Recent content by ChrisH

Hi Von Ryan, Many, many thanks for all this. I already have the Maplins panel in my hands and with the help of your excellent guidance, I'm sure it will be no problem connecting it all up. I do really appreciate your help. regards Chris

Sorry - another supplementary question. Have just looked up charge controllers on the Maplin site. Would I be right in thinking that the smallest - L26BR 4Ah regulator @

Found it on the Maplin website and local Bristol shop has stock, so that's a great solution. I'm really grateful for the advice. One last question, if I may, please? Is this panel easy to connect to the battery? Is it just a matter of making a connection onto each battery terminal via the...

That's great advice Von Ryan - thanks. I'll also be interested in where you have mounted the panel - I was just intending to prop it in the window or suspend it under the Heki rooflight and then put it away when we take the van out. I asked Coachman about mounting a solar panel on the roof and...

Sorry to bring up this subject again, but a search in the Forum doesn't answer my particular question...... My van - a Coachman VIP 545 with an 18 month old 110Ah battery lives in a storage site when not in use. It has a phantom tracker which requires a charged battery to be operational...

It certainly appears to be a problem at popular sites. In early August we were planning a trip to the New Forest in September, but found that the CC site was fully booked for the whole month. We decided to delay booking and take a chance on a commercial site near the time. By chance, when...

Well, that is interesting Parksy - thanks for the info. When I spoke to Phantom I got the impression that 3 months was the maximum before the battery would be discharged. I am aware that a battery will become damaged if it is allowed to run flat, but if you left your van from October to April...

Our new van has a Phantom Tracker fitted and I am told that the caravan battery must always be fitted for this to work. As the nearest secure storage site is 22 miles away, I have always taken the battery out of previous vans, to keep the charge topped up at home. There is no hook-up available...

thanks guys - that's useful info.

I'm advising some friends who are thinking of buying their first caravan. We have established that they want to buy a secondhand, single axle, 4-berth probably not more than 4 years old. They want better than an "entry level" van, but not a luxury model. Does anyone please know whether there...

thanks - that's useful

I find Red Pennant far too expensive - yes it provides a service dedicated to caravanners, but at a seriously premium price. I use Green Flag premium service through Saga for Europe vehicle cover plus annual travel insurance for personal, luggage and medical cover. Much cheaper and I'm covered...

Well, thanks to everyone for all these useful comments - just goes to show how this Forum can help. It looks as tho the answer is horses for courses -what is good for some may not be worth it for others. So thanks again, we'll decide when the time comes - can't wait to get our hands on the new...

That's worth knowing, Simon - thanks

We have stayed at Manoir de Senleques many times and it's a great shame that this site is now closed. We shall miss the welcome from Gaby each time we arrived. Does anyone please have suggestions for an alternative, still near-ish to Boulogne, Cite d'Europe side of Calais. As our van goes...