I've been reading this post with interest and it seems that Only Dicky, Jaysparx and Matty seem to know what they are talking about, and busmonkey makes sense when he says when dealing with electrical systems it's best left to professional competent persons . I will happily bring my test equipment to TE and check RCD trip times are correct, and comply on your hook ups etc if you like . I know people on here are happy to offer advice and hope I haven't offended any one ☺️
Be great to see you. Will be interesting to see how my set up is working after being fitted around 12 years ago. It's never tripped in Europe but a campsite near Bath needed the campsite source re setting twice then all was good.
What type RCD to have question. Currently I have a RCD type AC (Hager CDC 240U) on the hook up circuit. Power then goes to my transformer to charge my leisure battery. Since this was all set up I now have Solar power feeding my leisure battery via a controller and a VSR for on the move charging. This battery then feeds, via fuses, the fridge and tap and at some point in the future the Propex. Question, do I need to change my current RCD (AC type) to be a type A or B? I've been doing some reading and don't know enough about subject to decide. Thanks
hi Chris. I’d say no. Your not providing an inverted 220 v supply from your system (ie inverter) are you? AC should be fine as no DC component . Would be a type A in new money. Good question tbh.
Thanks Chris, no inverters in the system. I'll be taking on your point, made elsewhere about using plug and socket instead of direct wiring when the Propex goes in. Cheers
I'm just adding a consumer unit into the van so this is timely - I currently have no earth to chassis anywhere, do I need one? The hook up earth goes straight to the consumer unit into a busbar which all the remaining cables connect to. Theres one "in" (hookup) which is a double pole RCD, and 3 x "out" (3 x sockets) running through breakers. The consumer unit is a plastic enclosure, mounted into the wooden cupboard.
The breakers need to be double pole in case live and neutral are swapped by the campsite or by somebody's mains lead splitter adaptor. The metal of the bus chassis should be bonded to the hookup earth wire , otherwise you will be tripping the RCD with your body when you grab the door handle after a walk by the stream, with wet shoes if a live wire hits the bodywork somewhere (e.g trapped in a door , under a cupboard.) You would prefer it to trip the RCD immediately which it will do if the bodywork is connected to mains earth. Then your next post on TLB is "why does the breaker trip" rather than " I got a belt off the sliding door, punched my wife who was standing beside me, and I had to go and sit down for a while after she smacked me round the head , as well as the shock I got.."
Yes you do need to earth the body of the van with a min of 4mm2 cable as per the first page of this thread. have a read of this https://thelatebay.com/index.php?threads/leisure-electrics-230v.5526/
Thanks Mike - makes sense, the earth (I presume) can be taken from anywhere in the circuit between hook up connection and consumer unit? I'm thinking of running it from the back of the hook up plug to a suitable point in the van - is there any maximum recommended cable length etc to consider? I see what you mean about breakers, forgot that unlike a garage there is a possibility of polarity reversal
