Hiya - I keep my caravan permanently hooked up. I occasionally hook up my van, especially when I want to run a dehumidifier in it (eg after using the Vax on the seats - the joys of kids!)
It’s mainly when I know that we won’t be using it for a while.
It’s me being OCD really.
Apart from keeping the vehicle battery tip top, my Crafter has got its own internal CCTV camera, although the solar is enough for to keep this running, belt and braces and all that.
Oh, I like the internal cctv idea!!!
In the case of what is required here and not going into 18th edition regs and boring everyone to death. RCD protection should be used. So if you have a consumer unit with a main RCD then you could install a standard outside IP rated 13a socket or 16a blue plug if there is no RCD protection at the consumer unit then a RCD IP rated socket or a 16a RCD 240v 3 pin blue socket should be used.
after saying all that though and sounding like mr belt and braces in reality it’s your house you can do what you like and wire it how you like and it will work.
Bit like tyre load ratings.. it’ll probably be alright until something goes wrong and you have to explain to a insurance company or the law.
@JOG not all of that was for you.. just went off on a bit of a tangent
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Phil_G
Guest
If there is no RCD protection at the consumer unit then I'd suggest that getting one fitted should be the priority before even thinking about adding spurs!
Yes it should but not everyone has that sort of money. It’s not a spur if you split the ring..If there is no RCD protection at the consumer unit then I'd suggest that getting one fitted should be your priority before adding spurs!
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Phil_G
Guest
Taking a low-demand feed outside is one case where I'd use a spur in preference to splitting the ring 
Completely agree with all of the above. Sound advice and explains the “why”!
That’s your preference.. I’ve seen a lot worseTaking a low-demand feed outside is one case where I would use a spur in preference to splitting the ring
Nothing wrong with coming off the outside light if it’s the closest.
Having seen someone cut the cable when lawn mowing it makes you think twice about outdoor electrics ....so either way I had this fitted a while back
and when using electrics on the van home or away I use this all have RCD protection ( having a kombi no real space for permanent installation) for me being very cautious of electrical imports don’t want anything shorting out In my van....as with anything in life there are more qualified people than me around use them....
and when using electrics on the van home or away I use this all have RCD protection ( having a kombi no real space for permanent installation) for me being very cautious of electrical imports don’t want anything shorting out In my van....as with anything in life there are more qualified people than me around use them....
Pretty much everything electrical is imported, even our power stations in the near future.
UK only does coffee shops and dodgy financial dealing these days.
You’re right and I’m wrong! I misread it as “all outdoor sockets should be rcd ones” which is not what you said and why I was scratching my head.
It's not best idea to put an RCD socket on an RCD protected ring, unless the socket is 30mA and the ring is 100mA, to stop any tests done at the socket tripping the ring out.
Best practice would be to have the outside socket on its own spur from the consumer unit, either an RCBO and just an IP65 socket or an RCD socket fed from a circuit breaker not on an RCD in the consumer unit (easier to reset trips at the socket than going to the consumer unit every time)
Best practice would be to have the outside socket on its own spur from the consumer unit, either an RCBO and just an IP65 socket or an RCD socket fed from a circuit breaker not on an RCD in the consumer unit (easier to reset trips at the socket than going to the consumer unit every time)
