twocvbloke

To be honest, I'm referring to the use of inappropriate connectors for 12vDC and not using a standardised wiring practice, and if the connectors were used for their original purpose when wired up for the non-standard use that they could potentially be a danger...

Okay, if it's utter crap, then why does AC flow one way, then back the other, alternating between the two? The electricity has to flow two ways in order for AC to work, otherwise, it's just DC... Fair enough, I got the 25/50 thing wrong, but I'm more used to just wiring up (safely with the correct connectors for the voltage!!!) than messing with the frequencies and al that...

Okay, you go take a bare Earth wire and a bare neutral wire, hold one in each hand and tell me you're not killed... AC current works both ways, 25 times a second "Live" is positive, and the other 25 times a second, "Neutral" is Positive, that is why it is called Alternating current...

This morning, I can see it from where I am sat right now... Like I said before, people like myself who are in to vintage appliances see the 3-pin BS546 plug as a 240v outlet, be it 2 Amp, 5 Amp or 15 Amp, it's a 240v spec made for 240v mains... Assume I never knew about the 12v use, and I picked up a vintage looking lamp from a car boot sale because I saw it had a 5A plug, I'd assume it was made and wired for that spec, came without bulb, so I'd most likely pop in a bulb and plug it in to test it, and if it's wired up wrong (for 240v) then I'd be in trouble, because someone decided that they wanted to wire it up to suit themselves, and I get 240v across the heart and I'm done... I do think there needs to be standardisation applied to 12v electrics on leisure vehicles (trailer tent, caravan, motorhome, boat, etc.), I see that snap-in DIN plug as the perfect standard, cos fair enough the US-Style socket could be seen to an american (and we know how bright they can be!!) and assume it is a 120v outlet, but the DIN socket, well, it's perfect, it may be open to small fingers, but 12v isn't anywhere near powerful enough to cause an electric shock, so is safe in itself... One can dream though, can't he?

I have the US style 12v socket which is just as tight and secure as a proper US socket (I have them too!), the plugs I haven't any experience of, but when you can get them cheaper from the US, it kind of makes the UK caravan plug look expensive... The slanted pin ones do look like rubbish though, I agree, but if it's okay for plugging in a lamp or something, then it's better than making up some potentially iffy wiring for something that wasn't really made for the purpose...

Hopefully they'd follow the rules first and have it PAT tested to reveal the wiring...

I'd guess sensible ones would use completely incompatible plugs for any standard, such as the following examples: US-style Polarised plug & socket The bog standard "Caravan" plug & socket (can't find a pic of a matching socket): Or of course there's that clip-in DIN socket or the good old 12v cigar lighter socket...

Which could be problematic, like if you move from one boat to another, only to find your 12v kit isn't working or has blown up cos someone chose a different method of wiring up their 12v sockets or plugs... Standardisation would be a good thing...

That's the thing, to someone like myself, who likes vintage appliances that still have 5A plugs fitted, there could still be some confusion of the standards, I know it's unlikely that someone would have a vintage appliance collection on a boat, but you never know. 12v into a 240v device could be a hazard, but 240v into a 12v device is just an accident waiting to happen... Like I say, I'm sure I read on here that someone used the earth terminal for one of the supply lines, thus reducing the risk of any cross-contamination of the voltages, I think I'll go search through my posts for that now... Personally I'd still want to use the US style 12v sockets (as used in caravans, but they're just basically US plugs and sockets), but that's just my personal preference...

Something I've been wondering, I remember something a while back where someone mentioned a technique to wire up round-pin BS546 sockets so they were "safe" incase you used the 12v item in a 240v wired socket and vice versa... So, it got me wondering, how do you wire yours up for 12 Volt use? I remember something being mentioned that the Earth pin is used as either positive or negative (but forgot which one it was)... I'm not planning any 12v wiring, I just happened to think about it cos I bought these sockets: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220728808057

And that's what made it British....

I'd be interested to know whose fault it would be if one were to accidentally walk into the hole in the towpath on the L&L in Nelson (next to the Reedyford Road bridge), could be a real money spinner... It's been getting bigger and bigger over the past few years since BW pulled up a tree that was holding it all together securely...

Nope, that's not right... The BS546 2 Amp Plug & sockets were for low-power devices (often lights/lamps, radios and electric fans), the 5 Amp ones for more minor appliances (televisions, vacuum cleaners, electric tools, refrigerators) and the 15 Amp ones for major appliances (Washing machines, cookers, kettles, electric fires)... I could go into the history of them, but, I'll save you the boring lecture and offer a link... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BS_546

Found one!!!: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360333720497 And another: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370474282763 Easy when you search for 12v panel on ebay under "Boat parts & Accessories"...