Hook up polarity Forums

fjmike

We are off to France in a few days time (first time abroad in a MH)and whats puzzling me is the question of reverse polarity on campsites/aires. Is it very common? and if polarity is reversed what are the consequences?.Will it just blow fuses or will it result in something more serious?

MandyandDave · Moderator

Two things,..

Firstly do you have a Two pin adaptor for your hook up lead?

Secondly..How old is your Dethleff? it may well have the nec. polarity changeover box inside already? Usually near the mains fuse box.

M&D

fjmike

Dethleff is three weeks old and yes I do have a two pin adaptor for the hook up lead. I will go and have a look in the AM, What does a change over box look like and would it have CHANGE OVER BOX written in big friendly letters Very Happy

SidT

You have just reminded me I have't got a 2 pin adapter, can I get one at any Hypermarkets like Auchan?

musicbus

FJMike,

must admit when we first took off south last year I had read about reverse polarity and set up for it with lead etc. 20 weeks later on numerous sites in belguim switzerland luxemborg spain and france I encountered it only once in Spain at a site sth of valencia.

The site manager was with me when I plugged up - amp meter went in reverse quickly unplugged and we found another plug in the same box that was correct polarity. bizarre but it seems rare. many many sites are or have converted to CEE standard

It will be interesting to hear others experiences.

Enjoy your trip

Barry

Anonymous

I was going to stick a link in here to pix I took of all the connectors but my album has disappeared up its own bottom. Surely they were not that bad.

DABurleigh

I can see:

http://www.motorhomefacts.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Puss er&id=frenchplug&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

and:

http://www.motorhomefacts.com/modules.php?set_albumName=Pusser &id=spanish_plug&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Don't know about any others.

Dave

Anonymous

You're right DaB - I must have found an old album which I tried to set up when I first came on here. Thanks for that as I was just about to devote a day to sticking them all back up again.

Nath

I've just been round Europe in my MH, and encountered reverse polarity quite a bit, but all I did was put the two pin plug in upside down, and Hey Presto - it's sorted!

Is it dangerous? I don't know! but I'm still alive so can't have been that bad eh?

Cheers

Nath

twooks

[quote:43bab04f5f="Nath"]I've just been round Europe in my MH, and encountered reverse polarity quite a bit, but all I did was put the two pin plug in upside down, and Hey Presto - it's sorted!

Is it dangerous? I don't know! but I'm still alive so can't have been that bad eh?

Cheers

Nath[/quote:43bab04f5f]

logically yes all you do is turn the 2pin plug around, in practice you often can't do this - in France certainly because there is another pin coming out of the box - [earth ??]

imo there is nothing like the hoary old chestnut of reversed polarity to get people excited - have a quick search for previous threads.

usually irrelevant 'cos rcb / rcd whatever it's called removes danger element.

Cool

ps in about 3 weeks there has been 2354 posts in 361 threads -
can anybody tell me if there was anything about winning the lottery, or a good long shot for saturday, i'm getting withdrawal symptoms already! Crying or Very sad

MandyandDave · Moderator

[quote:c642c87a89]What does a change over box look like and would it have CHANGE OVER BOX written in big friendly letters [/quote:c642c87a89]

Yes they usually do, did you find it? if not it will let you know by sounding an alarm if polarity is wrong, locate it and flick the switch over, have a look in your user manual or telephone the dealer!
Dave