Operating instructions

32
16. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM –
230 VOLT
As in the home, care must be exercised when
handling mains electricity.
Your attention is drawn to the following notice as
laid down by the Institute of Electrical Engineers.
Instructions for electricity supply - low voltage (230
v)
On arrival at caravan site
Before connecting the caravan installation
to the main supply:
Check that the mains supply is suitable for
your installation and appliances, i.e. whether it is
a.c. or d.c. and whether it is at the correct voltage,
frequency and polarity.
Check that your installations will be properly
earthed. Never accept a supply from a socket outlet
or plug having only two pins, or from a lighting
outlet.
Check that any residual current device (earth
leakage circuit breaker) in the mains supply to the
caravan has been tested within the last month.
After connection to site supply, test again.
Make sure that the switch at the site supply point
is off.
Make sure that the caravan RCD unit is switched
off.
Remove any cover from the electricity inlet
provided on the caravan, and insert the connector
of the supply exible cable.
Remove any cover from the socket outlet provided
at the site supply point, and connect the plug
at the other end of the supply exible cable to
this. Switch on the main switch at the site supply
point.
Switch on the caravan RCD unit.
In case of doubt, consult the site owner or his agent.
On leaving caravan site
First switch off the site supply.
Switch off the caravan RCD unit.
Then disconnect the pitch lead.
In case of difculty consult an approved electrical
installation contractor (who may be the local
electricity board). It is dangerous to attempt
modications and additions yourself.
Lampholder-plugs (bayonet-cap adapters)
should not in any circumstances be used.
Replace the cover of the socket outlet at the site
supply point. It is dangerous to leave the supply
socket or supply exible cable live.
Every 12 months, the caravan electrical installation
should be inspected and tested and a report on its
condition obtained as prescribed in the Regulations
for Electrical Installations, published by the Institute
of Electrical Engineers.
Generators
Switch off all appliances, the miniature circuit
breakers and the residual current device.
Start the generator and allow to run for a few
minutes to stabilise.
Connect the caravan to the generator.
Switch on 16 amp miniature circuit breaker.
Switch on the residual current device.
Switch on the fridge (230 volt phase) or plug in a
230v light to one of the 13amp sockets.
This is to provide a load on the generator and
help remove any “spikes” in the supply which can
damage the charger unit.
Switch on the 5amp miniature circuit breaker and
any other appliances you require.
It is always advisable to have at least one
other mains appliance switched on with
the charger unit to minimise the chance of
damage to it.
Do not connect the 12 volt output of the generator
to the battery terminals. The AC ripple must not
exceed 10%.
Overseas connections
Connection to a mains voltage supply
overseas requires particular attention.
Care must be taken when connecting supplies
abroad since the supplies can be of reverse polarity.
The signicance of reverse polarity is that when
equipment is switched off it may not be electrically
isolated.
The only certain way of making equipment safe is
to unplug it.
A means of checking the polarity of the mains
supply when overseas is useful.
There are available several proprietary makes of
equipment for the purpose (e.g. Martindale tester
unit).
If it can be achieved, it is preferable to connect
i