I know this has been discussed before in another topic but I just wanted to highlight to newcomers to motorhoming not to get caught up in all the miss guided claptrap that is peddled by the industry, as I have discovered my friend did.

I was chatting to a friend yesterday who was planning to take there campervan to France for the first time. Although a confident person, he wanted to prepare himself for the trip and had been researching lots of websites. He seemed overwhelmed by all the do’s and don’ts and this was starting to tarnish his view of touring abroad. One of his concerns was of reverse polarity (let alone the dangers of wild camping)!! and he had purchased different reversed polarity tails and a tester.

Why does the industry and clubs get so obsessed about reverse polarity? In thirty years of caravanning and motorhoming abroad I have never checked or been concerned about this. In a fixed installation to the grid ie domestic or industrial environment yes, but not in a leisure vehicle with a hook up. The only time you need to be concerned about reverse polarity is if you make a repair to an appliance or the mains installation. In that instance you should always isolate the supply and test before attempting a repair anyway. if it is such a problem then why don't they build all vans with double pole switches, or do they?

No doubt some of you will disagree

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