Polarity

We have used several continental sites and never had a problem with polarity but it pays to carry something ready to deal with it just in case.

Another important function of the polarity tester is to test for an earth connexion.

At a site in Holland I moved pitch because the first pitch I selected did not have an earth connexion. I reported it to the reception but just got a shrug of the shoulders.

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Another important function of the polarity tester is to test for an earth connexion.

At a site in Holland I moved pitch because the first pitch I selected did not have an earth connexion. I reported it to the reception but just got a shrug of the shoulders.

squip

Agree, if it's a standard neon indicator it should be renamed Reverse Polarity and Earth Problem Indicator.

Then it's up to you if you ignore it or not, the RCD (if fitted) will hopefully protect you but the lack of an Earth is IMHO something that should be taken seriously.

The polarity issue, I suggest is for older vans that do not have the current dual polarity isolation in their RCB or consumer unit.

 

If you are normal consumer, the issue is not relavent,

So don't worry, enjoy your hols and carry less equipment!

Please do not blindly follow this advice.

There are several threads on this forum where more information can be obtained. Some of the posters are fully qualified sparks.

Then if you want to risk your family for the sake of a £5 tester and a homemade swapped polarity cable made in less than ten minutes then go ahead

Power goes in to a socket via the live and out via the neutral.  The switch "breaks" the power at the live inlet, result an "empty" socket that is not live.  In reversed polarity power goes in via the neutral and out via the live but the switch still "breaks" the power on the live side which is now the outlet, result a "full" socket that is live.  As others have said, buy a polarity tester (they are cheap) and keep a short length of cable made up with live and neutral reversed.  Many people say there is no danger if unwittingly using a reversed polarity circuit - they may be right as I'm no expert.  But why take the chance when the problem is easily overcome?  On a few occasions we found French sites with polarity reversed so the problem definitely exists.

Just come back from Europe and used a tester. Of the 9 sites we stayed at only one had reverse polarity

It only takes one of course (coupled with a faulty appliance in the caravan) but I do think they are getting better these days as they update their electrics to internationally recognised standards.

When I first started, most were wired with the polarity reversed, particularly on French municiples.

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On an alternating current, the "Neutral" is connected to the Earth at some point in the system and has zero volts, the "live" alternates between 240 Volts positive and negative. In the UK our systems and appliances are wired with the switch and the fuse in the "live" side so if the polarity is reversed the switch is on the neutral side and if you switch off the appliance is still actually live. This is only potentially dangerous if you choose to work on your system or appliance with it still plugged in.

On the continent they do not generally need to differentiate between live and neutral because all their switches are "two pole"; in other words the switch breaks both live and neutral.

 

The polarity issue, I suggest is for older vans that do not have the current dual polarity isolation in their RCB or consumer unit.

 

If you are normal consumer, the issue is not relavent,

So don't worry, enjoy your hols and carry less equipment!

Please do not blindly follow this advice.

There are several threads on this forum where more information can be obtained. Some of the posters are fully qualified sparks.

Then if you want to risk your family for the sake of a £5 tester and a homemade swapped polarity cable made in less than ten minutes then go ahead

I agree with Fysherman