EHU cables
What are members thoughts on cables lying across site road ways to reach the hook up.
Should it / is it be allowed?
Is it safe?
Are cables strong enough to stand being driven over?
I have never seen this on club sites but have come across it on cl's. The road ways on the last cl were of hard, large granite lumps which appeared quite sharp.
Comments
-
I have only come across this on continental sites, 2 years ago we were at Camping am Waldbad near Hamelin. The cable had to go across the solid track, so after 10 days the outer covering is softened and damaged, so a new 25 metre lead was required.
0 -
We have had to occasionally lay our hook-up cable across a site road in Europe. Never notice any problem with the cable but it's generally only been for one night and on site roads that were not that busy. It's quite common to have to lay a cable across the front of a pitch in Europe so your neighbours will be driving across your cable now and again. For longer I would look for a different pitch if one was available.
David
0 -
Quite definately NOT! These cables are not designed for that sort of treatment. The damage may not show until later when if you are lucky it just stops working - unlucky would be overheating and fire.
If one is expecting to have to put up with poorly sited power bollards one could optain a length of cable protector to use on the part over the roadway - its a bit like a hollow plastic traffic hump.
3 -
Sounds like you have never been on a foreign site where you may have to join 2 cables and run it thru a hedge across a road and under someones van to reach!
Unfortunately not all sites are as regimented and safety conscious as the CAMC/C&CC but as DK says the site roads are not normally busy so would not get damaged, obviously in a longer term situation damage could occur but in nearly 20 years we have never had an issue.
Also those cable protectors are heavy and not something I would want to cart about.
3 -
Without being political, that is a great example of how European harmonisation has not worked despite (almost) four decades of everyone supposedly being governed by the same regulations.
3 -
I can't say I am very keen on it. We have had to drive across them to access our pitch on this trip to France. It was not our cable and on grass, so damage was unlikely. I always try and pick a pitch that avoids it, or join two cables to take a more circuitous route. Our cables are fairly substantial but a lot of the Dutch seem to use a very thin cable, that would be more susceptible to damage. The problem with them on roads is if someone touches their brakes or turns their steering while on them.
As to what their H & S says, who knows. We visited a Chateau yesterday where there was a workman using a Kango hammer. To me the area he was working in should have been fenced off, plus he should have been wearing gloves, eye protection and ear defenders. None of this was happening. All in full public view.👎I mention this because it is far from unusual, and I think the same casual attitude to safety extends to the campsites. Having said that the site we are on is very nice, but if a fire broke out when it is full in July/August.☹️
0 -
MichaelT - you forgot to mention the splitters that are so commonly used in Foreign parts.
And the thinner cables, two pin plugs and parking cheek to jowl.
By 'eck, it's a minefield of worry on Continental journeys.
No wonder they drink wine over there.
0 -
The further south you go in Europe the less Healthy and Safety seems to matter. Back to original post; not recommended at all but sometimes inevitable. When I have had to lay my cable across a site road I check it every day or so and often move it a little to spread the wear. So far (20 yrs on this cable) no problems.
0 -
As stated above, this is common practice in Europe and quite often the cables are the thinner 1.5 sq. mm. and black so more difficult to see. The arrangement of hook-up points often gives you no choice although personally I avoid it by pitching elsewhere.
1 -
It seems that every other European nation has no problem but CC members need to take it to the High Court to get it banned.
Thank goodness few venture to all those foreign lands over the Channel, Francophiles excepted of course!
Come on folks it's supposed to be a holiday!
0 -
Not really a question of 'going to the high courts' or that you just have to accept it when camping abroad.
Driving over a cable will damage it. So that stay will cost you an extra £30 or so.
If the only pitch available required that our cable be somewhere that it would be driven over, we would find another site.
1 -
Driving over a cable will damage it. So that stay will cost you an extra £30 or so.
When someone asks 'What do you want?' for Fathers Day which is coming soon, a birthday perhaps and Santa later in the year - just put it on the list.
Better than a pair of socks!
0 -
This thread reminds me of a stay in France some years ago. At the site we were at (a site promoted then and possibly still by the CC), there were electric supply cables festooned in trees. Some were marked 2amp, some 4 and some 6. You almost just took your pick from one of the dangling wires and connected your own cable to it. There were some 'normal' EHU bollards I hasten to say.
0 -
Many European Motorhomers and Caravanners use 'normal' domestic 25m extension reels.
Their attitude is if it gets damaged it is replaced.
I use the UK acceptable specially manufactured hook up cables and they have been run over on many roads, tracks and grass areas in many countries for many years.
After 20+ years (they are different ages) they are still perfectly useable and certainly able to pass any PAT standard tests.
0 -
The tough UK cables should be fine run across smaller access tracks although much depends on the terrain. If the ground is soft OK but if it is stoney and dry as you get in hotter climates then it is a question of taking care to run the cable away from sharp stones etc. Of course, if your hook-up point is on the opposite side of the M6 it is is probably wise not to use it.
1 -
Perhaps you might explain that to a friend of mine that had a belt from a damaged extension cable in an office at work and spent 19 days in hospital with barely a pulse, (he recovered)
It is potentially extremely dangerous to run a lead across a road electricians use lots of devices to try and limit the risk of electric shocks such as RCD or RCBO and fuses with very fast blow speeds but when you read the regulations it says (paraphrased) whatever device you use to protect the cable or instillation there is no excuse for poor design.
Running a lead across a road were cars can run over them is absolutely not a safe practice, the UK standards or wiring is superior in every way to the continent with good reason.
All the health and safety regulations have been developed form things that actually happened or almost happened.
An adult would look at a damaged lead as something to be avoided when still connected. A child might see it as shiny exciting copper colour thing to be investigated, all health and safety is basically just in case. If I had to run a lead across a road I would not be a happy bunny and would manage on 12 volts, I have seen the results of electric shock and is not something you want to see again.
Just my thoughts and if you thing anything else I am sorry but you are wrong.
0 -
I simply state what happens in real life.
I actually do lay cables in both venues and across roads, only two or three times a year, they are protected as is the normal practice in the UK.
I have never seen cables run across normal roads in any country, Aires and Stellplatze are not normal roads they are car/motorhome parks and camp sites!
Obviously when the word 'road' was used you assume people were talking about motorways, but I do see your point and I was involved in the industry for a short time.
PS. RCDs weren't about in my time.....it just hurt!
0