The Importance of Being Earthed

The problem of reversed polarity on Continental sites is covered by the advice available to the general public at: http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/planning-your-holiday/overseas-holiday-planning/travel-essentials/general-advice/electricity-and-gas/

However, the leaflet has two omissions: one trivial, and the other a serious safety concern.

 The first is the misleading description of continental plugs as two-pin: the connectors are two-pin and earth. In France the earth is provided by an opposing earth pin in the socket outlet; elsewhere, the earth is provided by strips on the body of the plug.

 The second is that the leaflet contains no warning of the possibility of the site supply not having an earth connection, and the danger that arises from unearthed appliances and exposed metal surfaces. The appropriate warning “Never use a site without an earthing system” only appears, in bold type, as the last line in the last section of 11.03 Hooking up to Continental Mains at http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/expert-advice/getting-started/safety-and-advice/safety-and-advice-information-leaflets-(members-only)/

 In the last ten weeks we have camped at 14 sites in France, Spain and Portugal. Fifty percent of those sites had reversed polarity (including CEE17 installations); one in Spain had no earth! It’s only the second time in 7 years that we’ve come across this fault, but it’s a condition that can and demonstrably does exist. Each time we’ve advised the Site Reception to no avail. Both were in Spain on otherwise well-maintained sites.

 I’m prompted to open this discussion, as I was recently scorned by a fellow camper when I advised him of the problem. He told me that he had no need of an earth as his motorhome had thick rubber tyres! Is there a general unawareness amongst caravanners that an earth connection is essential?

 I solved the problem using a stout metal peg and an earth wire which I connected to the chassis of my motorcaravan. The only problem was that I was then providing an earth for everyone else on that box, if not the whole campsite!

 n.b. I (Chas) qualified in Electrical and Electronic engineering in 1966. I have worked as a Development Engineer in Industry and as an Engineering Officer in the RAF)