The Electrical System-230V P; On Arrival At Caravan Site P; On Leaving Caravan Site P; Generators P - Bailey Unicorn Owner's Manual

16. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM – 230
VOLT
As in the home, care must be exercised when handling
mains electricity.
Your attention is drawn to the following notice as laid
down by the Institute of Electrical Engineers.
Instructions for electricity supply - low voltage (230 v)
On arrival at caravan site
Before connecting the caravan installation to
! the main supply:
Check that the mains supply is suitable for
your installation and appliances, i.e. whether
it is a.c. or d.c. and whether it is at the correct
voltage, frequency and polarity.
Check that your installations will be properly earthed.
Never accept a supply from a socket outlet or plug
having only two pins, or from a lighting outlet.
Check that any residual current device (earth leakage
circuit breaker) in the mains supply to the caravan has
been tested within the last month. After connection to
site supply, test again.
• Make sure that the switch at the site supply point is
off.
• Make sure that the caravan RCD unit is switched off.
• Remove any cover from the electricity inlet provided
on the caravan, and insert the connector of the supply
flexible cable.
• Remove any cover from the socket outlet provided
at the site supply point, and connect the plug at the
other end of the supply flexible cable to this. Switch
on the main switch at the site supply point.
• Switch on the caravan RCD unit.
In case of doubt, consult the site owner or his agent.
On leaving caravan site
• First switch off the site supply.
• Switch off the caravan RCD unit.
• Then disconnect the pitch lead.
In case of difficulty consult an approved electrical
installation contractor (who may be the local electricity
board). It is dangerous to attempt modifications and
additions yourself.
Lamp-holder plugs (bayonet-cap adapters)
!
should not in any circumstances be used.
• Replace the cover of the socket outlet at the site
supply point. It is dangerous to leave the supply
socket or supply flexible cable live.
Every 12 months, the caravan electrical installation
should be inspected and tested and a report on its
condition obtained as prescribed in the Regulations for
Electrical Installations, published by the Institute of
Electrical Engineers.
Generators
• Switch off all appliances, the miniature circuit breakers
and the residual current device.
• Start the generator and allow to run for a few minutes
to stabilise.
• Connect the caravan to the generator.
• Switch on 16 amp miniature circuit breaker.
• Switch on the residual current device.
• Switch on the fridge (230 volt phase) or plug in a 230v
light to one of the 13amp sockets.
This is to provide a load on the generator and help
remove any "spikes" in the supply which can damage
the charger unit.
Switch on the 5amp miniature circuit breaker and any
other appliances you require.
It is always advisable to have at least one other
i
mains appliance switched on with the charger
unit to minimise the chance of damage to it.
Do not connect the 12 volt output of the generator to the
battery terminals. The AC ripple must not exceed 10%.
Overseas connections
Connection to a mains voltage supply overseas
requires particular attention.
Care must be taken when connecting supplies abroad
since the supplies can be of reverse polarity.
The significance of reverse polarity is that when
equipment is switched off it may not be electrically
isolated.
The only certain way of making equipment safe is to
unplug it.
A means of checking the polarity of the mains supply
when overseas is useful.
There are available several proprietary makes of
equipment for the purpose (e.g. Martindale tester unit).
If it can be achieved, it is preferable to connect live to
live, and neutral to neutral to maintain full electrical
protection.
Check all caravan equipment is set-up to accept the site
supply before actually switching on.
Mains unit
The mains unit replaces the conventional fuse box.
Similar, but larger units are often fitted in newer houses.
The unit gives overload and earth leakage protection
for the 230v electrical supply in your caravan.
For normal operation all switches on the unit need to be
in the ON position. The switches on the left of the unit
are known as M.C.B.'s (miniature circuit breakers).
These take the place of the conventional fuse but are
more convenient.
In the event of a fault the M.C.B. 'trips' i.e. automatically
moves to the OFF position.
After elimination of the fault the M.C.B. can be re-set
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