Camper Mains Electric Advice

jims-terrano · 10-09-2022, 08:03

Sorry guys not Terrano related but my camper related.
I’m fitting a mains kit to the camper project. What are peoples opinions on earthing the body of the vehicle to the mains kit. Out there on internet land there’s different advice for earthing to the vehicle or not.
My first thoughts were to earth it to the mains kit but there is so much advice saying not to it makes me question my own thoughts.

solarman216 · 10-09-2022, 22:32

Hi Jim hope you are well, we both are, I only have boat experience of the scenario you are speaking of but there is little difference between the two.

Lets look at a caravan first, this will definitely be earthed via the hook up, but of course the car would not normally be coupled.

In the case of a camper van then I do not see the need to earth the chassis generally but just suppose one of the mains cables chafes to the metal body, no earth means a possible live chassis, probably fine all the time you are not in contact with any chassis parts and earth, but supposing you go out and lift the bonnet!!!!!!

And what guarantee do you have of the site earth being good, or indeed your own hook up cable being "good" so if you want belt and braces use your own earth rod.

One further point, if you have an inverter then keep that completely isolated from the mains hook up, hope this helps Rick

jims-terrano · 11-09-2022, 15:49

Hi Rick thanks for the reply yes all fine up here thanks.
I think it’s best to treat as a caravan and connect to earth. Not often we have hook up but I’ve got the bits so I’ve fitted for now. Yes I agree the inverter is best kept separate, it’s only a small inverter so only gets used for a tv as we don’t have a 12v tv yet.

solarman216 · 11-09-2022, 23:26

Glad you are all OK, I have found in the past that 12v TV's do not get on too well with the wide voltages found on a vehicle, Rick

jims-terrano · 12-09-2022, 00:24

Hi Rick, that’s not something that I had thought about either. To be fair the tv I run from the inverter was a hand me down from the mother in law and with money being spent on other things it’s pretty far down on the priorities for a good while longer.
Now the van is comfortable and perfectly liveable as it is there will only be small additions. On the agenda at the moment is insulating under the floors of the house. Make the house a bit more comfortable and hopefully cheaper to run. After that no doubt decorating, it’s never ending.

panelbeater · 14-09-2022, 16:24

i read the post when you first posted and my answer would have been the same as ricks but i am not an electrician but brought up with doing the electrics
as my dad was.i would add that most people do not but you should stake earth a genni too.
when i had my van i made it mains free and used batts and 3000w pure sine inverter but on occasion ehu.never had any electric probs in van.i did not earth the van of off ehu.

10-09-2022, 08:03	#1
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Camper Mains Electric Advice Sorry guys not Terrano related but my camper related. I’m fitting a mains kit to the camper project. What are peoples opinions on earthing the body of the vehicle to the mains kit. Out there on internet land there’s different advice for earthing to the vehicle or not. My first thoughts were to earth it to the mains kit but there is so much advice saying not to it makes me question my own thoughts.

10-09-2022, 22:32	#2
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,429	Hi Jim hope you are well, we both are, I only have boat experience of the scenario you are speaking of but there is little difference between the two. Lets look at a caravan first, this will definitely be earthed via the hook up, but of course the car would not normally be coupled. In the case of a camper van then I do not see the need to earth the chassis generally but just suppose one of the mains cables chafes to the metal body, no earth means a possible live chassis, probably fine all the time you are not in contact with any chassis parts and earth, but supposing you go out and lift the bonnet!!!!!! And what guarantee do you have of the site earth being good, or indeed your own hook up cable being "good" so if you want belt and braces use your own earth rod. One further point, if you have an inverter then keep that completely isolated from the mains hook up, hope this helps Rick __________________ Ex banger racer now off road maniac Lokka on the front with manual hubs Diff lock on rear 3 inch SS straight through exhaust Manly winch bumper with 13000 lb winch 10 spike ground anchor, with multiple straps and blocks Super strong body cills capped with scaffold pole 20% stronger springs all round aggressive off road tyres on wheels so just swap. Aim to get stuck and be completely self sufficient in extraction, love getting muddy, 2ft deep is good but rare.

11-09-2022, 23:26	#4
solarman216 Off road maniac Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Bexhill on Sea Vehicle: Y60 Patrol Me, 3 ltr Mrs Posts: 17,429	Glad you are all OK, I have found in the past that 12v TV's do not get on too well with the wide voltages found on a vehicle, Rick __________________ Ex banger racer now off road maniac Lokka on the front with manual hubs Diff lock on rear 3 inch SS straight through exhaust Manly winch bumper with 13000 lb winch 10 spike ground anchor, with multiple straps and blocks Super strong body cills capped with scaffold pole 20% stronger springs all round aggressive off road tyres on wheels so just swap. Aim to get stuck and be completely self sufficient in extraction, love getting muddy, 2ft deep is good but rare.

11-09-2022, 15:49	#3
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Hi Rick thanks for the reply yes all fine up here thanks. I think it’s best to treat as a caravan and connect to earth. Not often we have hook up but I’ve got the bits so I’ve fitted for now. Yes I agree the inverter is best kept separate, it’s only a small inverter so only gets used for a tv as we don’t have a 12v tv yet.

12-09-2022, 00:24	#5
jims-terrano Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 12,965	Hi Rick, that’s not something that I had thought about either. To be fair the tv I run from the inverter was a hand me down from the mother in law and with money being spent on other things it’s pretty far down on the priorities for a good while longer. Now the van is comfortable and perfectly liveable as it is there will only be small additions. On the agenda at the moment is insulating under the floors of the house. Make the house a bit more comfortable and hopefully cheaper to run. After that no doubt decorating, it’s never ending.

14-09-2022, 16:24	#6
panelbeater Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: clacton on sea essex Vehicle: nissan terrano 2 2.7 tdi Posts: 1,636	i read the post when you first posted and my answer would have been the same as ricks but i am not an electrician but brought up with doing the electrics as my dad was.i would add that most people do not but you should stake earth a genni too. when i had my van i made it mains free and used batts and 3000w pure sine inverter but on occasion ehu.never had any electric probs in van.i did not earth the van of off ehu.