Giblets
Well-Known Member
Have just read on a web site that a polarity reverser is needed in C'bourg Marina. We have the standard blue lead with inline meter for use in the UK. Do we need something different or additional for France? TIA.
Shore Power in Cherbourg
- Thread starter Giblets
- Start date
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
Unless something has changed I think that info is wrong.
Tempus
Well-Known Member
We had no probs in Cherbourg this summer but did elsewhere in France. We carry a polarity reversing lead which is just a short length of cable with male and female plugs on each end and the wires reversed inside. You can buy a polarity checkerfor about a fiver to check polarity when you first plug in. However reverse polarity shouldn't be a problem on most set ups if properly configured.
Cardo
Well-Known Member
We have a buzzer and a switch built into the shore power system on the boat. Very handy. Whilst we did have to flip the switch a couple of times when travelling through the canals, I do not recall this being an issue in Cherbourg.
Steve Clayton
Well-Known Member
It's worthwhile carrying one anyway. Plug into shore power and test for correct AC wiring and earth status (use the test plug with 3 neons). If neons indicate phase reversal then use your plug/socket reversal cable (in line) to fix and recheck.
(Cable is easy to make up yourself)
We have a reverse polarity detector light on the 240volt panel (Jeanneau SO45.2) but bless them; just another thing that Jeanneau never wired up
(Cable is easy to make up yourself)
We have a reverse polarity detector light on the 240volt panel (Jeanneau SO45.2) but bless them; just another thing that Jeanneau never wired up
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sailorman
Well-Known Member
Talulah
Well-Known Member
What on board is there that could be affected by reversal?
sailorman
Well-Known Member
lappi if a 3 pin samsung lead
strudders
Active Member
Cherbourg and most other French ports all seem fine in my experience. The only one I have found reversed was the inner harbour in St Malo.
GrahamM376
Well-Known Member
Not sure if that's true. European plugs in many countries are 2 pin with earth on sides so 50/50 chance of reversed polarity. We've kitted boat out with euro sockets (as well as UK ones) and no problems with anything.
sailorman
Well-Known Member
see my footer but samsung lappi`s are a 3pin plug into the machine
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
We were there at end of August and had no problems.
prv
Well-Known Member
I'd still make a fair-sized bet that they're quite happy with reversed live/neutral connections though. A large proportion of the world's power sockets do not enforce a distinction.
Pete
RupertW
Well-Known Member
I think you are right but as we have UK sockets and take out a lot of gear made for UK spec then we use the 3 neon plug from Maplins permanently plugged in, and have a short reversed lead. Gouvia marina in Corfu is reversed live/neutral (and following rain on Saturday became briefly live/earth reversed a couple of times)
sailorman
Well-Known Member
Kurrowong Kid had issues, thats how i know :encouragement:. would you like my bank details for the transfer
prv
Well-Known Member
Indeed, I was only talking about laptops and similar items, which are a) made for global use, b) double insulated, c) powered via a separate "transformer" (actually a switch-mode power supply I assume).
If you have a traditional metal-cased 240v appliance with UK-domestic-standard boat wiring and a UK plug (fuse in the live wire) and get a short from the "neutral" to the case then you have no protection beyond whatever the marina supply might or might not provide.
Pete
Cariadco
Well-Known Member
Gouvia Marina Polarities
I was checking the polarity, just last week and it was ok ie Live to Neutral/Earth 230 Volts and zero between Neutral and earth, as it should be.
Mind you, that was at my point in the marina, nothing to prove the phases aren't reversed and reversed polarities at other fed circuits.
Regards,
I was checking the polarity, just last week and it was ok ie Live to Neutral/Earth 230 Volts and zero between Neutral and earth, as it should be.
Mind you, that was at my point in the marina, nothing to prove the phases aren't reversed and reversed polarities at other fed circuits.
Regards,
maxi77
Well-Known Member
Even so the only real problem with reversed polarity is a safety issue. With reverse polarity if one of your circuit breakers trips the whole neutral side of that circuit is still live. I have a continental built motorhome and it overcomes this problem by having 2 pole MCBs instead of the UK normal of single pole.
As for Cherbourg last time we were there they were OK though we have found some places with reversed polarity. Leads are easy to make up and I always carry one and a continental to blue connector lead although this seems to be needed less and less. We still find some campsites where it is needed.