Hello all

[simonwood]

Just a quick introduction, I'm Simon, on my third caravan now, a Swift Elegance Grande 850.

Typically do 40 nights a year in the caravan, mostly at model aircraft flying events.

I've got reasonable engineering skills and good electronics skills. I enjoy improving things - for example our onboard tank now auto refills from the external aquaroll until the aquaroll is empty. Currently working through various fixes at the end of season and working on decoding the Sargent Canbus messages to Alexa enable my Swift.

 

[otherclive]

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

 

[IanB1485]

Welcome to the forum , you sound like a handy fellow . Have you thought of asking Sargent electrical ltd for the codes? Having spent many years working with various serial comms systems (IC2 , modbus MBus e.t.c) to interface third party products into our BEMS systems etc, I spent may hours doing such decoding (along with my colleagues) such codes, We also used a company called Synapsis who would make lots of interface units. Now retired I can't be bothered but more and caravans are using serial comms to control the various appliances

 

[simonwood]

Welcome to the forum , you sound like a handy fellow . Have you thought of asking Sargent electrical ltd for the codes? Having spent many years working with various serial comms systems (IC2 , modbus MBus e.t.c) to interface third party products into our BEMS systems etc, I spent may hours doing such decoding (along with my colleagues) such codes, We also used a company called Synapsis who would make lots of interface units. Now retired I can't be bothered but more and caravans are using serial comms to control the various appliances

Hi Ian, yes, I spoke with Sargent - they are not prepared to share, even under NDA. In many ways that simplifies as it doesn't restrict me on how I use the resulting info (or share it).

I spent a few years working for TAG Electronic Systems (telem / ecu for a number of F1 teams) so working through the canbus is not too challenging, just an iterative process.

I think I've got most of the ancillary control messages (lights, pump, fill) now looking at environmental (temps, heating, water level etc).

 

[borderbilly]

Welcome, would like to see pics of your aircraft.

 

[Hutch]

Welcome to the forum, you could be a great help to others on the forum

Also to myself. and others

 

[Beachball]

Hi Simon Welcome to forum enjoy your latest caravan

 

[Jcloughie]

Hi Simonwood, and a big welcome. I think my van has some of the features you mention. But it annoys me that they are not presented well. For example. To switch on my awning light I need to find a dimly lit touch switch. A dim screen briefly tells me it is on. I then tend to leave it on all night! When I get the chance, I intend to wire a small LED above the door. Simple tech). There is also no warning for pump left running.

High tech, maybe. But not practical or thought through in my opinion.

John

 

[toad a caravan]

Welcome aboard

 

[simonwood]

Welcome, would like to see pics of your aircraft.

Just a few here, I do have many (my wife would add 'far too...' to that statement). I'm fortunate to be part of one of the UK display teams hence all the travelling and the main reason for having the caravan.


Simple stuff - foam board spitfire for combat with many others, about 30" wingspan.


More complex, Stampe - just over 2M wingspan - 30cc four stroke engine


The very complex - Havoc SS turbine, 2.6M long, 200N thrust turbine, weights about 23kg ready to fly.

 

[borderbilly]

Lovely aircraft, think its the wee boy in me that's drawn me too see these flying. Fact any RC toy's fascinates me. The nearest I get is with my drone, but I'm too tied up in my fishing and fly tying.

 

[Buckman]

Just a few here, I do have many (my wife would add 'far too...' to that statement). I'm fortunate to be part of one of the UK display teams hence all the travelling and the main reason for having the caravan.

View attachment 9855
Simple stuff - foam board spitfire for combat with many others, about 30" wingspan.

View attachment 9853
More complex, Stampe - just over 2M wingspan - 30cc four stroke engine

View attachment 9854
The very complex - Havoc SS turbine, 2.6M long, 200N thrust turbine, weights about 23kg ready to fly.

We went to show in Somerset about 2 - 3 years ago and was quite astounded at the size of some of these model planes. Very interesting day.

 

[Hutch]

Lovely RC aircraft,
I am a retired Helicopter engineer, and let a couple of my pilots try my NON Gyroed, RC helicopter, I'm was NOT amased, when they couldn't fly it.
All good fun.

 

[simonwood]

We went to show in Somerset about 2 - 3 years ago and was quite astounded at the size of some of these model planes. Very interesting day.

If that was Woodspring Wings show then you possibly saw me fly.

Great show, not on next year but back in 2027.

 

[Buckman]

If that was Woodspring Wings show then you possibly saw me fly.

Great show, not on next year but back in 2027.

That was the one. I have a couple pictures of that show and will see if I can dig them out. They say the hardest part of flying a model aircraft is when it is flying towards you?