As has been said a polarity tester is essential before you switch on any electric appliances.
We just swap over the relevant wires in one of the cables and make it the one we try first. Worth remembering to change it back before coming home.
I know some people who just swap the wires in the continental adapter but we have discovered many sites in France are now using the same plugs as us so you many need to change the lead anyway.
Not a major issue really.
Another option is to get a very short lead made up and only change it over. No mix ups then.
Davy
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: Co. Down Age: 71 Posts: 1555 Registered: 09 / 2011 My Motorhome: Hymer B598 PL Base Vehicle: Fiat 130 hp multijet
I carry a polarity tester similar to hymer524's suggestion.
I also have a basket load of leads some inherited from my dad who toured the continent for 40+ years.
these include
the normal hook ups, one 10 metre and one 15 metre, (25 total)
a household 13amp plug to blue site connector
a household 13amp female socket to blue site connector
a reversed polarity hookup adaptor
an older shuko to modern blue connector
an older shuko to reversed polarity modern blue connector
I know nothing about electrics but is it possible it is something to do with a lot of France having 3 phase rather than single phase?
I know even my parents house in France had 3 phase electric when they bought it.
Much the same as Davy, I have a selection of leads and a polarity tester (Halfords for a few euro) I also made up a short polarity reversal cable, about 20" and use this if the site has reversed polarity.
To be honest it is not a problem to swap a wire over the odd time.
The best thing to remember is not to switch on the fridge before checking polarity. We have the Dometic RM 7650 L with AES system.. I dont want anything going wrong with that..
baguette
Eat's Sleep's craic
Gender: Location: Cork Age: 74 Posts: 2939 Registered: 11 / 2011 My Motorhome: Rapido 963F Base Vehicle: Ducato 2.8 JTD Power
To correct a reversed polarity supply I have a very short, as in 300mm lead with a blue plug at one end and a blue socket at the other, one of which is wired wrong, ie. neutral and live reversed.
I plug one end into the 'van and the main lead into the other end................two wrongs make a right in this case
It is not always live and neutral reversed. It can be earth too.
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