shorepower in france

[bobgoode]

as a cross channel novice going for the first time soon, can I just plug my shore power lead into the French marina sockets? ( assuming I have the correct connection and I pay tThe Man )

 

[Gunfleet]

Often, but often French marinas use something like a French domestic socket too, so you'll have to get a short wire with the appropriate endings as and when you need it. V useful is one of those British domestic socket neon plug gizmos that tell you if the supply is wired the right way round. It's also rare to find a hose in a French marina - people carry their own.

 

[philip_stevens]

Yes.

You may find the normal 16A blue connector or a different French version, but as long as you can check polarity, you should be OK. Occasionally the phases are reversed. There was a thread on here a while back advocating taking an adaptor (another plug and socket that you have wired "wrong" - L to N and N to L) that will correct the reversed L/N phase.

You can check with a DVM by putting your probes in the 13A socket, Live and to earth. If it reads 220/230, you are wired normal. If it reads zero, you can assume the phase is reversed.

Alternatively, go to Maplins and get a polarity tester that plugs into a 13A socket.

Voltage is as good as the same in the UK, mainly 220vac where we are 230vac.

 

[[2574]]

Be aware that many French marinas only provide 5A supplies - so if you stick the kettle, the charger and the immersion heater on at the same time you'll trip the breakers!

rob

 

[Anonymous]

I concur with all the other replies to date and would only add that in Caen (city centre) Marina, this April, the sockets were of the standard 16A type, the breakers were 5A (seems common in N France) but there was a TIMER. To start the supply you had to press a button which then cut out again 10 hours later. The timer was re-triggerable so if you pressed it every time you passed you would have uninterrupted power during the day - but it usually failed before making the morning cuppa. More importantly, if you need to keep your charger on to keep the fridge running and are going away for a few days, you would come back to flat batteries.

 

[jerryat]

Hi Bobbobbin,

Agree with the others. Would add that we carry a standard 16amp blue socket fitted to a short length of cable with the 'French' plug on the other end. As Lemain says, the French sockets are different in a few places, but you will be able to buy a 'local' one quite easily, possibly from the marina.

Alternatively, we have lent a plug to the odd French boat or six (and always had it returned!) and have similarly seen Brits borrow from the French. Nice gestures we reckon if someone's stuck!

Cheers Jerry

 

[Grehan]

Probably a bit out of everybody's area, but marinas (sea and inland waterways) in Languedoc (central SW France) use the most peculiar plugs and sockets I've ever seen. Multi-pin, multi-shaped-pin, push in (one particular way round) then turn to lock.
You have to hire the plug things from the capitainerie and then wire them in yourself. Unless, of course you buy your own one from a local brico but they cost a bomb.
Some kind of regional by-law apparently.