Fittting of Powrtouch mover

Aug 31, 2008
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Hi Folks

I'm sorry to keep on about this motor mover issue but....

The motor mover was fitted yesterday by a P/T fitter. Unfortunately as a I posted yesterday the 'van battery was u/s, despite me having had it off to charge it. That meant, unfortunately I could not get a demo from the fitter.

I have tonight fitted a replacement battery but it was by then too dark to test the mover. I did, however, have the opportunity to have a closer look at the installation.

I am, however, a little worried about how the electronic box has been fitted. We had cleared the front bed box ready for it to be fitted on the floor in there, as it suggests in the manual. However the I have just discovered the fitter has instead fitted it vertically on the wall immediately above the inside of the battery box and behind the 2 drawers over the heater. The cables have been left hanging in loops secured by plastic cable ties. The cables are not secured in any way. I cannot see the lights on the electronic box without removing the drawers. I am not sure where the umbilical cord plugs into the box so I am not sure if it is accessible if needed, if I have a problem with wireless operation of the remote.

The mains lead to the battery has what I think is a fuse carrier which looks as though it should be scresed to a surface but that is hanging loose on the cable inside the battery box. There are no rubber grommets on the holes where the cables access the battery box, correction there ia split grommet hanging on the wire inside the void below the electronic box.

Should I be concerned or am I being over fussy.

In addition could someone advise me about the positions of the red plastic isolating key in the battery box for operation.

Advice from other P/T owners would be appreciated.
 
Aug 4, 2005
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Hi Tim,

Firstly the red power key. It only fits in the one way,turn it clockwise as far as it will go, approx half a turn and the power is on. Obviously reverse direction for off.

As far as the fitting of the box. I have had a powrtouch fitted to two different vans and both times it was fitted to the floor. That's not to say that it is incorrect to fit it to the wall.

Suggest you phone Powrtouch direct tomorrow and express your concern.
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Hi Tim,

Firstly the red power key. It only fits in the one way,turn it clockwise as far as it will go, approx half a turn and the power is on. Obviously reverse direction for off.

As far as the fitting of the box. I have had a powrtouch fitted to two different vans and both times it was fitted to the floor. That's not to say that it is incorrect to fit it to the wall.

Suggest you phone Powrtouch direct tomorrow and express your concern.
agree....phone powrtouch,sounds like a bit of a bodge fitting to me.also remember, when you activate the mover by turning the red key,if the mover is not used within a certain length of time it cuts off.you then have to turn key in off position,remove the key and wait for about 15 mins i think for it to reset itself.......got caught out myself with that lol
 
Aug 31, 2008
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Thanks Rob T and Klarky

I am intending to phone P/T tomorrow but thought I'd get some feedback from other P/T owner users.

Incidentally another question. How long should the aerial wire from the electronic box be. I note the fitting instructions say not to shorten it but mine only appear to be about 10 cms long - has the fitter cut it I wonder?

Sorry one last question where does the "umbilical" plug into the box I am trying to work out if there is access for that?

Thanks for your support.

Tim
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Hi Tim,

I have a Hymer and the battery is fitted in the the bed box. The control box is fitted vertically to the battery box and I am sure this is not a problem also the fuse holder is not fixed.Others have described how the key works.

I presume your van has a external battery box so I would be a bit concerned if the cables from the battery are not sealed where they enter the van (gasses etc). My mover is 4 years old and the aerial is a bit longer than 10cm however they could have redesigned it.

Phone P/T, their technical staff are very helpful and will inform you if all is not as it should be.

Hope this helps.

Nidge
 
Aug 4, 2005
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Klarky re the automatic cut off if you don't use the mover for a period of time. Yes I got caught out with that too. I have found though that if I turn it off with the red key then turn it straight back on again it works, no need to wait for the 15 minutes or so as you found.
 
Aug 4, 2005
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Tim,

Reading your original post again and after having a think about it there could be advantages in having it fitted to the wall as you describe.

