NEW WIRING STANDARDS
FOR TOURERS AND MOBILE HOMES

NEW WIRING STANDARDS FOR TOURERS AND MOBILE HOMES

THE MODERN APPROACH of caravans closer to houses as regards electrical installations is reflected in the withdrawal by the Institution of Electrical Engineers of its brochure on recommended caravan practice. Instead, a 6-page section on caravans and sites is introduced into a completely revised edition of the general wiring regulations.

This emphasises that caravans should conform to the regulations for buildings, subject to the qualifications in the new section. The complete regulations are ob­tainable from The Institution at Savoy Place, London WC2, for 17s 6d post paid.

Site installations as well as caravan electrical equipment are covered, and both high and low ~c1tages. and residential and touring caravans. Points of special importance are:

If the site wiring does not lead directly into the caravan, it should end at terminals or a socket outlet inside a weatherproof box, with means of isolation in the form of a switch, circuit breaker or other automatic cut-off. There must also be means of earthing the caravan installation. The socket outlet must be rated for 15, 30 or 60 amperes and be so designed so that the plug can be inserted only the right way and cannot acci­dentally be withdrawn or in­completely pushed home. If it is intended for a touring caravan it should bear a notice stating the voltage, frequency and maximum load.

The type of cable to be used between the caravan and the socket outlet, individual meter, or other installation on the pitch is specified, and the method of connection to a caravan inlet, where the cable is not integral with the caravan wiring.

That applies to all touring caravans. They should have a single inlet with recessed pins and provision for earthing, accessible only from outside the caravan and located where it will not be dam­aged in travel or by weather. The inlet must not allow the plug on the cable to be withdrawn accidentally or incompletely pushed home. There must be not more than 6ft of wiring between the inlet and the main switch inside the caravan.

Instructions on what to do when arriving at or leaving the site end this section of the regula­tions, which should be studied in full by every caravanner and site operator concerned.

The increasing use of electricity for various purposes in touring caravans and the inadequacy of many mains connections to tourer's have been subjects of comment in more than one recent issue of THE CARAVAN.