Caravan hookups

[Engineer54]

Personally I wouldn't use isolated rods at each hookup.
I'd be looking to create one large earth nest to give the lowest most stable Ra possible, possibly installing rods at each hookup but having them all linked together.

I know it would technically be a departure but I see no issue with having an earth nest of very low Ra connected to the MET and having the PME connected.

That would be by far the best solution.

Why would you call it a departure?? All you are doing is providing an addition local N-E to the PME supply earth system. In this instance though, the Ra of the earth nest needs to be below 10 ohms, which isn't a very difficult task if you are installing a earth nest!!

 

[davesparks]

A departure because bs767 1 says you must not have PME connected to the caravan pitches. But with the earth nest connected I see no reason why you shouldn't have PME connected,

 

[Carlosfandango]

Personally I wouldn't use isolated rods at each hookup.
I'd be looking to create one large earth nest to give the lowest most stable Ra possible, possibly installing rods at each hookup but having them all linked together.

I know it would technically be a departure but I see no issue with having an earth nest of very low Ra connected to the MET and having the PME connected.

That's all fair and well saying that, but it's going to be a much bigger and more expensive job to do it that way. I doubt they'll even do any of the recommendations!

 

[Engineer54]

A departure because bs767 1 says you must not have PME connected to the caravan pitches. But with the earth nest connected I see no reason why you shouldn't have PME connected,

Sorry, i didn't quite understand that you meant connecting the PME to the caravan. I thought you were only talking about PME up to the pitch hook-up cabinet, which is fine. Personally i wouldn't connect the PME through to the caravan, too much responsibility if something did go wrong no matter how good the TT earthing on the PME was....

 

[Engineer54]

That's all fair and well saying that, but it's going to be a much bigger and more expensive job to do it that way. I doubt they'll even do any of the recommendations!

So what were all your recommendations for this installation then??

 

[Carlosfandango]

I wondered how long it would take before it turns into a witch hunt!

 

[Engineer54]

I wondered how long it would take before it turns into a witch hunt!

Eh, what ''Witch Hunt' are you on about then??

 

[Carlosfandango]

Well it seems to me that your asking for my recommendations then probably criticise each one. Maybe I'm wrong but thats how i see this going!

 

[Engineer54]

I was asking, to see if you had picked up on all the relevant deficiencies of the original installation.

These caravan sites are publicly used areas and therefore need to be safe. If you are putting your name to a bit of paper that is stating that it is safe, or will be safe if your recommendations are acted upon. The last thing you want, is to be the scapegoat that everyone points the finger at for all or most of the blame if something does go wrong!!


But if you're satisfied with your reporting on this caravan installation fine issue the paperwork and move on to your next job!!

 

[Carlosfandango]

I apologise, I'll put them up tonight.

 

[Carlosfandango]

I thought I was gearing up for a public slagging. Maybe still am when I post them! Ha

 

[Engineer54]

I thought I was gearing up for a public slagging. Maybe still am when I post them! Ha

May be, but at least if there is any slagging, the slagging won't be in a magistrates court or worse!! lol!!

 

[driverman]

I don't carry out EICR's, but if the OP has carried an EICR and recommended XYZ etc and handed it to the customer, that's the OP's job done isn't it?
Is it not up to the customer if they want the work doing or not and who by? In this particular case though to obtain a satisfactory report to obtain a license to operate the site C1 + C2 will have to be attended to. In theory anyhow.

 

[ImpededLoop]

I don't carry out EICR's, but if the OP has carried an EICR and recommended XYZ etc and handed it to the customer, that's the OP's job done isn't it?
Is it not up to the customer if they want the work doing or not and who by? In this particular case though to obtain a satisfactory report to obtain a license to operate the site C1 + C2 will have to be attended to. In theory anyhow.

The decision is up to the owner as to whether they take the advice of the test engineer.

The OP is just checking that his thoughts are correct about the earthing arrangements and one or two other possible deviations. He's followed on from a large company who have been testing the site and understandably wants to check his thoughts are correct before handing them to the person ordering the work. It's possible that this person may then question his recommendations as the previous company never highlighted them.

 

[davesparks]

Who said anything about an engineer? You only need to be an experienced electrician to carry out EICRs

 

[ImpededLoop]

Quite true Dave. My personal opinion though is that an experienced and highly skilled electrician is an engineer. However I'm happy to agree to differ and not take a good thread off on a tangent.

 

[Guest77]

I wondered how long it would take before it turns into a witch hunt!

Why would you think that, you posted up a lot of information and are asking fellow sparks for their opinions, nothing wrong with your posts here mate.

 

[Guest77]

Well it seems to me that your asking for my recommendations then probably criticise each one. Maybe I'm wrong but thats how i see this going!

No we may well agree with most of your recommendations then suggest some others or point out one or two may be wrong, no witch hunt here in this thread, well yet :biggrin:

 

[Engineer54]

Quite true Dave. My personal opinion though is that an experienced and highly skilled electrician is an engineer. However I'm happy to agree to differ and not take a good thread off on a tangent.

And how does a highly skilled electrician get elevated to Engineer status?? Technician is the recognised title for a highly skilled tradesman, that sadly rarely gets used these days...

 

[davesparks]

Quite true Dave. My personal opinion though is that an experienced and highly skilled electrician is an engineer. However I'm happy to agree to differ and not take a good thread off on a tangent.

Who is and is not an engineer is well defined.

For a start a degree in engineering is required