Distribution at a Caravan Park

[SYKRAPS]

HI,

I reaslise that this subject does cause some conflicting opinions but I would like to ask a question to some more experienced guys in this matter regarding the distribution around a Caravan Park.

At the park in question I have been asked to cost for upgrades and possible extensive re-wiring due to a potential massive change in the park layout, but as of yet I have not gained access to the distribution area as it is under lock and key and some nugget has lost the key. I suspect that the park is installed wrong as TN-C-S as there is not an earth rod to be seen throughout the site (this is still to be proved).

My thoughts for the the hook ups is to wire them in groups of 4 with a double length earth rod per group of 4 at the last hook up and then to wire these back to an external distribution point which will serve 6 sets of 4 hook ups with again a double length earth rod and to devorce the DNO earth at the external distribution point so basically just TT the hook ups and the external distribution points.

My 1st question would be whether anyone can provide a link or product code for a suitable external distribution enclosure that will be pre constructed.

My 2nd question would be if you had the choice of re-wiring the positions would you use standard SWA or Split Concentric cable, I have been led to believe that with Split Concentric there is a financial saving and its easier to work (I have never used it myself). Both options would be ducted btw.

My 3rd question is would you fit a time delayed RCD unit in the origin DB or in each of the external distribution points, I am leaning towards the later so that in the event of a fault in one of the vans less people are inconvenienced.

I should perhaps also point out that 16a 30ma DP isolation will be present at each hook up for the 16a socket outlet, I have found these pre constructed for around £50 + VAT with internal metering (can anyone beat this).

Cheers Guys in advance.

 

[loz]

It appears that the SWA is used for the cpc to the external dist box and to he van hook ups, they are glanded but not earth link from banjo to an earth bar so it only takes 1 of these to come loose and if its the 1st 1 then the entire system has no earth.

having worked in alot of these panels and also knowing the company that built that panel, the earth fly leads arent required as all the glands will be glanded into a solid brass plate, so there's no need for banjos or fly leads, this is common practice in the caravan park industry, usually there is a 16mm cpc bolted to the plate inside the black shroud, but this may be missing, but worth checking. loz

 

[SYKRAPS]

having worked in alot of these panels and also knowing the company that built that panel, the earth fly leads arent required as all the glands will be glanded into a solid brass plate, so there's no need for banjos or fly leads, this is common practice in the caravan park industry, usually there is a 16mm cpc bolted to the plate inside the black shroud, but this may be missing, but worth checking. loz

Very interesting loz you are quite right with your comments, but the plate is very badly corroded and in an extremely poor state of repair due to external influences.

Where would you expect this 16mm cpc to terminate at the other end from the panel?

Can you suggest where these panels can be purchased and at what approximate cost?

Also what would you consider a fair price to supply and fit a like for like exchange of a caravan hook up complete with DP 16a rcbo, 16a socket outlet, internal metering and a mounting plate/bracket?

Thanks.................

 

[loz]

the 16mm cpc if its present would usually terminate at a local earth rod, probably not in a pit, that fdu looks to have been flooded or the door left open at some point to allow water in as them legrand boxes are usually very good.

 

[SYKRAPS]

Once again you are quite right the locks on the panel door are broken.

Hence years of external influence abuse from the weather.

I have had some cracking weekends away in Skeggy btw at those Butlins themed weekends lol.

 

[loz]

im a bit too young for them weekends pal, hopefully google turned up what you were looking for i do a fair bit of work up in yorkshire, mainly around bridlington its nice up there, almost like a 2nd home

 

[SYKRAPS]

loz I am not sure if you have read this thread from the start but would you consider my original suggested setup as an appropriate stanadard for UK sites if they were to designed from new?

 

[loz]

loz I am not sure if you have read this thread from the start but would you consider my original suggested setup as an appropriate stanadard for UK sites if they were to designed from new?

doesnt sound too bad, tbh best way is singularly fed but the cost of this can be a issue, id personally have a mccb/rcd time delay at the mains rodded down to TT, swa to fdu distribution panel, rod this point too, swa to hooks ups, no more than 6 sockets on a 63a breaker

 

[Engineer54]

having worked in alot of these panels and also knowing the company that built that panel, the earth fly leads arent required as all the glands will be glanded into a solid brass plate, so there's no need for banjos or fly leads, this is common practice in the caravan park industry, usually there is a 16mm cpc bolted to the plate inside the black shroud, but this may be missing, but worth checking. loz

This is a TT system were talking about here, even if the SWA cables are glanded to a brass plate, one would at least expect an earthing point/bar within this makeshift external panel. I would have the earth rod conductor coming into the enclosure and connecting to an EMT along with any other CPC's such as fly leads, brass base plate or not. As far as i can see, there are also metal elements within this panel too, are they to be left isolated waiting, for say a conductor to chaff against them and become live?? If this panel is specifically made for caravan parks etc, i would not have expected to see single fuse carriers and a connector block, but DP breakers and some form of RCD protection.

 

[loz]

e54, bear in mind this panel will be 15-20 years old and in a poor condition currently. the main switch for the park looks to be a 60947-2 time delayed mccb/rcd, i would be pretty certain to say there would be a 16mm cpc going down to a rod bolted to one of the M8 brass bolts securing the gland plate when i install panels like this they now have a main earth terminal inside with the 16mm to rod connected then a link to the gland plate and also the chassis. when this panel was built there would have been a 35mm stranded cpc from the gland plate to the chassis on the rear left hand side behind the 4 core cable (i have come accross literally hundreds of these panels over the years testing caravan club sites all over the uk) and this is a perfectly normal of a typical FDU. Each circuit will go out as a radial to feed several hook up boxes containing mcb and rcd arrangements plus a 16amp socket. The "connector blocks" are in fact 100A din rail mounted 35mm terminals, with link strip fitted to create a neutral bar. Fdu pilllars are still made pretty much the same as this now by 3 major nic registered companies throughout the uk. sorry to go in depth on this but after 5 years in industry with 2 different companies (1st went bankrupt) then i feel reasonably confident on my knowledge of this kind of installation

 

[richy3333]

Also what would you consider a fair price to supply and fit a like for like exchange of a caravan hook up complete with DP 16a rcbo, 16a socket outlet, internal metering and a mounting plate/bracket?

Avoid emailing CPES else they will hound you forever more. Try their website or ring them?