The problem with having it fitted to the floor is that you need to be careful when loading anything into the space with the control box that you do not cover the box or limit the air flow around it. Apparently it gets very warm when in use. I was also concerned that anything stored next to it could move whilst travelling and perhaps cause damage to the box. I fitted a strong mesh cover over mine, allows air to circulate but keeps everything at a safe distance. Perhaps where your control box is located is out of the way of any unwanted bumps with stored items.

Doesn't excuse poor wiring though.
 
G

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Based on my installation it sounds like it is might be a sloppy installation. I would get on to P/T and ask them to review it.

As for the antenna... it is very short. On mine the box is mounted on the floor under the bed and the antenna just pokes through the floor. Almost nothing stick out the bottom. I queried this with the fitter and he confirmed that it doesn't need much. It sounds to me as though he might not have cut it.

FWIW I haven't heard of a bad or sloppy P/T installation before.
 
Aug 12, 2005
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Morning all

Powrtouch here, as always, if you have any concerns with your Powrtouch unit, please call Powrtouch Technical department on 01425 283293 option 2.

Regards to all
 
Mar 14, 2005
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Fitting my own units the control box is placed on a 'wall' and not on the floor of the locker particularly if it is shared with a water heater which may - sooner or later - leak. PT instructions suggest not cutting the cables to enable the unit to be moved to another van where longer cables may be required.

The ideal 'wall' is under a window such that if you ever have to use the cable from the remote yoou can bring it though the window rather than drape it acrosws the interior.

I shall be very surprised and somewhat disappointed if PT fail to resolve this to your satisfaction - please keep us posted
 
Jun 20, 2005
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Tim

Mine is floor fitted by the wall under the bed. The antenna

is about 10cms, same as yours. It's never been shortened.

The umbilical cord, which I've never used plugs into the box.

Always make sure your leisure battery is fully charged, Make sure the batteries in the handset are in good order. I always carry a few spare duracells.

The only time it gave me bother was when FIL was using his Truma next to me. Once he turned his off , no problem.

Powrwheel have posted on here. Follow their advice . They do know what they are doing!

Cheers

Dustydog
 
Aug 31, 2008
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH everyone who has contributed of their wisdom and experience.

This morning, as I had always intended, I contacted Powertouch technical support by phone to voice my concerns at abour 10.00am. The VERY helpful chap on the phone listened to my concerns sympathetically and sensitively. He said that the need for access with the "umbilical cord" in the case of radio interference was now less of a problem as they had changed from AM to FM. He then further said that rather than him trying to imagine what I was describing he would arrange for a DIFFERENT fitter to come and look at the installation and remedy it to my satisfaction. He said that someone would contact me in due course. He then helpfully patiently ran through the procedure for using the mover while I carried it out. I spent a little while "playing" with my mover on our sloping drive where it performed faultlessly.

At a little after 11.00 I received a call from the "different" fitter offering to come out immediately!!. John the fitter subsequently arrived travelling over 30 miles from Manchester. I had, had to go to work but my wife popped home at lunchtime to speak with him and go through my "list" of concerns. John thought that the electronic box would be better located on the bed box floor and has made a neat job of moving it there, including, securing the cables - there was less "spare" with the box in this position. The box is now accessible anytime access is needed and the "umbilical cord" can easily be plugged in. He did not have any grommets with him, despite this being mentioned in PT's installation instructions but I will follow PT's alternative suggestion of wrapping some insulating tape around them. Whilst he agreed that the fuse holder was hard to fit in the battery box he said that there was not much could be done about this. I will see if it can be screwed into the back of the battery box but space is VERY tight.

I am now entirely satisfied with the job and would like to COMMEND Powrtouch in the STRONGEST possible terms for their PROMPT and EFFECTIVE customer service response.

So thanks again for all the advice, etc from everyone on this forum.

As a number of you said I find the mover to be WONDERFUL!!!

Regards

Tim
 

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