3 pin plug into continental 2 pin AC socket

[srah1953]

Hi
My boat - a Jeanneau - has 2 pin sockets into which I plug 3 pin to 2 pin adaptors. Electric equipment works. However, when I plugged in a polarity tester it read "Neutral Missing". The tester itself is marked that it will not detect earth neutral reverse. The adaptors used are marked not to be used in the UK but I haven't seen any alternatives in the shops.
Something is obviously not quite right. Can you tell me what is going on and what, if anything, I need to do to operate safely?
Many thanks

 

[VicS]

Surprised its not showing "missing earth"

The safest solution is probably to convert your boat to a standard UK 3 pin plug system

 

[Ripster]

I have a Jeanneau (Powerboat) and it had conti-sockets too. If yours is the same, they do in fact have a live, neut and earth, there are three wires in the back so you can connect UK sockets straight in without having to run a new earth. Provided you have the room and enough flat surface, either cut a larger slot if there is clearance behind or get a shallow patress box and go over the existing circular hole. Or just get a suitable adaptor - though they look naff IMO.

 

[dt4134]

Hi
My boat - a Jeanneau - has 2 pin sockets into which I plug 3 pin to 2 pin adaptors. Electric equipment works. However, when I plugged in a polarity tester it read "Neutral Missing". The tester itself is marked that it will not detect earth neutral reverse. The adaptors used are marked not to be used in the UK but I haven't seen any alternatives in the shops.
Something is obviously not quite right. Can you tell me what is going on and what, if anything, I need to do to operate safely?
Many thanks

Isn't Carlingford that marina with the junction box hanging off the side of the old dredger where the shorepower comes down to the pontoon?

Have you tried sailing somewhere else to see if the problem goes away?

 

[rob2]

Somebody posted a while back about this problem and found that the polarity was reversed if the adaptor was plugged in the "right way up" - they needed to be upside down or the wrong pole was switched, meaning appliances would remain live. It might be a good idea to try the tester with the adapter the other way up!

Rob.

 

[srah1953]

Isn't Carlingford that marina with the junction box hanging off the side of the old dredger where the shorepower comes down to the pontoon?

Have you tried sailing somewhere else to see if the problem goes away?

Thanks for the replies. Will investigate replacing with "proper" 3 pin sockets.

....... and very picturesque that dredger is too. Not to mention its added advantage of creating a lovely galvanic cell....