With the A'van electrics; Yes before the electrical 'upgrade' there is an earth leakage circuit breaker, The function of which is; if a leakage is detected between the active and the earth circuits it will cut the active line in 30 milliseconds. This earth leakage circuit breaker [ELCB]  on the double power point in the A'van if tripped cuts off 240 volts to all parts of the A'van, So far so good, and the fact that to connect the van to the park power supply you pull out the permanently connected line to plug it in, so you, the van owner, cannot foul things up, or can you?  Well, yes, you can!  Firstly if the power lead will not reach the park power supply then you bring out the trusty extension lead and plug it in. This extension lead if untouched will be OK, but caravan people being the handyman type that they are, may have shortened this lead as it was too long and wired up a socket or plug [whichever end they tackled ] the WRONG WAY [ swapped the active and neutral wires ]  so now the park supply active is going to the van's neutral circuit, You are quite happy as everything still works OK, except that you have now lost the protection of the ELCB. Secondly some of the older, cheaper, smaller, out in the bush, parks have been found to have the odd one of their power poles wired incorrectly due to whatever reason.

 

Because of these possibilities the 'upgrade' was brought in, now a double pole ELCB so it will trip in all circumstances and give you full protection. [ both the active and the neutral circuits are protected] The point I was making before was if it was considered important enough to 'upgrade' a van at no cost and without telling you if your van went into the factory for an unrelated warranty fix or work to be done then why aren't earlier vans advised to bring their vans in for an 'upgrade' ?

 

Hands up all those people who press their ELCB test button every time they connect their van to a new power supply? What, no one, perhaps some, what, everyone, wow !! How many people load up their power points, You may have plugged in and running at the same time  a toaster, an electric jug , a frypan or grill and perhaps a heater on the floor? Remember a total of 3600 watts gives you a current draw of 15 amps, the rating of the lead and any extension cords,  Look at each of your appliances. On each you will find the wattage of the appliance. Add them up and try and keep them below a total of 3600 watts, A total of 2400 watts is better,  How many times have you gone to plug your van into a power pole and noted the burnt socket you are plugging into!  My A'van does NOT have a overload circuit breaker in it,  You are relying on the parks overload circuit breaker. Some people are using reels to store long extension cords. Never plug one in with cord still wound on the reel as it sets up a magnetic field and a rise in temperature in the cord.

 

I saw a fridge enquiry on A-Forum. I have been in contact with Electrolux and have received from them, 2 pamphlets, One on installation and their venting requirements, the other on trouble shooting and Electrolux agents around Oz, very interesting, their requirement that the BOTTOM SLOT of the top vent must not be lower than the top of the fridge for proper cooling  is a requirement for warranty purposes  even if it means putting in a ''box' 'cut out in the bench top at the back of the stove with a metal deflector plate in it. I think the A'van misses out by about 3 inches!

 

(name withheld at writer's request)