Reverse Polarity Switch in Caravan

Lynneallan
Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
First Comment
edited January 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Hello, can you let me know how the reversed polarity switch in the caravan works, when you go abroad, please.

Thanks in advance, Lynne

Comments

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
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    edited January 2016 #2

    What caravan do you have??

    I do not know of a switch however my last 2 vans have had a light to warn you of reverse polarity.  To get over it all I did was cut a small length of EHU cable and wire one end the correct way round and the other swapped the +ve and -ve wires then use this
    in line to the EHU which solves teh issue, if you are not competent at wiring you can buy the same type of thing in most accesory shops.

  • mjh2014
    mjh2014 Forum Participant Posts: 130
    edited January 2016 #3

    Of the neutron streams?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #4

    Neither of our vans have had a switch or a light. I bought a plug in device which shows if it has been reversed. As with MichaelT made up my own switch over length with some surplus to requirements male / female sockets and cable.

  • Lynneallan
    Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
    First Comment
    edited January 2016 #5

    Hello Michael/SteveL, We've got a Swift Challenger 580 SE, the switch is orange in colour and when pressed lights up.  It's on the box under the front bed that we also press buttons to put the heater and water on.  Hope this helps.

    Lynne

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #6

    Sorry no, one of our vans was made by swift but had nothing like that. Hopefully someone with a similar van to you will be along in a minute.

  • Pathfinder
    Pathfinder Forum Participant Posts: 4,446
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    edited January 2016 #7

    Think you will find it is NOT a switch but just a warning light

  • Lynneallan
    Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
    First Comment
    edited January 2016 #8

    Think you will find it is NOT a switch but just a warning light

    Write your comments here...Pathfinder, I  do have to switch it on for the light to come on. Lynne

  • Pathfinder
    Pathfinder Forum Participant Posts: 4,446
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    edited January 2016 #9

    what year is the van ?

  • Lynneallan
    Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
    First Comment
    edited January 2016 #10

    what year is the van ?

    Write your comments here...2013

  • Pathfinder
    Pathfinder Forum Participant Posts: 4,446
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    edited January 2016 #11

    page 69 onwards in the owners handbook states amber switch / light is for combi or alde boiler.

    reverse polarity light is RED

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2016 #12

    I believe it will just be a warning light if fitted, we had such a light in our 1998 Swift van, but not in our current one.

    If you are worried, you need to wire up a reversed EHU adapter.

    It is nothing much to worry about, all your appliances will work fine, plus I believe Swift now use double pole switching.

    Go to the SwiftTalk forum and ask there.

  • Pathfinder
    Pathfinder Forum Participant Posts: 4,446
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    edited January 2016 #13

    If you do not have a hand book for the van go on to the SWIFT GROUP web site and you can get to read the h/book online,

    just click on the help and advice tab then select year/model of van you have

  • Lynneallan
    Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
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    edited January 2016 #14

    Thank you for the replies.  Will take a look at the handbook.

    Lynne

  • Lynneallan
    Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
    First Comment
    edited January 2016 #15

    If you do not have a hand book for the van go on to the SWIFT GROUP web site and you can get to read the h/book online,

    just click on the help and advice tab then select year/model of van you have

    Write your comments here...Got a handbook in the van, will get it out tomorrow and take a look.  Thank you.

  • Lynneallan
    Lynneallan Forum Participant Posts: 77
    First Comment
    edited January 2016 #16

    Pathfinder, please accept my apologies.  You are absolutely right.  Reverse polarity is a red button, and not a switch.  I think it's another senior moment.  You can imagine what OH has to put up with!

    Lynne

  • Pathfinder
    Pathfinder Forum Participant Posts: 4,446
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    edited January 2016 #17

    Thanks for that, after 40 years of c'vanning and owning a 2012 swift challenger myself knew what i was saying was correct. Must say have my own senior moments that OH has to put up with LOL. Enjoy you van

  • NevChap
    NevChap Forum Participant Posts: 180
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    edited February 2016 #18

    As already mentioned a light shows when connected to a reversed polarity EHU bollard. However I would recommend the plug in polarity tester (wide available from accessory shops) as they show what is wrong (if anything) including 'no earth' etc. As also mentioned
    it is easy to have a reversed wired connection to solve a RP problem.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #19

    in our first van, the previous owner had 'inserted' a new section of mains cable between the entry point into van and the PSU.

    this extra cable had a switch which allowed the neutral and live feeds to be swapped.....saved going out and inserting one of those short RP cables....

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
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    edited February 2016 #20

    I have recently been looking at my handbook for a Swift MH and have had experience of my RP light remaining on whilst abroad regardless of whether I inserted my home made RP lead or not, the light remained on. I thought there was a fault with the site
    mains. Some may be interested to know the handbook says that this RP light is designed to work on UK camp sites and when abroad it may still be on but there is no RP problem. I asked a site in Spain about why it was on all the time and their electrician explained
    it was to do with the 'phases' that were used on their electricity grid. I was none the wiser but now think there was no problem having read the book again. Hope this helps. Regards, Roy

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited February 2016 #21

    Just wear wellies and marigolds. Wink

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited February 2016 #22

    I believe the RP light is misnamed it can also indicate an Earthing problem which is potentially very serious? 

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited February 2016 #23

    I have recently been looking at my handbook for a Swift MH and have had experience of my RP light remaining on whilst abroad regardless of whether I inserted my home made RP lead or not, the light remained on. I thought there was a fault with the site
    mains. Some may be interested to know the handbook says that this RP light is designed to work on UK camp sites and when abroad it may still be on but there is no RP problem. I asked a site in Spain about why it was on all the time and their electrician explained
    it was to do with the 'phases' that were used on their electricity grid. I was none the wiser but now think there was no problem having read the book again. Hope this helps. Regards, Roy

    From previous posts it is clear that there are some different wiring practices in Spain, in particular I believe they can use phase-to-phase distribution from the incoming three phase supply rather than phase to neutral. This can cause incorrect readings
    on the polarity detectors inside the van.

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
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    edited February 2016 #24

    Thanks hitchglitch for that reply, it sounds very much like what I had been told by the site electrician. When I got home after that trip I asked Sargents, who make mine, why the light should remain on regardless of what I did hoping it would explain such as no earth for the future but the tech had no idea why. He did not mention the phases issue. Good to see you are enjoying your motorhome from some threads I have read recently. Regards, Roy

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited February 2016 #25

    Thanks hitchglitch for that reply, it sounds very much like what I had been told by the site electrician. When I got home after that trip I asked Sargents, who make mine, why the light should remain on regardless of what I did hoping it would explain such
    as no earth for the future but the tech had no idea why. He did not mention the phases issue. Good to see you are enjoying your motorhome from some threads I have read recently. Regards, Roy

    Actually Roy, we don't take delivery until next month. Looking forward to getting back on the road again, albeit without the caravan! We are hoping that the greater mobility will reawaken the touring spirit. With the van we ended up going to the same sites
    in France and Italy every year. In Italy in particular we found the van just too big for the sites and some of the roads around the lakes area.

  • royandsharont
    royandsharont Forum Participant Posts: 735
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    edited February 2016 #26

    I am sure you will hitchglitch, hopefully we may catch you up at some point too. Best wishes, Roy

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