Guest MATT Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 Hi, Before my caravan went in for service the other week, ALL electrics worked fine. After the service, I got the caravan back on my driveway, and I plugged a fan into a socket, and switched on, it worked fine. Later on, I moved the fan, to another socket, the moment I switched it on, the trip switch tripped.Got my son on the job (as he Quote
AndeeeH Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 Hi Matt, just an obvious question but have you used that socket before?, could it have been like that from new? ;) Andy. Quote
Masked Marauder Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 An appliance will work if wired like that, the neutral does eventually go to earth. Have you always used an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker or have you been using a Residual Current Circuit Breaker? Quote
Guest MATT Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 Hi Matt, just an obvious question but have you used that socket before?, could it have been like that from new? ;) Andy.Yes, i have used it many times, including just before it went into service. An appliance will work if wired like that, the neutral does eventually go to earth. Have you always used an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker or have you been using a Residual Current Circuit Breaker? I don't know the answer to that, i have never changed the circuit breaker (and it has not been changed at the service), as it is built into the caravan - there has always been one there. it worked before the service, didn't afterwards. MATT Quote
Masked Marauder Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 Well in that case the suspicious git in me says tampered with! How old is the caravan? If it is a fairly up to date model then it will be an RCD breaker which should have tripped if the problem was pre-existing. Quote
Guest MATT Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 Well in that case the suspicious git in me says tampered with! How old is the caravan? If it is a fairly up to date model then it will be an RCD breaker which should have tripped if the problem was pre-existing. That crossed my mind as well, The caravan is a 2001 Coachman, and is in as new condition. After my son put the wires the "correct" way round - everything worked fine! So i am also suspicious. MATT Quote
seatkid Posted July 24, 2006 Report Posted July 24, 2006 it worked before the service, didn't afterwards. How times have I heard that? :D My advice is....If it ain't broke, don't fix it...... :D What the hell can they "service" in a caravan? Drain and refill chemical toilet......Check and lubricate bed bases.....Top up air freshener.......Check operation of curtain tie backs....... :( :D Quote
gregers Posted July 24, 2006 Report Posted July 24, 2006 hmmmmmmm sounds definatly susspect that the cowboys you took it too are trying to get more dough out of you,wired any other way id think it would trip the circuit breakers,this way if your not clued up,they would hope you would bring it back to them for a fault finding exercise thus costing you a days labour of xxx amounts of dosh plus vodka and tonic.what do they attually do for a service?you obviously have been caravaning a long time is it a neccessary that it is serviced?and why cant you do it yourself? regards gregers Quote
gregers Posted July 25, 2006 Report Posted July 25, 2006 so nothing you really couldnt do?if you put your mind to it :blink: do you not know a corgi registered plumber?how often does your home electrics get tested?so why do your internal electrics on the van have to be done every year?im not being flippent in asking these questions weve been toying with owning a van,is it something that is required by law?to have done or is it your own peace of mind?and is it expensive to have done? regards gregers Quote
Guest 3.5bullet Posted July 25, 2006 Report Posted July 25, 2006 so why do your internal electrics on the van have to be done every year? from memory they dont have to be tested every year unless they cover high milage and are subject to heavy usage? other wise the regs state once every three years, as to why more often than your house electrics? unless your house suffers from the same vibrations and stresses as a caravan does while being dragged around? the installation should be ok for a few years! unless you let some cowboy at it or are a bank holiday DIY specialist! Periodical Inspection Preferably not less than once every three years and more frequently if the vehicle is used more than normal average mileage for such vehicles, the caravan electrical installation and supply cable should be inspected and tested and a report on its condition obtained as prescribed in BS 7671 (formerly the Regulations for Electrical Installations) published by the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Quote
Guest MATT jr Posted July 26, 2006 Report Posted July 26, 2006 It is not required by law to have it serviced. But I have it done, for peace of mind really. After all, you are sleeping in a wooden/metal box, that has Electricity, Gas, And water = combinations of which can result in fire. I had a gas BBQ go wrong on me once, it burned down a hedge, and melted half my conservatory, that Quote
Masked Marauder Posted July 26, 2006 Report Posted July 26, 2006 it was about 11am in the morning (thank fully)MATT Yep, that could have been a disaster if it happened at 11am at night! Quote
Guest MATT jr Posted July 26, 2006 Report Posted July 26, 2006 It was a good show for us! - i remember the caravan fire, 2 fire engines, and everyone watching. was a shame for the owners tho, ooo it all happens on camp sites! a regular thing is people putting hot ashes in bins! :) last time it was a large skip that went up in flames, again two fire engines. but, whats going on in someones head, when they put Hot ashes in a bin!?!?!?!!?! MJR Quote
gregers Posted July 26, 2006 Report Posted July 26, 2006 your not related to jeremey clarkson are you coz he set fire to a caraven a couple of weeks agoit was bloody funny,but im sure it was a set up? Quote
bigdaddy Posted July 26, 2006 Report Posted July 26, 2006 That had to be a set up,,,,,the owners of the other caravan where not about,,,,,,and the car the used to tow the van was the caravan clubs tow car of the year for 2006,,,,NNNNOOOOOOO,,,,it was the KIA SERENTO Quote
Guest MATT Posted July 28, 2006 Report Posted July 28, 2006 Well, anyway, I have had words with the boss, and they will now deal with it. Silverdale Caravans have been around for 50 years (I think) and have never let me down before. MATT Quote
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