In message , Lobster
writes
Malcolm wrote:
Lobster wrote:
I'm in the middle of wiring up a cable for an electrical hook up to
be used while camping in France. I have a French 3-pin plug bought
there on a previous visit, but in opening it up I find there's
absolutely no indication which of the two power pins is live and
neutral. Doesn't it matter?

I will be using the cable with an RCD device; won't that object and
trip out if the wiring's the wrong way round? Or is it a case of
"suck it and see" when I get to France, and if it's wrong, reverse
the wiring?

Thanks
David
A number of years ago when caravanning in France/Spain I was warned
by a friend about polarity problems when using an RCD. I fitted a
switch (DPDT) the the (old) van so that I could easily change
polarity. Sure enough on one site in France when a new arrival
plugged my leadinto a different socket on the same set of sockets I
discovered that the system had trippedbecause the polarity was
reversed. On a site in Spain this polarity reversal happened without
the lead being unplugged!
You need three adaptors
16A blue to 16 A blue, polarity reversed
16A blue to continental
16A blue to continental, polarity reversed
If the RCD trips and won't reset, reverse the polarity. Our
continental cousins don't have the concept of live and neutral that we
do

OK, thanks - think I've got it now! Will organise some more hardware
before my next trip.

I don't intend to use any power without an RCD, but just for my
education and information, if I *were* to do so, would all my kit
(laptop/fridge/chargers) all work OK without problems, then?

What do the French etc do about this polarity problem - do they not
bother with RCDs while camping or whatever?

David

As has already been said, the RCD looks for a difference in the currents
in the live and neutral. If there is an imbalance, it assumes the
current is flowing to earth somewhere (which it should not be) and trips
out. Therefore it will make no difference which way round the device is
connected. Also, the connected equipment cannot "tell" which way round
it is wired - the current is alternating! In the UK we like to know
which is which for safety reasons - if we switch off equipment by
breaking the neutral, the equipment will be off but still at live
potential which could be dangerous for anyone poking about inside.
However as much of Europe uses 2 pin reversible plugs it can obviously
be connected either way.
--
John Mann