NEW STERLING ELECTRICALS

[Wayne_5133334]

Just received a new Eccles but with faulty electrics. The wrong polarity warning light comes on and the chassis is electrically live when the caravan is isolated from the ground (can not discharge current to earth) Sargent seem to think it might be a Neutral to Earth fault. Have double checked that the cross polarity is not real and it is not. Anyone come accross simular problems. Found this by putting plastic spreader feet on the corner steadies and of course insulating the van from a earth.
Fibre glass stress cracks also noticed. Swift want to do a on-site repair. Any comments
Thanks
wayne

 

[Chris_Hyde_Cheshire.]

Have you queried why these faults were not picked up on the pre-delivery inspection?
Especially as the electrical fault could be very dangerous...............
I would kick up a right stink over that if it was me.

Chris.

 

[Wayne_5133334]

Be sure of that, firing on all cyls at Swift right now and the dealer to come. Thats before we discuss the round trip issue of anther 100 plus miles. They think it grows on trees. The chassis gave me a right belt yesterday
Wayne

 

[Chris_Hyde_Cheshire.]

Hi again Wayne, thinking about it the van should of been supplied with an electrical safety certificate. If it was it was obviously not checked, or it was carried out by a kangaroo!
I would push for a replacement van on the grounds of safety / lost confidence / scared s*^%less to go anywhere near it. etc etc
Then there is the holiday you have had to cancel, fuel, lost time etc etc. I think you follow my drift, hit them for what you can because the bad publicity will hurt them more in this economic climate than it would to make you happy before you walk away...

Chris.

 

[forestgump]

make sure its a listted for the future ie corrosion problems to appliances ,i my self would not want the van back and would evengo to a nother dealer and brand as said this van should nether passed the pdi.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Wayne
I can't comment on the stress cracks, but with regard to the caravan electrics, any electrical fault suspected needs to be investigated and corrected for your safety. Whilst advice form a forum may give some pointers it is unwise to rely wholly on it as the advise has been given blind and may not take into consideration factors that might be discovered by a trained electrician who can actually see the caravan.
My thoughts are that having insulated the steadies, you may be receiving a static electricity shock. This can occur if the caravan is insulated before the mains hook up cable is connected. If you still get any shock after the EHU is connected than it does point to a possible wiring fault.
The EHU should carry any static charge on the caravan chassis away to earth. By insulating the corner steadies you may be experiencing a static electricity discharge.
The fault could be with your caravan, EHU or the socket you plug the EHU into.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi John
Good points about static etc but Wayne does say the polarity warning light indicates incorrect polarity so maybe your latter thoughts could be the problem.
Surely this so important Swift or the dealer should be sending someone asap to see Wayne and his new defective baby

Wayne also do a post on Swift Talk. The Swift guys on there are very helpful. Personally I would not touch this caravan until everything has been fully checked and repassed including all the ancilliary mains equipment for damage.
Did you use a socket at home to plug in using one of those domestic style adaptors? As John says that could be incorrectly wired.
I asume the caravan paperwork included the signed certificate confirming all the 240 v electrics are fully compliant with current legislation?
Good luck , but never mind 100 miles , this is too serious to mess with..

 

[xtrailman]

Just received a new Eccles but with faulty electrics. The wrong polarity warning light comes on and the chassis is electrically live when the caravan is isolated from the ground (can not discharge current to earth) Sargent seem to think it might be a Neutral to Earth fault. Have double checked that the cross polarity is not real and it is not. Anyone come accross simular problems. Found this by putting plastic spreader feet on the corner steadies and of course insulating the van from a earth.
Fibre glass stress cracks also noticed. Swift want to do a on-site repair. Any comments
Thanks
wayne

I would get the caravan back to the dealers, or have the van checked on site.

If it was a earth neutral fault then the RCD will trip, unless the RCD is faulty, try the test button on the RCD.

Also try a different mains lead, the plug/socket connections could be crossed.

If you have a multimeter test from the chassis to a good eath connection, see what volts you are getting if any.

I really can't see why you should get static charges, unless you are building up the charge, not the van?

 

[Sargent]

Hi wayne, I am concerned with post, is it possible to contact me tomorrow 01482 678981 from your post I think you may have already contacted our technical people but I would like to understand what is happening??

Best regards

Ian Sargent

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Wayne.
Im sure Sargent will be more than helpful I pesonally have dealt with them and they are brilliant.
Now I dont know what box you have in your van but you can I believe change the polarity within the Sargent control box.
I sure you will be advised of this but I thought It would be worth a mention
Sir Roger

 

[Wayne_5133334]

Thanks for all the comments. The problem turned out to be a floating eatrh in the short adaptor to 13amp 3 pin socket (pre wired purchased unit) The support of Sargents, Swift and Grantham Caravans has been brill and whilst the new caravan is having the normal few teething troubles sorted the live chassis thing appears sorted. I have listed below the explaination from Ian Sargent
When he was testing the van, one test he carried out was using the 230v hook-up lead adaptor (BS EN 60309 to 13A plug top) when he used this there was no earth present on the incoming supply. This will account for your findings as without the earth present the chassis will float (until grounded via the legs or a person) this will be a surface voltage and as such unless there is an additional fault remain as such, but in the event of a second fault then this could leave the chassis live, and with no earth path the RCD cannot function and so if very dangerous.
The glow on the reverse polarity indicator is due to the voltage being present at one side of the device and a floating earth at the other side which unless there was a return path through the lead or the ground would be partially illuminated.

He did advise me that he also located a the problem with the 230v socket that was not working and traced that down to a connector pin not being pushed home correctly, which was easy to rectify.

 

[Chris_Hyde_Cheshire.]

Wayne, glad you got the electrical problem rectified........

 

[B4bill]

My understanding of your post #10 is that the fault you experienced was NOT in the caravan but in an after market product that you purchased to connect your caravan to mains electricity . Therefore Swift and Grantham did not sell you a dangerous 'van, but someone sold you a dangerous accesory. Is that the case?

 

[xtrailman]

This will give some indication of a fault.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Hand+Tools/Electricians+Tools/Socket+Tester+13a/d10/sd170/p82826

I use one.
It doesn't replace a "proper" test, but is worth having.