Correct operation of charging system

[SimonB73]

Hi

This isn't a broken thing. I'm just not sure what to do as the manual is clear as mud.

I think it's saying that the 12v switch on the electric box should be turned off when battery is charged.

Tomorrow will be our first trip with the caravan so i just want to review the process of setting up in its entirety so i don't make any glaring blunders.

Here's the procedure for setting up as i understand it.

Faff about embarrassingly until you eventually get the right angle to reverse into the pitch

Hook up electric cable

Fill water container and put pump in it. Then connect pump to van.

Inside van turn three way switch on control panel to Caravan setting

Turn pump switch on

Wait for water system to fill

Turn pump off. Get more water. Turn pump back on.

Drink beer

Wrestle with awning in front of children while they point and throw things

Now I've run through the above procedure a few times in the process of making sure everything works (Except the awning part) but if some of it doesn't make sense let me know.

So back to the 12v switch on the electric box. My understanding is that it is the charging system for the leisure battery. Is that true and if so does it need to be turned off when the battery is fully charged? I'm not sure our van has a way to tell if the battery is charged other than to disconnect the hookup and see where the needle goes to on 12v.

Any help here would be much appreciated as my understanding of batteries is that it's not good to overcharge them. Since i've just bought a new one I'd hate to kill it first time out!

Cheers

 

[Damian]

It depends on how old your van is.
If an older van the chargers gave out a constant supply, on newer vans the charger varies its output to suit the charge state of the battery.

The charger also acts as the 12v supply for the water pump, toilet flush, fridge electronics and most , if not all, of the lights, and the blown air heating fan.

Normally when in use there is no need to switch off the charger as there will be a constant drain on the battery.

The one item I would change on your list of setting up is not to connect the mains to the van until after the water system has been filled. This will prevent you accidentally having power to the water heater whilst the tank is empty.

Similarly, on leaving a site , disconnect the mains cable before draining the hot water tank.

 

[bertieboy1]

What does the manual actually say - can you quote the passage concerned

 

[bertieboy1]

Forgot to add - don't forget to close the heater drain valve otherwise the water will just run out under the van and the heater won't fill.
The valve is usually yellow and next to the heater,the lever should be vertical to drain and moving the lever to either side closes the valve.

 

[paws]

As well as Damian's usual words of wisdom I would be inclined to get the wheels chocked as necessary, caravan brake on and all 4 corner steadies down before venturing into the van. Once the van is unhitched its possible for the van to tip alarmingly until the above are completed...( depending of course on size/weight of van and person!)

As for the awning issue.... (they are not known as the "divorce maker" for nothing!) :cheer:

1 A good tip is to drop off the kids and the lady wife/partner at the shops so you can concentrate on the[strike] beer drinking [/strike] I mean putting up the awning...

2 Do a dry run first at home if you have the room if not find somewhere where you can work undisturbed.....politely decline any offers of assistance (it just complicates things) have a notebook and pencil handy and the caravan steps or a small pair of stepladder type steps, and a magic marker "permanent marker" that you can use to mark the poles their ends, and figure out which end goes where....

3 Lay out the poles on the ground in the positions you think they should be in....and carefully unfold the awning and orientate it so its in the correct position with the boltrope that goes into the awning rail next to the caravan and with the weight of the awning behind by an inch or two the line of the awning rail. The awning should be to the side of the caravan as this will help you thread the boltrope through the awning rail that you will have previously cleaned and sprayed with some silicone lubricant. Its important that when threading/pulling the boltrope through the awning rail you do not make things difficult for yourself by having to tug heavy canvas along the ground...!

4 Have a few ground stakes ( tent pegs) and a hammer strategically positioned at each end of the caravan so you can use the guy ropes "if fitted" to keep one corner steady whilst you adjust the poles for a good fit......

5 Once you have got "one end up" so to speak you have won ( unless there happens to be a stiff wind that suddenly springs up...when its better to abandon things awning related and concentrate on the beer drinking (having first picked up lady wife and kids of course!...)

6 By the time that the awning has been up and down a few times ( say after half a dozen trips) you will be able to remember which bit goes where, and that is just as well as by then the permanent markings will have worn off!

Good luck and have a wonderful time!
Regards
paws

 

[SimonB73]

Hi

Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice.

Also, the awning went quite well. It took about one glass of red wine and a can of holsten, but i think now that i know how to do it i could put it up in under half a can.

So overall the test run went really well.

Cheers folks.