Extension lead wired the wrong way

iana · Guru

Extension lead wired the wrong way

iana · Guru

No I am sure there was no neighborhood feud going on !
PS earth connection was good.

erad · Guru

As long as the Earth wire is correctly connected, the system is safe enough for normal conditions. The Active wire supplies power to the load, the Neutral returns the current back to the grid. With AC power, which colour of wire doesn't matter - the voltage fluctuates between positive and negative all the time. With DC power that would be a totally different case.

Residual Current protection measures the difference between Active (supply) and Neutral (return), and if there is any significant difference, it trips the breaker. If there is a major fault, the Earth wire is there to provide an easier path to Earth than going through your body.

Possum3 · Guru

All caravan owners should have their electrical leads and caravan power outlets tested or do it themselves with a readily available tester. www.jaycar.com.au/power-point-and-earth-leakage-tester/p/QP2004
Quite a few (newish) caravans I have tested for others has active and neutral reversed - which make a mockery of caravan manufacturers electrical sign-off. Using unskilled labour in the industry is rife - one manufacturer is actually advertising for unskilled employees to wire and plumb van/motorhomes.

dorian · Guru

There are some cases where this situation may be dangerous.

If someone has their fingers inside an appliance which switches only the active side of the supply, then the appliance will remain live when the switch is off.

If this extension cable is connected to another cable or appliance where the neutral and earth wires are reversed, and if there is no ELCB, and if the appliance has an earthed metal frame, then there is a potential for electric shock.

iana · Guru

Interesting, I know when everything ran in reverse with 3 phase, its just a matter of swapping a wire around (except earth) to change direction. Just was unsure of what happens with single phase.

Whenarewethere · Guru

A good reason to buy & use moulded leads.

Tony Bev · Guru

Hi Ian

As you know I am not a techi

I am led to believe that modern caravans should have been fitted with

GPO outlets which have, double pole switch that disconnects both the Active and Neutral, to reduce the chance of electric shock
This is in case someone, has wired up a caravan 240 volt plug/switch wrongly

Any switch/plug wired wrongly, could and have (in the past), been killers

I am sure that the electricians, can explain it much better than me

herks · Veteran Member

Would not be too concerned with only leads being reversed. Have seen some CV park outlets also reversed. How do I know? I have a simple 3 pin plug (available from Bunnings) which you simply plug into a power point and the LED lights will tell if the er is a problem. I have it plugged in and turned on in a power point in the van and as soon as I plug into an external power source and the green leds change then I know there is a power issue.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/deta-power-outlet-tester-plug_p4420488

-- Edited by herks on Tuesday 23rd of June 2020 07:09:48 PM

-- Edited by herks on Tuesday 23rd of June 2020 07:11:29 PM

Mamil · Senior Member

If active and neutral have been transposed either at the van park supply or the connection cord to the van everything will operate normally - appliances won't blow up or motors run backwards! However, if normal 'household' GPOs, switches, and circuit breakers have been used then even when the switch is off and the appliance not operating, the circuit will still be live from the source, through the appliance, and back to the switch. This can be dangerous in specific fault situations. This is why the regs (AS/NZS3001 Clauses 3.3.1.2, 3.6.2, 3.6.3.1) say all AC switches, GPOs and circuit breakers on a caravan must be double pole, ie. switch active and neutral, rather than being single pole 'household' type.

-- Edited by Mamil on Wednesday 24th of June 2020 08:52:06 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Just be aware if lead has reverse ? It MAY have been corrected at fuse box etc . ?? If its wired wrong and you dont know when it was ? Get the whole van checked for polarity. Why they have double post switches !! Its isolates both !m

oldtrack123 · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Just be aware if lead has reverse ? It MAY have been corrected at fuse box etc . ?? If its wired wrong and you dont know when it was ? Get the whole van checked for polarity. Why they have double post switches !! Its isolates both !m

Ditto