Charging unit

[smiley]

Well, back home from hols. Our charging unit wouldn't work after a few days we deduced it was kaput. So no lights, no water, no toilet....

As you can see we have a Swift challenger 510 '91. Where can we obtain a new charger and how difficult might it be to fit ourselves?

Thanks

 

[DerektheSecond]

Did you have 240 volts? I had the same problem at the weekend on my Xplore, turned out to be a loose conection to the charging unit, but check the fuse first if its ok and if you feel capable of doing it ENSURE THE 240V CABLE IS DISCONECTED, disconect the battery on my van the charger is at the back of the consumer unit and swithches on automatically, undo the screws that hold the wooden frame it sits in,4 screws that hold the plastic unit together and the charger sits in a silver box at the top, the main cable on mine at least resembled a "scart" plug, what a feeling when you get when you check that and it pushes in, loosly put it back together ensure no one is near the unit and no bare wires etc, switch on a 12v light and plug in the 240 volts you should have 12 volts even without the battery being connected, if not then its a new unit which is a "plug and play". DISCONECT THE 240V CABLE again, on our last Compass the unit was seperate from the consumer unit principle is the same ensuring that the 240v cable is disconnected

 

[woodsieboy]

Must be the thing to have go wrong at the moment,we were in the Peak District last week and after 6 days the 12volt systems were not working, battery is 4 months old so it had to be the charger says I. Phoned Chipping Sodbury Caravans and called in on the way home. They checked battery was OK and said new charger needed,they had one on the shelf so came home lighter in the pocket and due to fit it this weekend,now clinging to hope that I will find loose connection and not need new unit. Hard to beleive I know but this is a Bailey we are dealing with here so seems to me all makes can have the sme problem.

 

[smiley]

Our charging unit is under the seat at the front of van.... Checked fuse as that is out of charger no breaks also tried new fuse.... 240v were working but on sockits only.... told hubby we should have bought battery charger and wired it on the battery at least we could have plugged it in to charge battery maybe.

Our charger unit is just a gray box with all the wires going in, so I think we would have to have the same make. will try and find out what the make and model is..

How much do chargers roughly cost?

 

[monkeymagic68]

About £80-£100 there are 2 types of plugs which are common, one is like a kettle plug the other is a push fit lock system, you can get them from your local caravan dealers, the problem only arrises when you get something like a "plug in systems" like you find in abbeys if the charger blows in that you need to replace the hole control board as the charger is built in they retail about £290 but if needs must, you could bypass this and wire in an aftermarket charger.
Hope this helps

 

[cooky1]

I had a problem with the charging unit on my 1992 Abbey Stafford a few years ago. It was a Plug in System PMS1 I think. I sent it to Plug in systems in Hull and they repaired it and sent it back to me within a couple of weeks. I think it cost less then £100 all in.
Might be worth giving them a ring and asking their advice.

Graeme.

 

[smiley]

Phew, this sounds difficult already and I've only got to the question stage. LOL

 

[smiley]

Our charging unit is hard wired in and is a KT12

 

[monkeymagic68]

Im affraid some dealers are fitting the hardwire type in its another way of getting money out of us when the chargers go wrong

 

[B4bill]

Hi Smiley,

If you have someone who is competent then this may help. www.chsinteractive.co.uk/pdf_data/KT12.pdf

PLug in Systems no longer trades but this person may be able to help. http://www.expluginsteve.co.uk/index.htm
at least worth a phone call.

 

[patroldriver1]

What part of world are you in and if you send me photos of the charger, i may be able to help

 

[STEVEBREACH]

Had the same problem with our Abbey Vogue GTS216,found our charger was built in and would cost mega bucks to replace(PMS2000),went to Halfords and bought a maintenance charger for about £22, plumbed it into electric supply(mains),bobs your uncle;-)