Mains extension leads

[Bristolfashion]

We are planning our circumnavigation next year. As well as an extension cable with the large site/marina plug, will we need to be able to plug into a conventional UK socket anywhere? Since we've arrived from Australia, we have only had to use the marina/site plug style.

And, on a similar topic, what is generally used in Europe - I see that you can buy an adapter Europe plug to euro plug.

Why am I asking? SWMBO/Financial controller has queried the need for the adapters!

Thanks as ever.

 

[Boathook]

That's all I use now days. It seems to be the default everywhere. I also carry a 32 to 16 amp plug / socket in case all the 16 amp are in use.

 

[White_Belle]

Morning, we went round this year and never had cause to use a conventional 13 A plug. The only things we did carry was a 32A to 16A converter (which I'm not sure we used) and a 16A/16A polarity change plug

 

[Stemar]

A polarity change setup is a good idea as some places are, shall we say, cavalier about live and neutral. Also one of these:

It plugs into a 13 amp socket and will tell you if the marina is trying to kill you

 

[Graham376]

Most marinas use 16 amp round pin supplies but in some places, you may need the 32amp version which looks the same but is larger. Like Boathook, we carry a very short extension with a 32 amp plug and a 16 amp socket, to be able to convert. Very unlikely you will come across anywhere requiring a UK type 13 amp plug. Some French marinas used to/may still? use plugs with 2 male pins and a female socket for the earth but they may have been updated with 16amp marina plugs by now.

Any appliances you buy in UK or Europe will of course have the local plug so best to have a few plug converters rather than changing plugs which can void the warranty. Best wait until you arrive before buying bits.

 

[White_Belle]

A polarity change setup is a good idea as some places are, shall we say, cavalier about live and neutral. Also one of these:

It plugs into a 13 amp socket and will tell you if the marina is trying to kill you

That's what we use to check polarity too

 

[BabaYaga]

A polarity change setup is a good idea as some places are, shall we say, cavalier about live and neutral. Also one of these:

It plugs into a 13 amp socket and will tell you if the marina is trying to kill you

Would it not be simpler, for boats likely to visit mainland Europe, to use double pole RCD and MCBs? So the boat owner could stop worrying about reverse polarity?

 

[White_Belle]

Would it not be simpler, for boats likely to visit mainland Europe, to use double pole RCD and MCBs? So the boat owner could stop worrying about reverse polarity?

Not really, it's no trouble to have a Martindale plugged in to check. RCD's are double pole by definition already and double pole MCB's are more expensive as well as requiring a larger consumer unit.

 

[Stemar]

Wasn't there someone on here recently who had their mains neutral connected to the boat earth? That could be, err, interesting if polarity was reversed

 

[Daydream believer]

To change polarity I have a plug & a 6 inch length of cable then a socket in which the polarity is swapped. So if the marina has reversed polarity i just stick that in the system.
I also carry a plug with 2- 9 inch wires & 2 sockets. So if all the outlets are used up I can ask around & if any user is not using a lot of electricity ( do not wish to risk blowing the fuses) & can share the socket with them.

 

[BabaYaga]

RCD's are double pole by definition already

So I thought, but recently on another thread someone mentioned that they use double pole RCDs in France...
Which led me to believe that those used in the UK, while of course measuring across both phases, might not also break both?

To change polarity I have a plug & a 6 inch length of cable then a socket in which the polarity is swapped. So if the marina has reversed polarity i just stick that in the system.

I'm in no doubt the problem can be managed in this way. Just seems awkward.
Also, in my corner of the continent it would not be uncommon in crowded guest harbours and marinas to plug into someone else's extension cord and there might well be schuko connectors upstream. So polarity might shift as people plug in and out.

 

[White_Belle]

So I thought, but recently on another thread someone mentioned that they use double pole RCDs in France...
Which led me to believe that those used in the UK, while of course measuring across both phases, might not also break both?

You are correct in that it is possible to buy RCD's that do not break both live and neutral but they are getting fewer and fewer as time goes on. The double pole MCB 'solution' doesn't resolve the problem that some items of equipment can be polarity sensitive. Furthermore if your outlets / switches on board are single pole then your kettle, for example, would be permanently live even with the socket turned off.

Edit - spelling!!

 

[PaulRainbow]

Wasn't there someone on here recently who had their mains neutral connected to the boat earth? That could be, err, interesting if polarity was reversed

No, that's not possible in a system with an RCD. I think the OP in the thread that you are thinking of was mistaken as to where his connections were made.

 

[westhinder]

Some French marinas used to/may still? use plugs with 2 male pins and a female socket for the earth but they may have been updated with 16amp marina plugs by now.

In over thirty years of sailing around Europe and the UK I have not found any marina that did not have the blue 16 or 32 AMP sockets.

 

[Heckler]

In over thirty years of sailing around Europe and the UK I have not found any marina that did not have the blue 16 or 32 AMP sockets.

There is a yard in Portuga, that has two pin connections!

 

[Daydream believer]

[QUOTE="BabaYaga, post: 6999763, member: 33039]
I'm in no doubt the problem can be managed in this way. Just seems awkward.
Also, in my corner of the continent it would not be uncommon in crowded guest harbours and marinas to plug into someone else's extension cord and there might well be schuko connectors upstream. So polarity might shift as people plug in and out.
[/QUOTE]
I do not understand what you mean here. If you are referring to a situation where i might use my double outlet I would put my polarity reverse on the line that I was using not immediately onto the marina terminal. If someone then wanted to add even more plugs onto my double socket rig I would expect them to have the courtesy to ask first. Then I might point out the polarity swop to them. But in any event the bit with the polarity swop is on my extension lead not on anyone elses' line.. As for ease of use- it could not be simpler. It is surprising how many marina termnals have earth & polarity problems so one would be wise to check manually ( via the simple plug in unit shown earlier) every time

 

[Stemar]

No, that's not possible in a system with an RCD. I think the OP in the thread that you are thinking of was mistaken as to where his connections were made.

That makes sense. I was trying to figure out how it could be a good idea!

 

[BabaYaga]

I do not understand what you mean here.

I was referring to a scenario where someone might be using a reversible Schuko connector somewhere upstream of where you would connect the double socket rig. Not very likely on a marina pontoon, I agree, but possible for instance if rafted five out on a harbour wall where the on shore supply socket is some distance away.
The OP might not get to visit such places, though.