leaving the westy rcd in place.

Hopefully, the bag of extention leads can now stay at home!