What plug?

Amarillo · Mar 30, 2022

The campsite in Spain says:
"Electric connection: Blue European plug for exterior. Adaptor required."

Is that this

Or this

Sad · Mar 30, 2022

I'd have thought A

capt kirk · Mar 30, 2022

Sad said:
I'd have thought A

We used a in spain

inthemidnighthour · Mar 30, 2022

Seen both abroad , so I would take both to be safe

Amarillo · Mar 30, 2022

inthemidnighthour said:
Seen both abroad , so I would take both to be safe

Yeah - I have packed both.

Particularly unhelpful information. We’ve previously encountered both.

I’ll feed back the answer in a couple of days.

soulstyledevon · Mar 30, 2022

I always carry B in the safe for emergencies. I think Italy has a lot of them still.

Amarillo · Mar 30, 2022

soulstyledevon said:
I always carry B in the safe for emergencies. I think Italy has a lot of them still.

I expect “adaptor” is a mis-translation for hookup lead.

Anyway, I have four adaptors or leads.
#1 short European 2 pin to external round 3 pin.
#2 10m External round 3 pin to circuit breaker with 3x UK sockets plus 2x USB.
#3 short UK to round 3 pin
#4 10m standard hookup

Intend to run #2 into the driveaway awning for electric hot plate and kettle, then #3 and #4 from the awning to the van.

Vagophile · Mar 30, 2022

Amarillo said:
Anyway, I have four adaptors or leads.

I'm surprised that you don't have a reversed polarity lead; still quite a common occurrence on continental sites.

Amarillo · Mar 30, 2022

Vagophile said:
I'm surprised that you don't have a reversed polarity lead; still quite a common occurrence on continental sites.

I’m not sure it matters on any of the appliances we use: kettle and hot plate. We’ve used a small fan heater in the awning on a couple of occasions. Other than that everything is 12v DC and reverse polarity won’t affect the battery charger.

If we had a toaster it would be very dangerous if someone poked in a knife without unplugging.

andyinluton · Mar 30, 2022

Amarillo said:
If we had a toaster it would be very dangerous if someone poked in a knife without unplugging.

Same as touching the element on electric fan heater with something metallic.

Its the only time that a reverse polarity is more dangerous.

You would have to be pretty stupid to do either.

Amarillo · Mar 30, 2022

andyinluton said:
Same as touching the element on electric fan heater with something metallic.

Its the only time that a reverse polarity is more dangerous.

You would have to be pretty stupid to do either.

The fan heater is southern Italian where three pin plugs are reversible.

I’m fairly (or very) ignorant about how domestic wiring works, but I can’t understand how reverse polarity can be a danger in that part of Italy.

andyinluton · Mar 30, 2022

The danger is down to the on off switch on the device. Worst case cheap toaster the switch only switches the live circuit. If correct polarity the +ve flows from the socket to the switch.
If switch is off anything beyond it is dead ie the heating element.
If reversed polarity the switch just stops the current flowing out of the toaster, so even if the switch is off the element is live, touch it with a knife/ finger & you compete the circuit, the current flows through you to earth.

Most devices are sealed so you can’t get access to anything live - it’s only toasters, the bar on a electric fire, the heating element on an electric kettle etc that are a risk. Even then it’s only a problem if the switch only works on the live wire. Most modern stuff the switch works on both cables.

Amarillo · Apr 8, 2022

Amarillo said:
The campsite in Spain says:
"Electric connection: Blue European plug for exterior. Adaptor required."

Is that this
View attachment 90979

Or this
View attachment 90982

It was the first.

ThomasHJ · Apr 8, 2022

Good to always carry both when you're over here in mainland Europe. At most (modern/large) sites you'll encounter the first one in the photo, but if you enjoy smalller, more remote campings or staying at farms, or parking up in urban environments, the second can be a lifesaver when looking or a hookup.

Ksar-el-kebir · Apr 10, 2022

Amarillo said:
The campsite in Spain says:
"Electric connection: Blue European plug for exterior. Adaptor required."

Is that this
View attachment 90979

Or this
View attachment 90982

A. B is used in Morocco. May be other countries too but I stick to Morocco.

Ting Tong · Apr 11, 2022

A …. because continental folk have hook up leads with B on the end and need an adapter for A.

What plug?

Amarillo

Tom

Sad

capt kirk

inthemidnighthour

Amarillo

Tom

soulstyledevon

Kennycalifornia

Amarillo

Tom

Vagophile

Amarillo

Tom

andyinluton

Amarillo

Tom

andyinluton

Amarillo

Tom

ThomasHJ

Ksar-el-kebir

Ting Tong

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