Caravan Site Electrics

[Evans Electric]

We have a customer near the NEC  who has permission for taking 5 caravans in their paddock .   Just wondering if theres a firm specialising in  caravan dist.panels  or I could just make one up myself , probably the cheaper option .  

I'll mug up on Caravan Regs later ( as I never took much notice before)      I'm assuming  5 X 16A  RCD Commando sockets

and I 've just noticed in  Regs 708   an earth rod for each socket  if its a TN-C-S  system .    

Ah I see !!    The ESQCR prohibit the use of TN-C-S  to caravans ,

I'm making a panel with 5 sockets in it ,  any reason why just one rod would not sufice ?    Not penny pinching ...just wondering .

 

[kerching]

There used to be a firm near Skegness that made this sort of panel

No idea of their name though

So I am as much use as a skelt

 

[Sidewinder]

There are caravan dist board manufqcturing companies out there.

That would be the cheaper option, trust me, as IF you design & build your own, you would need to document it and test it to the required standards.

IIRC we did, have one as a sponsor?

 

[NozSpark]

Try http://www.rolecserv.com/leisure

You'll also need to have each socket protected by its own RCD... The only problem I can see with 5 sockets in one panel would be the position of this box in regard to the pitch locations...

 

[ProDave]

If you make your own, rcbo's for each outlet. It's a pain to all others if one caravan trips a single rcd.

this will no doubt be for a caravan club "certificated location" (google it)

I doubt all 5 pitches will be in a circle around a central point, so one outlet point with 5 sockets will be no good (caravans normally only carry a 25 metre mains lead)

So you will want at least 2 outlet positions.  And although they can only take 5 vans (a rule frequently flouted) I suggest two outlet positions with 3 outlets on each bollard.  Or better still 3 outlet positions with 2 outlets on each bollard.

As an aside, I was reading the caravan (and mobile building) regs.  One thing that I only just noticed is "static caravans" are specifically excluded from the caravans section of the regs and it says they should be treated as normal buildings. So is it okay to export a TNCS earth to a static caravan? I have always played safe and stuck a rod in.

 

[Evans Electric]

Noz .. yes I noticed something about only 4 sockets in one location  ....well theres to be 5 caravans and how can you control where they run the bloody leads. ?  

Sidey. ......  I take your point but....... if I use an IP 44 cabinet to BS whatever ...and RCD sockets to  60309-2    why would I need to test& certify it . ?

Dave:-  I intend to fit 5 No. RCD  X 16A x 240V  isolator sockets  , each one , according to 708.553.1.14   connected to it's own rodney .

The owner wants a panel on a nearby wall , not in the paddock as they also put horses in there , perhaps she should confirm this with the Caravan Club Police .    Some leads will be quite long to reach  .

 

[Riggy]

Caravan Park Electrical Services are the people to talk to for hook up boxes, all the permutations you'll need, they'll even put the right size gland holes in for you.

If you build your own (which I wouldn't recommend either!) use 2 pole RCBOs, and at the risk of stating the bleeding obvious, make sure you have some discrimination, too many 5 pitch sites around here have six hookup boxes (they all have an overflow pitch for busy times!) each with a 16A MCB or RCBO, fed from a 32A supply, guess what happens on Good Friday!

 

[NozSpark]

You control where yhey might run the leads by having enough boxes for them to connect to without having to run the leads "everywhere"... dunno about the 4 per box but rolec know these regs inside out and will advise appropriately, but if the regs do say 4 per box then they wont make a 5

 

[Evans Electric]

I see that the Rolec Caravan Hook ups  use RCBOs  when on a TT system ALL poles have to be isolated  .  ( IIRC )

I'm being told what to do by the site owner ..as in  ... I want 5 sockets on this wall ...not in the paddock .

I've already suggested a small enclosure built in the paddock but they appear to know best .

 

[NozSpark]

Oh jeez... why a built enclosure?

They normally have an ip box mounted on a galv post thats been knocked in (and thats it)

But,,, "5 on this wall" is different to 5 on a single enclosure. .. you could easily do 2x3 outlet boxes

DP RCBOs are a great idea BTW no matter if its TT or TNS

 

[batty]

I was thinking that too his compacts would be ideal for the job.

 

[kme]

Last year ( and again this year), we`re supplying a field with >20 hook ups, for a weekend event.

What we did was, used a local diesel genny, TP split into 3 x SP supplies - each line, in HO-RN7 daisy chained into Rolec caravan boxes ( double outlet) + rod to each box - effectively creating our own, local PME array.

We routed the cables along a straight run with the boxes 14 metres apart ( double boxes, remember), and put yellow "electric cable below" warning tape over the cable. It isn`t perfect, but, in a field that the client rents for three days, we don`t have many alternatives.......

 

[Sharpend]

At least this year will be easier, after all the rods are already in and I presume you just rolled the cable and boxes up, ready for this year!!!!

 

[SBS Dave]

You will see from my SBS Trade Sales thread, that I have just sold a pile of 16A and 20A Compacts to a customer, who is using them for a caravan site upgrade.

I was also thinking of pulling together a standard hookup assembly for caravan sites, but there are too many variations.

