Plugging Your Caravan Into 240V Power at a Caravan Park

At a powered site your caravan's 240V system runs from the park's outlet, and its onboard charger tops up the 12V battery. It's mains power, so treat it with respect.

1. Use the right lead

• A heavy-duty caravan extension lead in good condition, with the right plug for the van's inlet and the park's outlet.
• Use one lead, fully unrolled. Don't join leads or use household power boards outside.
• Check the plug, socket and cable for cracks, burns or cuts before you plug in. If it's damaged, don't use it.

2. Plug in in the right order

Make sure the van's main switch or RCD is off, plug the lead into the van, then into the park outlet, switch on at the outlet, then at the van. Reverse it to leave.

3. If the power trips

An RCD (safety switch) trips to protect people from electric shock. If it trips:

• Unplug the last thing you turned on and try again.
• If it trips again with everything off, unplug from the park and tell the park office.
• Don't keep resetting it. A repeating trip is telling you something is wrong.

4. Leave it to a licensed electrician

Any repair or change to the van's 240V wiring, inlet, power points or charger connections must be done by a licensed electrician. Get the van's 240V system tested regularly, as your state requires.

5. Quick summary

• One good caravan lead, fully unrolled, checked before use.
• Switch off, plug in, switch on.
• A tripping RCD is a warning. Don't keep resetting it.
• 240V repairs are for a licensed electrician.

Work on 240V AC wiring, including inverter outputs and mains inlets, must be done by a licensed electrician. For high-current DC gear, follow the maker's installation manual and have an auto electrician check your work if you're unsure.

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