Tim W wrote:
Earthing the car will be a better bet IMHO than
trying to insure that there is no way that a mains cable entering the car
cannot become damaged on a sharp with of metal and become live.

Another way would be to take the double insulated approach, but to use SY
flex to take the mains in and earth the braid.

As long as you're not planning to take the SY flex into the battery
charger, which would defeat the double-insulated properties of the
charger and be more dangerous!


That flex doesn't meet the mechanical protection criteria of the IEE regs in
way that armoured does, but looking at it objectively, if the outer sheath
does become cut, it will provide some mechanical and electrical protection.

But the obvious belt and braces approach, as others have mentioned is to
talk SELV into car.

Might be worth having a look at some engine preheaters - those are mains -
see what they do regarding earthing.


It's worth pointing out that the reason Caravans and motor homes are
required to be earthed is because human beings occupy them naked and wet
when the mains electricity is connected.

In Dave's case, he's going to be fully dressed and he's going to
disconnect the mains before he gets into the car, so the risk of
electric shock is minimal.

However, there's no obvious downside to fitting a 3-pin inlet to the car
and earthing to the chassis/body. He should not under any circumstances,
however, consider modifying the charger from Class II to Class I (i.e
double insulated to earthed).


Cheers,
DaveyOz