My SBS Enclosures are IP65, so I could certainly supply a suitably sized IP65 enclosure, fitted with 2-pole Compact RCBOs, which is starting to tick most of the boxes for a wall mounted unit. I also have 4-module / 2-way IP65 enclosures, if you need to spread hookup points around.

Let me know if I can be of any help, although I will be on holiday 29 May - 6 June.

SBS Dave

 

[OnOff]

TLC do these:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Distribution_and_Switchgear_Index/Caravan_Hook_Up/index.html

S'funny, my wife's cousin from Stoke came round yesterday. Her and her husband are big into caravanning and they had left theirs over in Essex and drove to us from there. That too was a "5 pitch" site. Seems it's pretty easy to get permission for doing this and it's supported by the tourist board etc.

 

[ProDave]

TLC do these:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Distribution_and_Switchgear_Index/Caravan_Hook_Up/index.html

S'funny, my wife's cousin from Stoke came round yesterday. Her and her husband are big into caravanning and they had left theirs over in Essex and drove to us from there. That too was a "5 pitch" site. Seems it's pretty easy to get permission for doing this and it's supported by the tourist board etc.

three of those twin outlet units would do the job, spaced along the wall where the owner wants them.

When the caravan and camping act was introduced in the 1960's (that date might be wrong, look it up) requiring all caravan sites to be licensed there was uproar.

A compromise was reached that certain clubs could licence small sites for up to 5 units.  As far as I know the only two clubs that actually do that are the Caravan club, and the Camping and caravanning club.  They both have a network of small sites that allow up to 5 units at a time and for members only.

it's much easier to get a certificate from one of the clubs to run a small site than it is to get planning permission for a large site.

but my perception was the number of such 5 van sites is diminishing. the number of sites closing, exceeds the number of new ones opening.

 

[steptoe]

TLC do these:

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Distribution_and_Switchgear_Index/Caravan_Hook_Up/index.html

S'funny, my wife's cousin from Stoke came round yesterday. Her and her husband are big into caravanning and they had left theirs over in Essex and drove to us from there. That too was a "5 pitch" site. Seems it's pretty easy to get permission for doing this and it's supported by the tourist board etc.

That's what they use in parc ferme at the TT/MGP, 4gang ones, you should see the extension leads, trailing sockets, double adapters that are plugged in,

Deffo not H&S compliant     :slap . 

 

[Evans Electric]

You will see from my SBS Trade Sales thread, that I have just sold a pile of 16A and 20A Compacts to a customer, who is using them for a caravan site upgrade.

I was also thinking of pulling together a standard hookup assembly for caravan sites, but there are too many variations.

My SBS Enclosures are IP65, so I could certainly supply a suitably sized IP65 enclosure, fitted with 2-pole Compact RCBOs, which is starting to tick most of the boxes for a wall mounted unit. I also have 4-module / 2-way IP65 enclosures, if you need to spread hookup points around.

Let me know if I can be of any help, although I will be on holiday 29 May - 6 June.

SBS Dave

Duly noted Dave ...I think I need to advise the client first . that the project they are proposing needs to be in keeping with the Caravan Club R&Rs  or they will be wasting money.

three of those twin outlet units would do the job, spaced along the wall where the owner wants them.

When the caravan and camping act was introduced in the 1960's (that date might be wrong, look it up) requiring all caravan sites to be licensed there was uproar.

A compromise was reached that certain clubs could licence small sites for up to 5 units.  As far as I know the only two clubs that actually do that are the Caravan club, and the Camping and caravanning club.  They both have a network of small sites that allow up to 5 units at a time and for members only.

it's much easier to get a certificate from one of the clubs to run a small site than it is to get planning permission for a large site.

but my perception was the number of such 5 van sites is diminishing. the number of sites closing, exceeds the number of new ones opening.

Thanks for the input Dave .

 

[Evans Electric]

Sidey or Paddler  what are the ramifications you often refer to  when making one's own electrical  panel .?    I've done this loads of times over the years .  Surely if I stick things in an IP44...65   enclosure and the accessories are to relevant BSs  I'm just complying with external influences etc.

 

[OnOff]

three of those twin outlet units would do the job, spaced along the wall where the owner wants them.

When the caravan and camping act was introduced in the 1960's (that date might be wrong, look it up) requiring all caravan sites to be licensed there was uproar.

A compromise was reached that certain clubs could licence small sites for up to 5 units.  As far as I know the only two clubs that actually do that are the Caravan club, and the Camping and caravanning club.  They both have a network of small sites that allow up to 5 units at a time and for members only.

it's much easier to get a certificate from one of the clubs to run a small site than it is to get planning permission for a large site.

but my perception was the number of such 5 van sites is diminishing. the number of sites closing, exceeds the number of new ones opening.

£12 per night they were paying to pitch there apparently. At Hordon On The Hill. Had a big communal aerial they could plug into - were most impressed with the number of TV channels they could get........160 or something. Apparently at the site in Bucks they had been to previous they could only get FOUR! 

I can just imagine the scintillating conversations that must go on amongst the caravanning fraternity!

I was riveted..........