Reversed Polarity Plug
As I am travelling Northern Europe. Is a Reversed Polarity plug necessary?
I would appreciate your advice
Thank you
Comments
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Yes if you are troubled by it. No if you are not worried about it.
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I always carry a reverse plug, because if the warning light comes on when connected I feel happier if I can do something about it.
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I have a reversed polarity tester plug.......takes a few seconds to plug in and check.
On a couple of sites the warning light has come on and I've then used the reverse polarity lead on the end of the electic cable.
The two bits of kit probably cost about £10-£15 between them and give me peace of mind.
Worth it, I'd say.
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The problem with reversed polarity is that by itself it is mostly not life threatening and some would say not worth while investigating. However it (reverse polarity) can mask other more serious issues like a defective bollard earth. Most serious accidents are not usually caused by one issue - more usually a number of issues combine to threaten life. My advice would be to investigate any incident of reverse polarity and address the issue. If the red warning light is not able to be extinguished then I would always find another electric bollard to hook up to.
Some years ago at La Foret not far from Rouen a friend couldn't extinguish the red light - we tried all sorts of lead without a positive result - eventually swapping to an off pitch pollard (double lead required) which was ok. The problem was reported to reception who were not that interested but did eventually get an electrician to check the bollard. The bollard was taped off and disconnected by the electrician because of internal corrosion which had caused a number of faults including an earth issue. Two days later the bollard was replaced.
The effort and cost required by a happy camper to "fix" a reverse polarity is minimal and therefore there seems little reason to not address the issue.
Ome "n" Dri
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Reversed polarity is a relatively trivial matter which should not concern you unless you are going to attempt some DIY on your electrics. If you can remedy it with a cross-connected lead, then do so. On the other hand, if your tester indicates that the site supply has no earth connection then do not use that outlet. Tell the site management.
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If your tester shows that the site connection has no earth you just attach a reversed polarity cable which you can make up yourself or buy from a caravan dealer. That is why you have the plug. In our 14 years of caravanning in Europe we have only had to use it 2/3 times when in France or Eastern Europe.
Dianne T
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No Dianne, no.
Having no earth on an electrical connection is not the same as reversed polarity , and you can't cure a missing earth by "just attaching a reversed polarity cable"
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The cost of a cross wired adaptor (reverse polarity adaptor) is around the cost of a mediocre glass of wine - say £7 or £8 pounds. It doesn't eat anything, you have it forever and it fixes a problem. Seems to me not much of a decision to make - but I'm a simple person and a pragmatist by nature.
Ome "n" Dri
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