Westy Posted April 21, 2006 Share Posted April 21, 2006 This is our first year of motorhoming and we have booked our first trip abroad in the summer. Not very sure on the polarity side of things regarding electricity on continental sites could someone please explain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted April 22, 2006 Share Posted April 22, 2006 Go to the 'Welcome Box' at the top-right of the web-page and click on Search. Then type "polarity" (leave off the quotes) into the Keywords box and select All Posts from the Date Limits section. Now click on Submit and you'll retrieve a good few previous postings about this. I think these should answer your question - if not then feel free to ask again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 25, 2006 Share Posted April 25, 2006 If you have a modern motorhome it will be equipped with an earth leakage current detecting main circuit breaker. These breakers do this by accurately comparing the current flowing in the NEUTRAL wire with that flowing in the LIVE wire. If these currents are not almost identical (because some has flowed elswehere - like via earth back to the transformer) then the trip will operate disconnecting both LIVE and NEUTRAL connections. If you have an appliance with an earth leakage fault and the Mains hookup is connected correctly then the earth leakage trip will operate when you switch on that appliances ON/OFF switch. If the mains hookup is connected with reverse polarity and you have an appliance with an earth leakage fault then the trip will operate as soon as you connect your hookup irrespective of the appliances ON/OFF switch. If you have an OVERLOAD situation then the circuit breaker supplying the circuit which has the overload will open irrespective of supply polarity. If this overload is because of an earth fault then the earth leakage trip will operate anyway. So, I would not worry about reverse polarity unduly as faults will get picked up one way or another. But, The latest Autotrails, Autocruise, Kontiki, Bessacar and Timberland motorhomes include an indicator lamp to warn of reversed mains polarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Westy Posted April 27, 2006 Author Share Posted April 27, 2006 Thanks a lot, that really helps. We have a Bessacarr Moothome which is only 8 months old so it looks as though it may be ok then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 We have an Autotrail Mottahome and that 9 years old and OK. C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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