Caravan charging point / 16A Socket

[uksparks]

Hi,

Customer wants me to fit him a 16A socket so that he can plug his caravan in, PME supply.

I wouldn't call his drive way a caravan site, so not exactly sure if I should be doing this as it could be potentially dangerous as I was just planning on hooking up the earth as well, but then thought would it need a rod?

 

[Engineer54]

you're saying that you can use PME to a caravan if you add a rod?

No, one of these car all singing super duper ever so special battery charging socket outlets!! lol!!

Oh and i was referring to permanent buildings PME installations, that should ideally have a local earth rod connected to the MET, Not caravans/mobile homes etc...

 

[MDJ]

Is this just a socket on someones house so they can plug the van in for 24 hours to charge the battery before going away for the weekend camping?

 

[DPG]

The people I know who have caravans just use the short adaptor lead and plug into a normal 13A socket. Can't see many people having a dedicated 16A socket fitted - can't see the point, as you can't then use it for anything else. Daz

 

[MDJ]

That was going to me my next point after getting the answer DAZ, I had a caravan (well more than one) for 12 years and plugged it into a socket in my house with an adaptor, I am still here, whats all this rod nonsence for a temp battery charging supply LOL.

 

[Badged01]

...... plugged it into a socket in my house with an adaptor, I am still here .......

But looking at your picture there may have been some effect from using the house socket without a rod!

 

[DPG]

You wouldn't have a problem connecting an extension cable from your garage to charge the car battery though would you???? Same principle, just 2 more wheels Daz

 

[spark 68]

If the charger output is SELV then no problem.

The problem of adding a PME 16A fixed socket to supply the caravan is a different proposition altogether.

It is one thing to do something against the regs for yourself, quite another to do it for a paying customer and leaving a paper trail, it is all about providing something that is safe and covering yourself and your backside at the same time. lol

 

[DPG]

There's still the 240V mains cable draped over the bonnet and into the engine compartment.

 

[Chr!s]

ESQCR prohibits the supply of a PME to a Caravan, but how many caravan owners no what Earthing arrangement they have or whether its acceptable, i am sure many send a extension lead out from a PME Supply with no issues, there is always the exception though.

Chris

 

[DPG]

If the charger output is SELV then no problem.

The problem of adding a PME 16A fixed socket to supply the caravan is a different proposition altogether.

It is one thing to do something against the regs for yourself, quite another to do it for a paying customer and leaving a paper trail, it is all about providing something that is safe and covering yourself backside at the same time. lol

Yes but I'm saying I wouldn't bother with a dedicated 16A socket for a caravan. Daz

 

[uksparks]

Is this just a socket on someones house so they can plug the van in for 24 hours to charge the battery before going away for the weekend camping?

Yes it is

- - - Updated - - -

UKsparks,

What you do is entirely up to you, we can only advise where you stand wrt regs, and why it is not a good idea to use the PME system earth for a caravan, whether it is in a park or the garden.

TT an TN-S supplies are no problem, it is only TNC-S/PME which gives problems on this type of install

Yes, you segregate the earths. here are the various drawings, although these are for full caravan pitches, the same principle applies to a single socket, Drawing 02 is the nearest one for your single socket, I have just included the others for information.

Thank you.