Faults on EHU lead

I have two orange hook up leads. One long 25m and a short one 9m.

The short one is the one that I normally find is just right for most sites.

I am just back from Northbrook site and have spent a couple of hours checking and remaking the plug connections. 

The pitch I was on retired the longer lead to repack the Ballard. Plugged it into the van, connected up to the Ballard and turned the fridge over to electric. 

Continued to set up as usual. 

When I’d finished I plugged the kettle in (low wattage caravan model) and noticed the alde control was off, so switched it on. This tripped the power.

Checked caravan fuse box and everything was still on. Went to Ballard and trip had gone. Reset and returned to caravan. Plugged in a martingale and noticed that the line and neutral were reversed. Now I know there will be some that will say that I should’ve corrected it there and then, but as the caravan has a RCD as the main incomer and double-pole MCB (breakers) for circuit protection, I decided to leave it. None of the caravan sockets are switched and Earth was good. Any short to earth would’ve tripped the RCD

On checking the setting on the Alde, I found that the load monitor was not set and I had simply overloaded the supply. 

 On inspection of the long lead, I discovered that the line and neutral on the plug were reversed. I also discovered that the line on the socket end wasn’t actually being gripped by the screw and although the screw was tight, the cable was just wedged up against it.  

I have had this cable from new and wound it straight onto a cable tidy. And has only been used a handful of times. 

My point is, this is how it came. It should’ve been tested by the manufacturer!

The faults were on it since it was made.  

I regularly test the caravan at home with the martingale, but only use the smaller lead. Next time I do, I Will make a point of plugging in the longer one as well.