Caravan hook up

Sparkingchip:

Then throw into the mix that whilst camping I have seen motor homes and caravans with two leads supplying them from two 16 amp site supplies at the same time.


One of my first thoughts when I saw one such arrangement using two pillars on separate pitches was that there is an assumption they are on the same phase, that’s assuming that the motor home users even realise that different pitches may be on different phases when they are running out the extended second extension lead, heaven only knows how the leads are connected internally within the motor home.. ?

If internally each inlet goes to its own CU, is there a problem if the outlets are on different phases?

Sparkingchip:

gkenyon:.

In truth, caravans should not be plugged in at homes with PME earthing arrangements.

From my front window I can see a motor home plugged into an extension lead running from within a house, it’s connected to a PME supply, via a Type AC 30 mA RCD in the consumer unit. I know that because I fitted the consumer unit around ten years ago, long before the neighbours bought the motor home.


A socket is a socket, what’s the issue? Why would a caravan or motor home user question plugging it into any electric socket?

I agree they wouldn't ... but it's still the DNO's responsibility, under Regulation 9(4) of ESQCR, to ensure this doesn't happen ... and not a "so far as reasonably practicable" legal requirement either:

(4) The distributor shall not connect his combined neutral and protective conductor to any metalwork in a caravan or boat.

gkenyon:

However, I can confirm that it doesn't matter how quickly technology moves on in this particular instance. Unless and until the relevant legislation - Electricity Safety, Quality and Continuity Regulations - is revised, BS 7671 (and any provisions or guidance from ENA or DNO's) will never allow the connection of a caravan outlet to the earthing terminal in premises supplied from PME, quite simply because Regulation 9(4) does not permit an electricity distributor to connect a PME earthing terminal to a caravan or boat.

I am going to be a little mischievous and ask what penalty a consumer might face when he plugs in his caravan, be it in the driveway or elsewhere.


I feel sure that para. 4 of R. 9 forbids a distributor from installing a PME supply into a static caravan where it may be reasonable to install a service head, etc.; as opposed to a touring caravan, which by its very nature needs to be able to unplug.


R. 35 makes a distributor who has failed to comply with ESQCR 2002 liable for a fine of up to level 5, which nowadays means unlimited; but a consumer's liabilities are limited. R. 34 allows the Secretary of State to require that "any part of a consumer’s installation which is not enclosed in a building ... [which] is or is liable to become ... a source of danger to others ... shall not be used; or shall be made dead; or shall be removed ...". So when Mr Sharma goes canvassing in his constituency, what will he do about all the caravans that he finds "hooked up" to a socket on the wall?

Sparkingchip:

From my front window I can see a motor home plugged into an extension lead running from within a house, it’s connected to a PME supply, via a Type AC 30 mA RCD in the consumer unit. I know that because I fitted the consumer unit around ten years ago ...

Well that's all right then. ?

Chris Pearson:

I am going to be a little mischievous and ask what penalty a consumer might face when he plugs in his caravan, be it in the driveway or elsewhere.

 

davezawadi (David Stone):

I shall play devil's advocate.

In what way is this suggestion different from hundreds of items of street furniture? I do not see that it is, and they appear to present no danger at all. Is this just a throwback, never corrected, in the ESQCR and BS7671. Typical Earth resistance for lamp posts and phone masts is still 100 ohms or so, in my view very dangerous with a PME supply.

It's probably not. Again, this is discussed on Page 20 of the DTI guidance I linked to in my previous post, and there is special consideration in G12/4 for street furniture on PME.