Caravan hook up

davezawadi (David Stone):

I also would like to point out that PVC used for SWA, T&E and flexible cables is exactly the same composition, It is NOT water-permeable unless faulty or damaged. If it were the armour of SWA cables buried would be permanently wet, and subject to corrosion and this is not the case. It may be that some of the plasticiser is leached out by permanent immersion, but this is not fatal to the waterproof ability. PVC is damaged by sunlight and heat, and this may cause cracks. Poor quality cable sheaths may use recycled PVC, which could be full of all kinds of C##p, but BASEC cables should be fine. I don't quite know where this PVC is permeable myth came from, but it needs to be put to bed. PVC hoses do not leak, even under high pressure, so why should cables? Plasticised PVC is used everywhere for liquid containing purposes, the worst effect is seen when it is used for organic solvents where the plasticiser is gradually dissolved out, and the PVC becomes uPVC, like window frames very stiff, but still liquid tight.


A bit more stuff easily accessed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloride#Mechanical

My experience specifically of PVC electrical cables doesn't support this view. I'm fully aware of the use of PVC in water pipes, but it's not exactly the same stuff.


Prysmian guidance here: https://www.whyprysmian.co.uk/underground.html

aligarjon:

Is the caravan fixed or moveable. How far from the socket is it likely to be .


 

https://www2.theiet.org/forums/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=205&threadid=53561&messid=444369&parentid=444344&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Single

I think the issue is more that cable harmonization has progressed, we're no longer using the former British Standards for flexible cables - this change occurred for 17th Edition (16th AMD2 permitted H05VV-F as well as H07RN-F), so it's been in place for over 12 years!

AJJewsbury:

I think the issue is more that cable harmonization has progressed, we're no longer using the former British Standards for flexible cables - this change occurred for 17th Edition (16th AMD2 permitted H05VV-F as well as H07RN-F), so it's been in place for over 12 years!

And completely ignored by the sector for all that time - e.g. the Caravan Club's advise (https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/useful-information/hooking-up-to-the-mains/) says " harmonised code H07RN-F or H05VV-F or equivalent (BS6007 or 6500) 25 metres maximum (+ or – 2 metres) long of three core cable (live (brown), neutral (blue) and earth (green/yellow)) each core of 2.5mm squared section. " and " We recommended that the cable is coloured orange for visibility in long grass. " - yet have there been any reported problems?


   - Andy.

I think the guidance just hasn't been updated Andy -both of the quoted standards were withdrawn in 2012.


Although, I have to point out also that BS 6007 is the standard for "singles" - unsheathed single-core cables - so that would make that part of the guidance plain wrong, wouldn't it?

I think the guidance just hasn't been updated Andy

AJJewsbury:

I think the guidance just hasn't been updated Andy

I'm sure you're right - but that's what the sector appears to be working to none the less. (Just google for images of caravan hookup leads and see how many are orange (or occasionally blue or yellow) - and just how many are black rubber).


And are there any reports of any failing due to water ingress?


    - Andy.

Who would keep such reports - there's not a statutory duty to report such failures.


Provided the caravan is connected to an outlet that's protected by 30 mA RCD, then I think we can accept the risk is at least partly mitigated by that.