Trying to use the mains power !

[host25]

Hi Guys.
I'm afraid I need more help! I finally got my husband away for maybe a week depending how it goes but it was dark when we made it to the campsite last night (we got lost too!) I was excited and trying to reassure you put the jockeys down and I'll sort everything else out (it was chucking it down too! ) I found the power cable with the torch I'd had the foresight to pack and plugged it into the tower that everyone else's was in then went to pip (our 1981 cosalt piper) I went round and round but couldn't find a plug!! I connected the leisure battery so we could at least have some light but id promised hubby he wouldn't be cold and brought oil heater so needed to sort it
Now on the front by the tow bar there's 2 plugs but neither seem to have any wires going from them there is a grey wire that seems to go into caravan but it has about 7 pins and the cable I have only has 3 so they don't match!! The grey wire goes into what looks like a consumer unit in the caravan.I know the people before used power as there is a fridge and oven and lights and stuff needing power. In desperation last night I had an adapter that I plugged into my cable and the heater and I have a hole at the moment where I removed the old heater when doing up so fed cable through there but that won't work all week! As I'm going to have to charge leisure battery up too !
Can I get an adapter for the wire with too many pins and join my regular cable? Will that give me power tonight?
If I'd have thought I would have checked the mains as well as the battery but stupidly assumed it would be simple!!
Any advice would be greatly received as I finally have a week off and were off to Weymouth tonight but if can't get it sorted May be back sooner that hoped!!
My husband has already said with a resigned look does everything have to be an adventure with you?!!

 

[brian_c]

Hello I really think you need to have a chat with the site owner or perhaps any other caravanners staying on the site. I'm sure one of them will be able to work out the situation and perhaps get you sorted. It is difficult for anyone to work out how your van is set up unless they are actually with you.
I really hope someone on site can help. Sometimes the problems are that previous van owners have set thing up in less than conventional ways and the situation needs to be looked at to sort it out.
I think a good move after your holiday would be to get a mobile caravan approved workshop to come and go through all the workings of your van. In my experience these guys are more than helpfull and you would also after a service be more comfortable with how everything works and also in the knowledge that all safety features are working correctly.
I hope you get sorted and someone on site can get you going.
Regards Brian.

 

[Taff]

Can i suggest you ask the warden or someone on site?

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

The 7-pin connectors are 12 volts and connected to the car when towing only. Your 3-pin cable is 230 volts mains. There should be a 3-pin connector in your battery box to connect to. When connecting the mains cable you should connect the caravan end first BEFORE you connect to the bollard (tower) for safety reasons. The way you did yours means you have mains voltage of the end of the cable you were carrying around in the wet.

 

[host25]

Thanks for that ah yes didn't think about that woodlands camper won't make that mistake again!!! Will ask warden when get to Weymouth and hope they can help.
Thanks again

 

[paws]

Hi Host 2
Brian is spot on, please take his advice
and......before you do anything else please read the following:
IMPORTANT and URGENT
Do not plug in your electric hook up cable into the site bollard (mains electricity) unless the other end of the cable has first been connected to the correct socket on your caravan (other wise the free end of the cable is live at 230volts and although the live connectors are recessed, 230 is a lethal voltage.)

Also do not connect either the grey or black plug on the drawbar of your caravan into anything containing mains voltage (230v)
Those plugs are designed to be connected only to a 12v supply via the sockets fitted to your towing vehicle.
I am trying not to alarm you unduly.... but just enough to stop you killing yourself or destroying caravan and or wiring!
Others will probably be along soon* with further recommendations.
Regards
paws
EDIT by paws:* I see they have already responded... ! :cheer:

 

[host25]

Thank you after this advice were stopping off at a caravan place to get advice before anything else! As it's clearly to complicated for us on our own so much better to get someone to show us and I won't be touching anything before getting shown! And thank you again glad I asked on here

 

[Dustydog]

Do you know where the battery is? Under a seat or in the front locker or in its own self contained locker usually on the nearside of the caravan??

When you find it, close by should be a three pin round socket into which your EHU (Electric Hook Up) cable fits. As Sir WC said you must connect to the caravan first and then the EHU bollard.

I agree it will be prudent to ask a warden or experienced caravanner on site to have a look for you. In fact as you seem to have never used the electrics before may I suggest you ask a qualified mobile caravan engineer to test all the electrics for you on site. Best to be safe and worry free.

 

[rosies]

Sounds like you are having a little fun finding out about your caravan :lol: . With your caravan being a 1981 Cosalt Piper are you sure that it actually has 220-240 volts installed , I don't think a piper of that period would have EHU features fitted . The fridge and oven you mentioned could and should work on gas either calor blue ( butane ) or red , propane . the lighting equipment you stated could all be 12 v so work from your leisure battery . To check for 230v then look under all seats and in wardrobes to find the incoming mains power unit which should feature RCDs with test button and mains switch . If your tow vehicle is wired up for full caravan towing electrics then the vehicle should charge the caravan leisure battery whilst on the move . Safety should be your foremost outlook so definitely as suggested ASK another local caravanner on site if they would please check your systems out . Enjoy the new days of caravanning , keep your humour and keep warm , in days to come you will look back and laugh . Steve .

 

[RogerL]

AFAIK the Piper was the entry level model in Cosalt's range - I very much doubt that it had mains electrics as standard, or a battery box, back in 1981.

In those days, many mains electric installations were done by dealers, using non-electricians, or DIY by the owners - since you've no idea of the competence, or otherwise, of the installation I can only echo the advice upthread to get it checked professionally.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

If the van has 12 volt lighting then it more than likely has a 12 volt battery. If you have a battery then there probably is a means of charging it from a mains supply. Whether this was factory fitted or a subsequent 'improvement' shouldn't matter, as long as any improvement was done safely.

 

[RogerL]

If the van has 12 volt lighting then it more than likely has a 12 volt battery. If you have a battery then there probably is a means of charging it from a mains supply. Whether this was factory fitted or a subsequent 'improvement' shouldn't matter, as long as any improvement was done safely.

In those "olden" days the need to recharge the leisure battery was usually handled off the caravan - many sites offered battery re-charging services and it was also common to use the car battery with a flylead between the 12S socket and 12S plug - although if you go back far enough one of the pins on the 12N connector used to be allocated to 12v supply, but that was before cars had high intensity rear lights (rear fog lights).

 

[host25]

We've had it checked out and it was retrofitted with electrics it's no wonder I couldn't find the plug as it was in the middle UNDER the van and would never have found in the dark even with a torch however now we have electrics and can have heat for later everyone has been really helpful and nice and the campsite here in Weymouth is lovely too they recommended a lovely service place so all looking good to keep going now.

 

[paws]

Hi Host25,
It was great to hear that all is sorted out now and you can enjoy your van.
Well done on getting it figured out so quickly.

Most caravanners are a friendly lot and only too willing to help if asked, so do post any questions you might have and someone should be able to come up with the answer.
Enjoy your break in Weymouth and
Happy Caravanning!
Regards
paws

 

[TD42]

One thing to check is 12s (grey plug) wiring changed in 1997 (I think) so you need to find out if your tow bar wiring actually complies with the needs of your caravan as it is pre 97 & the battry charging & fridge feed circuits could be wrong
see here http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/wiring_guides_watling_towbars.html