Beginners question

[Peter_374314513]

Good morning all,

We are completely new to caravanning and despite buying our new 'van last October have been restricted by work issues to only 4 trips out so far.

This last one has been our longest (from our home on Anglesey)down to Burnham on Sea in Somerset. We were hooked up to the electical system throughout our stay of 8 days but on our return could not get the Truma mover to work at all leaving us stranded on the road witha very narrow drive to negotiate. We did manage to reverse the 'van at least off the road but cannot understand why the mover would not function when (as far as we know) the battery has been on charge for the past 8 days.

We have definitely not touched the systems within the 'van which are rather complex for us. The mover did initially switch on and drive the rollers onto the wheels but then refused to do anything else leaving me lying on a very wet road to wind the rollers off manually.

I have pondered over night whether the battery is clapped out - although the 'van was new? whether we need to consider having an extra battery fitted or whether the mover itself (Truma TE) could be at fault.

All very disheartening after we had the 'high' of negotiating our longest 'pull' yet safely.

 

[Rubix]

Peter,

Sounds as if your battery wasn't being charged as the mover engaged, but then didn't dis-engage. Do you know what the battery voltage is, and if the charger is working ?

 

[MikeyW]

Hi Peter

We had a Truma mover until recently, we've since changed our van, and the only time we had a problem with it initially switching on then stopping was when the batteries in the hand set died. We had a slightly different set up where we had to move the rollers in by hand but maybe your batteries were just about ok to do this and then give up? So maybe changing those batteries will sort it out?

best of luck

Mikey

 

[Del_374232870]

1st thing that I would check is the battery in the remote control handset, have had it happen to us that the mover refused to work and all that was needed was afresh handset battery..

next thing is , whilst you were on mains hook up was the lesuire battery charging, get a volt meter and check the battery it shoud be around 12.7volts. When we bought our current van we had a problem with the battery not charging , it turned out to a blown blade fuse. Also I believe on some older vans the charger has a seperate switch, so even though you are on hook up it doesnt mean the battery will be charging.

 

[MikeJE]

We too have a Truma mover which was fine at first then seemed reluctant to work. Fresh batteries in the remote solved the problem, though I was surprised at how short a life the originals had given. Then I had more problems even with fresh batteries 'till the remote refused to work at all. Took it back to the supplier who replaced it under guarantee - thank goodness seing the price of a new one. So hope yours is still in the guarantee period.

 

[RogerP]

Hi peter

as mentioned check the batteries , I've got a Truma SE mover fitted , its a year old and the remotes' batteries have just died on me.

Also make sure you are close enough to the van for the remote units transmission signal to be detected , especially during the startup sequence.

Finally (and really a long shot) are turning the mover off ofter use. My system has an activation key (red in colour) fitted in the battery compartment. If you're leaving this key in and turned on that might be causing a drain?

I'm no tekkie so others may be able to discount this for you.

 

[Peter_374314513]

Thank you everyone, half an hour and already half a dozen answers.

We did change the batteries in the remote last night as a desperation move although the flashing light and 'beep' on the handset were working. Apparently according to the handbook the beep should shut off after a few seconds indicating that the system is ready to go. A continuous beeping indicates low battery - which is what we got.

As regards the charger itself, to be honest I wouldn't know one if I fell over it but we haven't as I said touched the electrical panel at all and it has been OK on our other trips.

The 'van and battery are less than 12 months old so all should be under warranty still (although I bet there is some microscopic print somewhere). I am getting on to the suppliers this morning but in the meantime I will investigate the fuses etc.

Once more - many thanks to all

 

[Jimbob1]

Hi Peter,

We have had similar prolems to you and your Truma mover and we found that the best person to get hold of is a good auto electrician hope that helps.Jim

 

[Peter_374314513]

Thanks for that, I have checked the battery and that seems fine, the handset is functioning as far as we can tell. I think that your idea is the way to go although we will cart it off back to the dealer for their sparks to look at it. I am not putting blame on the dealer I just think that it should be his job to deal with it.

I suspect that like car dealers they are all over you when buying but evn struggle to recognise you should any problem arise. I hope I am wrong.

 

[swpostie]

Hi Peter,

Just a long shot, but you are switching on the electrics in the caravan when you hook up aren't you?

We have a set of trip switches that relate to the 240v side of things and a set of rocker switches that relate to the 12v side of things.

Did you use any 240v appliances on your last trip, ie did you plug anything in?

 

[Peter_374314513]

Hi Peter,

Just a long shot, but you are switching on the electrics in the caravan when you hook up aren't you?

We have a set of trip switches that relate to the 240v side of things and a set of rocker switches that relate to the 12v side of things.

Did you use any 240v appliances on your last trip, ie did you plug anything in?

We did indeed Rupert, thanks.

I have been on to the supplier and apparently if the battery has been allowed to get a little low then the charger in the van is incapable of getting it back to the required voltage. Accordingly we have had to buy a battery charger that deals with 'leisure' batteries.

There seems to be an issue there with original equipment spec if the charger is not up to the job. Ok we can sort our particular issue now but there must be others out there who aare also struggling.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Some movers don't work if the TV aerial booster is switched on. Might be worth a check. Also, can you attach a lead to the handset for direct connection to the control box?

