Polarity adapter / 2 pin adapter

EmandOce
EmandOce Club Member Posts: 8
First Comment
in Overseas Campsites & Touring #1

Hi all,

I've got a 25m extension lead and I've bought an adapter for Europe. I also have this thing to plug into the van with LEDs to show the polarity. Do I need to buy a specific polarity switch adapter as well, or does the typical 2 pin adapter for France do that automatically?

Apologies if I sound ignorant! I'm completely new to all this!

Answers

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,680
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    #2

    Depends on the age of the two pin socket. Some you can turn your plug around to correct the polarity but you may find this is not possible or you lose the earth. Best either make up a reversing lead by crossing over the negative and positive or buy one. The trend on most sites now is to standardise on the CEE system used in the UK. However it is still wise to check the polarity and have a reversing lead to hand.

    peedee

  • EmandOce
    EmandOce Club Member Posts: 8
    First Comment
    #3

    Thanks again peedee - seems like maybe I just go for reversing lead as well then just to be on the safe side!

  • EmandOce
    EmandOce Club Member Posts: 8
    First Comment
    #4

    I'm trying to post a photo of the adapter I have but it's saying there's a permission error unfortunately. As there's a diagram on the pack that really suggests to me that it switches the polarity too, and therefore maybe I don't need to buy a separate one

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,680
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    #5

    I would still obtain a reversing lead in case you find other supplies that are reversed. In my experience it is not unknown to find Continental sites with CEE fittings reversed.

    peedee

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,355
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    edited June 5 #6

    Some owners say don't bother, but I'm one for carrying a short reversing lead. When abroad I follow a different approach to mains hook up than in the UK. I have a 40+m 1.5mm 3 core cable drum with the hook up fitting on that I fully unwind. A 25m lead is frequently not long enough and the 1.5mm can carry 20 amp in the open air, far more than the 6 or 10 amp typically available. This drum sits in a box under the van from which a short lead feeds into the vans hook up. If needed I can fit the reverse polarity lead between them. When the boys camped with us I would plug in a circuit breaker to the cable drum and feed a lead out to the tents.

    Colin

  • EmandOce
    EmandOce Club Member Posts: 8
    First Comment
    #7
    WhatsApp Image 2025-06-05 at 18.26.42_cbb9703d.jpg

    This is what's on the packaging of my continental conversion plug - so are we still saying I need the other adaptor?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,448
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    #8

    It’s actually very rare to need the old style French plug. Perhaps one in 20, in our experience. However we carry both a French adaptor, reversing adaptor and one of these 3 pin plugs in the photo which shows if everything is OK. However I am told our Hymer does not really mind, there are no switches on the plug sockets, therefore I rarely bother to check unless there are other issues.

    IMG_0929.jpeg
  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 7,021
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    #9

    Having survived widespread travels in India where the electricity supply is often as shown in this photo I decided that French campsites were safe enough without adaptors to tinker with things.

    IMG_0924.jpeg
  • EmandOce
    EmandOce Club Member Posts: 8
    First Comment
    #10

    Ha, brilliant!

    Thanks everyone

  • wh1nbrew
    wh1nbrew Club Member Posts: 110
    First Comment
    #11

    We have pitched up today at Deffay (Brittany) and although CMC approved (we booked through them, on our pitch at least, the polarity was swapped over - so definitely worth having a polarity checker and changer cable.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 7,021
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    #12

    But why bother? No one is harmed by it. Would you check polarity in a rented holiday hose in France? And even if you did you couldn’t do anything about it.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,680
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    edited June 8 #13
    https://clubtogether.caravanclub.co.uk/discussion/comment/878536#Comment_878536

    Careful what you say ET. I wouldn"t check the polarity in any Continental rental home or van. It should not be necessary because they employ two pole switching whereas in the UK we only switch the live wire in homes and vans. I will leave it to a qualified electrician to explain further.

    peedee

  • wh1nbrew
    wh1nbrew Club Member Posts: 110
    First Comment
    #14

    I'm not an electrician but I was led to believe if the polarity is reversed, the (normal fused UK style - i.e. on the live side) appliance becomes live at all times when plugged in even if the fuse blows so in effect, the fuse / breaker is ineffective. A similar effect putting the plug in a sink to stop the tap running.

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