Plugging into house power

Baz421 · Guru

Plugging into house power

GaryKelly · Guru

G'day. I was reminded when reading another thread, about plugging a van into house power. When my slide on camper arrived here, I thought I'd plug it into my house power to check out a few things. It was then I discovered that a normal extension lead has one male and one female plug. The van's plug is also female. So is there a lead you can buy that has two male ends?

oldboar · Senior Member

No way, Gary, probably the biggest no-no possible with extension cords. There should be a socket with a lift up lid on your camper (usually on the drivers side) with the three pins to suit the female end of your extension cord. If not, please get a sparky to fit one before you fry yourself

Darrell

Wombat 280 · Guru

Couldn't agree more No one will sell or make you a dual male ended plug and if they do they should be lined up and shot at dawn If you van came with two female plugs then it certainly isn't to the appropriate Australian wiring standards for Mobile Homes

GaryKelly · Guru

Thanks for that info, Darrel and Wombat. The previous owner rigged up a dual male but I've never been game to use it. Good thing I'm a wuss. I'll check the camper in the morning to see what kinda plugs I can find. Now that I think about it, my old Kombi campervan had an external three-point plug.

03_troopy · Guru

The previous owner was a product of a very shallow gene pool.

ShortNorth · Senior Member

Don't forget the other BIG problem -

all RV's (should) have a 15amp lead and plug by law - they won't fit into 10amp household sockets. You need to have a 15amp circuit and socket installed at home, or use an APPROVED 10amp to 15amp adaptor, like the Amp-phibian. Home made adaptor leads are ILLEGAL. The Amp-phibian has a 10amp circuit breaker built-in ( and the premium version also has a residual current device) to stop you trying to draw 15 amps out of a 10amp socket.

Regards, Brian (retired electrical engineer and former electrician)

oldtrack123 · Guru

Hi
Others have answered your question pretty well
ALL I will say is
FIRST THING TOMORROW CUT BOTH MALE PLUGS OFF THAT LEAD before someone has a serious accident
There is a good reson why they are often referred to as SUICIDE leads

PeterQ

landy · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
Silly question,,,
are you sure you have the INLET POWER SUPPY point to the van NOT AN OUTLET.
Is there a male inlet anywhere (maybe hiden to be weatherproof) and you are looking at a normal outlet from the camper?????????

My thoughts too our van has an inlet on one side ( male ) and an outlet ( female )on the other the awning and door side.
Landy

-- Edited by Baz421 on Tuesday 30th of April 2013 09:34:35 PM

oldtrack123 · Guru

Hi
Certainly NOT an auto electrician
They are not licensed to touch 240V systems!!

An regular house electrician will probably NOT know ALL the requirements for"Transportable Structures" which includes vans, tents ,motor home,etc.

There are specific ADDITIONAL requirements to the Wiring Standard AS/NZS 3000 covered by AS/NZS 3001:2008
So would suggest that you ask ANY electrcian you approach if he has THAT standard
You may have to judge by his behaviour if he is telling the truth.

Also make sure he tests ALL the 240V oulets with a RCD tester AT ALL the outlets

Not by just pressing the RCD test button

If the inverter is also able to supply those outlets ,the TESTS should be repeated with it supply the outletss

PeterQ

-- Edited by oldtrack123 on Wednesday 1st of May 2013 10:04:24 AM

GaryKelly · Guru

Not a silly question, Baz. The plug I was looking at is an outlet. It hadn't occurred to me that the van might have an outlet. It's beside the door at the rear of the camper, and it looks fairly new. It also has an on/off switch. There's a whole bunch of rewiring inside the van done by the previous owner (or his sparky). The inlet, as I discovered, is way up high at the side of the van. It's a male but is missing the weatherproof cover. Not good. I checked inside and the main wiring leads to the external male plug. The van is equipped with solar, house battery and inverter (300W) so I guess the intention was to be independent and not rely on CP power. In any case, I'm sure you'll agree that I should have the thing checked out by a licensed electrician just to make sure everything's kosher - and to fit a weatherproof cover to the external plug.

One question though... should I see an auto electrician or a regular house electrician?

PeterD · Guru

GaryKelly wrote:
The plug I was looking at is an outlet. It hadn't occurred to me that the van might have an outlet. It's beside the door at the rear of the camper, and it looks fairly new. It also has an on/off switch. There's a whole bunch of rewiring inside the van done by the previous owner (or his sparky).

My bet is that the add-ons were not done by a competent sparky (as detailed by PeterQ.)

There are a few questions to be asked about that outlet. What does it look like? Does it resemble the inlet (after you have replaces the flap?) Where is the switch and what type is it? Is it a double pole one?

A caravan power outlet should have an Ingress Protection Rating of IP 44 for weather protection. Most caravan power outlets look like this. They should also be protected by a double pole switch. The one in my link has an internal double pole switch that is activated when you insert a three pin plug.

As for the missing flap, you don't have to replace the whole fixture. They are available here and other places.

GaryKelly · Guru

Your blood's worth bottling, Peter. Thanks for the tip about where to get another flap for the inlet. Here are some pics I just took of the inlet and outlet. I need a ladder to reach the outlet but the pic is okay.

Baz421 · Guru

Good to see you've got it sorted Gaz,,, stick to it.

ShortNorth · Senior Member

Garry,

I'm a bit disturbed about that second and third photo - the outside powerpoint is NOT a RV type, it is just an ordinary household external weatherproof type, and it will NOT have double-pole switching. I'd get that replaced with a proper approved RV one ASAP !

Loki · Senior Member

Hmmm, double ended male extension cord - this would put you high in the running for the Darwin Awards.

oldtrack123 · Guru

HI Gary
As Shortnorth has posted
The 2ndn & 3rd pics looks like a standard single pole outdoor unit {NBG}
That CERTAINLY NEEDS CHECKING
Pic 1 is a standard 15A RV approved inlet socket but the flap is missing
It should be checked for contact pin condition as due to exposure they are probably highly oxidised
That can lead to excessive heating at the connections [damaged wiring & possible fire]
If so it should be replaced

PeterQ

oldtrack123 · Guru

Hi Anton

Sadly, still used by many & recommended by some as a "smart "??way of connecting an inverter into the van wiring[shock ,horror,MADNESS]

The risks are much lower playing Russian roulette
Often referred to as "SUICIDE LEADS' for they sure are one way to ensure an electrocution!!

PeterQ

oldtrack123 · Guru

03_troopy wrote:
The previous owner was a product of a very shallow gene pool.

Hi

X2

PeterQ

GaryKelly · Guru

It's a relief to know this forum has experience peeps out there, who are also willing to share their knowledge. You've saved me a lot of grief. Thanks very much for your attention, and advice, and I hope this thread has served to educate a few others out there as well.