This means that from a safety perspective that it can be seen by people walking past even if the grass is slightly long. Dark leads aren’t the end of the world, but it means that they’re harder to see and could be a trip hazard. Ease of Use Also, make sure you invest in an RCD which, as explained above, will avoid accidents and potential injury. These devices shut off automatically if they detect a problem with the circuit. Products are often marketed by terms such as “water-resistant” which can be vague and doesn’t make it clear about how much water a product can be subjected to before it gets dangerous. An IP rating is a solution.

We recommend that you avoid purchasing caravan hook up cables that have a rating lower than IP44. Cable Rating In practical terms, this means that the power supply at the bollard produces an electrical current that can power at any one time to a maximum of 16A (or 10A or 5/6A). As the power supply user, you need to make sure your total usage does not exceed this amount. If the polarity is reversed, you should attach a Polarity Reverse Adapter to your hook up cable so that the power flowing to the van is the correct way round. The material of the hookup cable is important because throughout all its use it’ll be outdoors so it needs to be able to withstand the natural UK elements which can often include spells of wind and rain. The best cables will be covered in a PVC sheath that gives it all-round protection. An IP rating is short for the term Ingress Protection mark which is a two-digit grading system that’s ingrained onto the enclosure of electrical items so customers can see how effective the item is at resisting intrusion to unwanted substances.Using them with your caravan is very much the same as using electricity at home. The main difference is that because you are using a mobile unit, there is a higher risk of mistakes being made. Regularly perform your own safety inspections and arrange for a fully qualified technician to run safety tests periodically. It’s important to understand the rating of your cable because to meet the IEE regulations it needs to be a 2.5mm core mains lead. Disconnect the cable from the power supply bollard. Depending on the connection type, there may be a release button.

Store all cables carefully, on a reel or coiled in unkinked loops. Ideally, keep your extension cable in a cable bag.Your supply cable will need to conform to standard BS EN 60309-2. This specifies a PVC/PVC flexible cable with three cores, each core ideally being 2.5mm. Hook up cables are therefore fatter than your standard domestic power cords. Cable care and storage Note that you should only use the Polarity Reverse Adapter if it is definitely needed. Otherwise, you will have inadvertently created reverse polarity in your van! How many Amps are you using?

For UK-wired vehicles, this can cause a safety issue. Power is travelling down the neutral wire rather than the live wire. This means that an appliance will work, but live power will continue to flow to it even when it is switched off. You can also avoid accidents by investing in an RCD or residual-current device (also known as a residual-current circuit breaker). This is a special device that will switch off an electrical circuit that is unsafe. The Equipment You Need and Where to Get It In our house, we give power usage some thought but definitely aren’t perfect. We try not to leave lights on, don’t re-boil the kettle when it’s still hot, and remember (sometimes) to shut down computers overnight. div>