Club 80-90 Forums

Hi All

While camping at the weekend we were having problems with the electric hook up we use. Our van's a Westy with a normal socket that works when we're hooked up to the mains, and a 3 way fridge that also works fine when we're hooked up. However, the trip switch in the van kept cutting out on Saturday when we had a laptop plugged in, and the fridge running off the mains. It happened several times, but when put back on would work for a while with no problem.

Later, we were using an electric blanket and that set off the trip switch as well a couple of times. However, the following night we used it and didn't have any problems. (it was very rainy the first night, so we wondered if a bit of water could have got in the connection. the cable is new and not damaged).

Does anyone have any ideas on what might cause this? and also, we were thinking we'd better get someone to look at the electrics to be on the safe side. However, I don't know if we should get a normal electrician or find a VW specialist. any recomendations? - we live in south London.

Thanks!
Jane

Be interested myself to know who you get to fix it. My 240V hook up gone wrong. At the moment I gota have the pick up coming through a window with an adaptor plug & plug in RCD!

janieh wrote:I don't know if we should get a normal electrician or find a VW specialist.

A normal electrician as basically it's a domestic set up but in a van. Damp might be the cause but best if you get it tested as there could well be other reasons.

I know next to nothing about electickery but i'd have thought that if damp was causing the problem, it would trip no matter what you were trying to run off it. Could it be that you're just trying to put too much power through at once?

If the damp is between the neutral and earth you need a load (however small) to complete the fault path

Seem to remember someone on brickyard having this problem of frequent tripping out with a Westy import and discovered it was the polarity of the EHU cable that came with it or it didn't match the socket (something like that), long time ago otherwise I would point you to the thread.

rainman wrote:I know next to nothing about electickery but i'd have thought that if damp was causing the problem, it would trip no matter what you were trying to run off it. Could it be that you're just trying to put too much power through at once?

I don't think so, as the first time it was just the laptop and fridge. Also, we've had no problems before so it didn't just seem to be the power. Thanks though.

A normal electrician as basically it's a domestic set up but in a van. Damp might be the cause but best if you get it tested as there could well be other reasons.[/quote]

Thanks, I think we will try that. Seems the best bet.

AngeloEvs wrote:Seem to remember someone on brickyard having this problem of frequent tripping out with a Westy import and discovered it was the polarity of the EHU cable that came with it or it didn't match the socket (something like that), long time ago otherwise I would point you to the thread.

Thanks, but we've used it on several trips with the same cable and not had an issue, so I don't think it's something inherent like that. Think we'll get it tested by an electrician.

hello just check that there is no loose connections on the back of the sockets or you havent damaged the cable anywhere in the van

Bessie the camper wrote:hello just check that there is no loose connections on the back of the sockets

We had the same problem last month where it kept tripping out using a small fan heater and fridge (which we have used before)
someone suggested a loose wire and when it was checked lo and behold a wire had come out and was resting 'live' against the metal screw!!!
all seems fine since...hopefully nothing too drastic with yours.

D&DCAMPA wrote:

Bessie the camper wrote:hello just check that there is no loose connections on the back of the sockets

We had the same problem last month where it kept tripping out using a small fan heater and fridge (which we have used before)
someone suggested a loose wire and when it was checked lo and behold a wire had come out and was resting 'live' against the metal screw!!!
all seems fine since...hopefully nothing too drastic with yours.

Hi, thanks for this info. How and where did you check for loose wires? or did you get an electrician to look at it?

Cheers
Jane

just take the sockets off and check the wires in back of them that they are all tight

Bessie the camper wrote:just take the sockets off and check the wires in back of them that they are all tight

oh right, I see. you mean just in the socket, I was thinking something further back that would be difficult to see. I shall have a look.

thanks!

janieh wrote:

Bessie the camper wrote:just take the sockets off and check the wires in back of them that they are all tight

oh right, I see. you mean just in the socket, I was thinking something further back that would be difficult to see. I shall have a look.

thanks!

If thats all ok then check where you RCD and MCB are thats the things that trip out if you didnt know let us know how you get on