DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

'er in doors argues about this' I say it should be checked as it could be border line regarding Part P

It is to feed the caravan when testing equipment and to re-charge the leasure battery being a bugger to get out and back in.....Currently fed via trailing extension lead from living room ( trip hazard)through window so can't be left on over night as there are lots of burglars in this area.

Not being part P registered and an electrician wants over £100 to do the same is the following within in householders permitted remit? basically adding a spur to existing cirucuit.

Proposed works.
To fix an external grade 13 amp socket (Wickes) on outside wall to feed mains to our caravan.
The fixings would be fix and wire in the external socket to and internal Double pole switched box.
The double pole switch would be fed via nearby 13amp socket.
Obviously the DP switch is for disabling the external socket when not in use.

The alternate would be using correct grade of round cable from the external socket, fitting on the other end a 13 amp plug and plugging direct into the existing internal socket, switching off or unplugging when not in use.

Even without considering Part P this is a job argued about many times. In the UK the ESQCR prohibit the use of a TN-C-S system for the supply to a caravan or similar construction. However where extraneous-conductive-part from one earth system can be touched at the same time as extraneous-conductive-part from another earth system clearly there is a problem. Now with a caravan site the fire regulations mean there has to be quite a gap between the caravan and a building which means there is a reasonable voltage gradient. However this is often not the case at home. So although in a caravan park supplying the caravan with a TT supply and the building with a TN-C-S supply may be acceptable this may not be the case at home.

So as an electrician we must look at what is earthed and what gap there is and decide what system to install and what we feel happy at doing.

As far as Part P is concerned it must comply with regulations and so it may be a case of just refusing to fit the supply or saying the supply is for a lawn mower rather than the caravan but however you would like to twist the regulations it will be a case where paying an electrician will be cheaper than DIY so only question is should one break the law or not. There is no way around it.

Clearly if you break the law then ESQCR requirements will also not worry you. However the health and safety of your family may. These rules were not just made for fun there are good reasons. Although an electrician may still break the rules to some extent he will understand why the rules were made and do his best to avoid danger.

I am sure you don't expect anyone on here to tell you to break the law. So what do you want us to tell you? Even electricians can't agree as to how to handle this situation so what hope do you really think you have?

Ericmark Very well explained but haven't a clue so will stick to how I power up to charge the battery using an extension throught the window this extension and a MCB on it so any fault instant cut of power.

An extension lead could cause the same problems as a proper outside socket. What I would say is what ever system you use make sure there is a RCD somewhere.

in the real world forgetting regulations if you have a RCD although you can still get a shock it is unlikely to be fatal so I would say you need a RCD be that in the consumer unit or an add on even a plug in unit.

There is of course a big difference between what we should do and what we do do and you have to in essence do a risk assessment and decide if what you are doing is likely to cause a problem.

To be honest caravans are not really a problem. It's boats which cause the real problem but both are tarred with same brush.