 

[Peter_374314513]

Hi, I hadn't heard that about the aerial booster but I have contacted Lunar today regarding the problem - I won't hold my breath for an answer, blue doesn't suit me.

 

[Chaps]

We have a battery test button in our caravan that lights up green for full charge, amber for mid or red for little/no charge, do you have something similar? That way you could be sure whether it's your leisure battery or not. Also, do your 12v electrics work in the van when not plugged into a EHU? If so, then maybe your leisure battery is ok.

Could it simply be a blown fuse as suggested above? That would explain why the mover engaged but then stopped.

If not it sounds like it could be a warranty job one way or the other (duff battery supplied or faulty mover)

 

[grandadbaza]

Hi, dont know if it will help but I have a Truma te that was fitted to my new van in January this year, there are three things I have to do before using it , first I switch the red switch in the battery cupboard then I have to plug the black 7 pin lead into a socket on the A frame ,then switch on the handset.without all these done it will not work , not saying yours is the same but is there something you maybe have forgot to connect/switch

Barry

 

[richard_374364238]

Hi, dont know if it will help but I have a Truma te that was fitted to my new van in January this year, there are three things I have to do before using it , first I switch the red switch in the battery cupboard then I have to plug the black 7 pin lead into a socket on the A frame ,then switch on the handset.without all these done it will not work , not saying yours is the same but is there something you maybe have forgot to connect/switch

Barry

We have a reich mover,obviously different to yours but if our leisure battery is not fully charged the mover will trip out and is very fustrating.We then have to get into the caravan and reset the unit fitted inside under the front seat by pushing a reset button.I don't know if this is a help to you or not,but I do Know your leisure battery has got to be in top condition.

 

[richard_374364238]

We have a Reich mover on our van,not the same as yours I know but what I do know is that if the leisure battery is not fully charged the mover will trip out.We then have to get into the van and push the reset button on the unit under the seat.I don't know if this is a help or not but make sure the leisure battery is absolutly in tip top condition and avoid cheap batteries.Good luck

 

[Peter_374314513]

Clare, Rob, Barry, Richard, Many thanks for your replies, identical to Barry's TE and we went through that process many, many times. Clare we do have a battery meter that ahs never sown green at all. I am beginning to wonder if the battery is indeed at fault from new or simply whether it has never actually had an absolutely full charge.

I can see no re-set button on the Truma Richard but I have checked all the fuses on the box and all are good. I will try the four day charge recommended by the supplier and see what happens.

Many thanks once more.

 

[Robtel]

Peter,

I read that your van is a Lunar and post this on the off chance that it just might have a similar electric switch set up to a Lunar I used to have. I also got caught out with a flat leisure battery due to this.

There were four trip switches on the ELCB unit,one seemed to be only for the charger and would often trip whenever the van was initially hooked up to the mains supply. Everyting else worked o.k. and I thought the battery was on charge until I went to use the water pump after I had disconnected the hook up prior to departure. I got into the habit of checking the trip switches every time I was on mains supply. Just another possibility.

Robert

 

[Peter_374314513]

Hi Robert, just been out and burrowed under the seating. The trip switches are OK but that is another area I had not heard of before. I will keep watch on that area. Thank you.

 

[Duggie_374362603]

We have a reich mover,obviously different to yours but if our leisure battery is not fully charged the mover will trip out and is very fustrating.We then have to get into the caravan and reset the unit fitted inside under the front seat by pushing a reset button.I don't know if this is a help to you or not,but I do Know your leisure battery has got to be in top condition.

Richard i also have a reich mover i don,t understand how yours is tripping out when battery flat it should only trip out if there is a fault the only time mine has ever done it was the very first time when i stupidly tried to move it with the handbrake on then i only switched of the handset then switched it back on again of it went no problem have you got a 110amp battery rather than an 85amp battery

thanks

Duggie

p.s sorry for butting in

 

[Del_374232870]

Peter

Check the 12v fuses from the consumer box to the lesuire battery, that is where we had a problem last summer, couldnt understand why the battery was going flat, turned out the fuse had blown.

 

[Peter_374314513]

Thank you Del, I am learning more each day. The systems in our vans don't appear to be over robust do they?

 

[Jason_374358399]

Peter,

Had exactly the same problem, pushed the reset button and no difference, changed the remote battery - still no life. I had been having problems with the battery charger and had to have a new one fitted to a 4 month old van!!speaking to the dealer, He told me that on the leisure battery, you should take it off the van periodically and mains charge it with a good charger, as the vans battery charger is more of a trickle charge. I did this and the mover was back working as it should.

Had a conversation with a caravan mechanic who said that the vans charger should keep the battery fully charged!!-I did post a question on this about a month ago as I am new to it all myself!

Bought the battery charger in halford - around

 

[bigfam]

Omn my caravan (Bailey) there is a rocker switch for the 12v/battery charger. This is meant to be in the 'car' position when towing and in the centre position when charging from the mains. You should have some kind of gauge in your van that tells you if the leisure battery is charging. Your problem may not be with your mover at all, you might not have been charging your caravan battery on site.