Electric hook up in France

[g4gxl]

In the UK we have been using one of these since we got our Bongo 2 years ago -



We are going to France soon and it will be the first time I will have used electric hook-ups abroad.

I seem to remember reading that I may need an adapter.
Possibly two adapters - one for a different plug and another in case of reversed polarity ?

I can't find any reference now - did I dream it, is the cable and plug in the photo fine for France or do I need to look for an adapter ?

[Muzorewa]

Possibly this one.... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 38&t=51150

Note that you'll probably have a normal blue socket but you could have a European domestic socket

[Muzorewa]

....or maybe this one... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 42&start=4

[Velocette]

If you are quick with a screw driver it might be worth just buying a French earthed domestic plug from Leclerc and replacing the commando plug with it as needed. I guess it would be a pain if you were doing short stops.

I have camped at about 6 sites in France using one of those hook-ups and only found one with reverse polarity. I believed they started standardising the polarity in 2002 so the problem may be diminishing.

I found that the neon on the hook up didn't light when i was at the reverse polarity site. You do find the domestic sockets quite often. Worth buying a polarity tester to be sure, I got one from B and Q, martindale type, detects other faults too.

[Simon Jones]

You can buy a continental adapter lead for under fiver which is less hassle than changing plugs over:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0029OIVQU

You can get complete set of everything you could possibly need for £25, but you could easily make it for less than that:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EU-Europe-Con ... 3a8102206d

You can pick up 16A plugs and sockets for about £3 each and 1 metre of 3 core 13A outdoor mains cable can be purchased from Maplins or a decent hardware store.

[g4gxl]

Thanks for the replies.

I ordered an adapter off Amazon to be on the safe side - and a mains tester
We are staying at some large modern sites so there shouldn't be an issue.

[vj3]

I have a continental adapter, but have never needed it. camped in germany, france austria and italy.

all had a regular hook up connection

v

[scanner]

I have a continental adapter, but have never needed it. camped in germany, france austria and italy.

all had a regular hook up connection

v

You have been lucky my rate is 50/50. The most recent to use a standard domestic connector was a brand new site at Marck near Calais.

So don't bank on it.

[ramrider]

In the UK we have been using one of these since we got our Bongo 2 years ago -



We are going to France soon and it will be the first time I will have used electric hook-ups abroad.

I seem to remember reading that I may need an adapter.
Possibly two adapters - one for a different plug and another in case of reversed polarity ?

I can't find any reference now - did I dream it, is the cable and plug in the photo fine for France or do I need to look for an adapter ?

Can you still buy these, they look like a good idea

[Muzorewa]

Yup - http://www.towsure.com/product/Camping_ ... t_3_Outlet

You should still take an adaptor and something to check and reverse reversed polarity

Read and inwardly digest the contents of this thread http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 38&t=51150

[mikexgough]

Yup - http://www.towsure.com/product/Camping_ ... t_3_Outlet

You should still take an adaptor and something to check and reverse reversed polarity

Read and inwardly digest the contents of this thread http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 38&t=51150

Spot on..... I have a standard adapter and reverse polarity one..... whatever.... use a tester plug when hooked up and change if reverse polarity.... simple... Just make sure you mark the reversed adapter...