Guest JudgeMental Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 make sure pics are under 100k? easiest way is to email them to yourself and you get the choice to reduce - reduce to smallest. then save to desktop and load via "attach a file for posting" you have 15 minutes to edit a post, so try it on original post no need for a new one.... :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Sorry, the server encountered an internal error and was unable to process the page you requested. The webmaster has been informed of this error and will look into it as soon as possible. cannot attach files see above error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Passera - 2010-07-10 1:39 PM cannot attach files see above error ignore that and try again.... I will PM you my email adress and send them to me you have my email via PM mine like I said earlier is in the corridor between lounge and bedroom (middle of van) that way is cools both areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Patience.... :-D well where is is is near useless for driving..... pic looking back with Heki in centre, what sort of space have you to right of that? OK got it! it will have to go where Aeriel is, that is easy to move anywhere....just hope there is room between heki and upper lockers. if not see what agent says about forward of heki it may be less confusing if you remove your pics? lol especially as mine are right way up?;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 try again with pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Hola Passera - Just a word of caution on the insurance/country of registration issues.... If you are stopped by Trafico in Spain, or are involved in any sort of accident which they or Policia Local attend, you run the risk (yes, as I think you're probably aware, it's a risk not a certainty) that the van'll be impounded until/unless re-registered and you'll get heavily fined. Reason is that if you become de-facto resident in Spain (that's not resident for tax purposes, but just have your "principal domicile" here), you've NOT got 183 days of grace before you have to re-register any vehicle you own here onto Spanish plates. You've only got 60 days from date of the Spanish address being your "principal domicile". Also, any hint of an attempt to be anything less than 100% truthful in "all material regards" with your insurance company gives them the right to instantly and totally refute the insurance contract; as in English law, a contract for insurance is a contract of "the utmost good faith". And you're also aware I assume of the requirement to adhere to the requirements of a Spanish driving licence even if your licence is a UK one and you haven't exchanged it, including the compulsory periodic medical examination Just be aware also that the Spanish Trafico now have reciprocal access to the UK PNC vehicle details computer, and to the UK MID insurance database; and to your driving licence details and road fund licence records on the DVLC database. And they really DO now check them....as a friend of a friend of mine found to his enormous cost earlier this year when stopped in a Trafico routine documents check. Trafico are now under BIG pressure from both the Madrid Government (who are desperate for cash) and from local Spanish communities; to start properly tackling the foreigners who live here but don't adhere to Spanish vehicle laws/taxes; particularly on the Costas. I know loads of people still do it in Spain; I'm just concerned in case you haven't fully worked through the potential risks of either losing your MH, or of being personally sued for millions by the victim/relatives of anyone you crash into/injure when your insurer refuses cover because you were "economical with the truth" to them about your circumstances/domicile........... It was for these reasons that we flogged off our old UK registered MH and bought a secondhand Spanish registered one last year. The relatively small saving wasn't to me worth the potentially massive costs of getting nicked/being in a crash with no insurer behind me. Hasta luego mi amigo, y bon suerte. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Tx Am aware of those points. Loads of grey areas and relatively happy we are covered. The plan is to spend much time throughout Europe not just in Spain. Probably work out that the MH will spend the least time in Spain. We are and will remain UK residents and if taking residency in Spain and registering on the Padron then i read you can get your vehicle onto Spanish plates free inside 60 days - not sure that would apply to MH though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Frank- the "free" inside 60 days isn't exactly free. You still have to pay for the Technical inpsection and report, the homologation report, the DVLC and Trafico fees, and the actual matriculacion. But you do avoid the (expensive) import duty, and the IVA (VAT) on that, so it is still a massive saving, particularly on a new or almost new vehicle. (Just as an aside though; as we discovered, it's impossible to do a transfer onto Spanish plates for any foreign registered goods vehicle (and they include motorhomes in that, as they are van-derived) which is over ten years old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Expert Well off topic here but residency del facto and padron would cover us for "free" registration onto Spanish plates for our 4 year old MH then if done inside 60 days? If so thats interesting. I somehow did not think it would apply to MH. Also do you know if the "free" registration it is limited to one vehicle per person? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 JudgeMental - 2010-07-10 9:50 AM Nice one Brian! now clearly 3 issues not 2 *-) Warranty repair on unit (probably internal stat) AND/OR split charger fault moving unit closer to front of van I and many others I believe, hardly ever use the fridge on 12v, as it is pretty useless and not thermostatically controlled. I use gas on the move and 230v when available. If the dealer refuses to move it, maybe best to offer to split the cost, and avoid legal rangling then you can get on your way! Nice van by the way, and at least not on a Fiat :-D Hi EddieRe the fridge, we always use 12V on the move, and have never found it to gain temperature en route. It is thermostatically controlled on some fridges, esp the Dometic AES models, though not ours. It is true it is designed to maintain temp, and has insufficient power for initial cooling, but if the fridge is properly installed it should work perfectly well. The problem with using gas is that it might get blown out from a slipstream or similar, and technically, it should be extinguished while re-fuelling. Also, it would be illegal in France - unless the Drivesafe/Secumotion system is installed at the gas regulator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Passera - 2010-07-10 10:38 AM ..............Brian On the subject of the split relay failure as we are assuming. Given that I reckon this failed soon after collecting the vehicle which in turn had the a/c installed is it likely to be a coincidental failure or is there any likelihood it would it have failed due to something in the a/c installation? FYI I tried to get the Dometic field engineer on site Monday but he is based down in west country but offered to be on the end of the phone to help and advise. He also said if we could not get it resolved he would arrange a visit by an engineer albeit we are back on time restraints. Incidentally in past 24 hours I have got the feeling that this installation was not completed by the dealer but contracted off site although no doubt they would have installed to instructions. Re the split charging relay, it could have gone at any time, possibly before the van was traded to the dealer. It is not that obvious a fault until the fridge doesn't work, and the batteries don't charge, when the engine is running. That takes several hours driving to show up, even in hot weather, so trying to guess why would be pure conjecture. However, if it has failed he'll have to replace it, as he should have supplied you with a fully functional van, so I wouldn't worry too much on that score. Glad you've now got the engineers on board, and apparently paying attention. I think they'll get you sorted, though I understand the time constraints. Have you advised them the full circumstances? Maybe they'll be able to stretch a point if they know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Tx Brian Whatever would i have done without you people! Sorry to keep the saga going but put the a/c on about an hour ago (on hook up) and in paranoia fashion went out to check and while in the van it cut out. Checked the control panel and leisure battery light was on red. It eventually moved up one light and in cut the a/c - though still not cold air. Down went the light and off it went. When i have left it running for 3 4 5 hours it maybe this is what has been happening. I think this was your theory that recharging was not taking place. Will know soon enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Passera - 2010-07-10 2:45 PM try again with pics It looks as though the A/C unit needs to be brought forward to the position of the front rooflight (Mini-Heki?), and that rooflight transferred to the rear, where the A/S is presently installed. Is that feasible? It looks as both rooflights may be the same size, but difficult to judge from perspective in pic. If so, I think it would be far better than the present arrangement on two grounds. First, it would move the A/C forward to give the best achievable benefit in the driving position and second, they make noise when running, so if you do have it on at night, you won't want the noise just above the bed.Nice van, by the way, but why don't you keep it standing upright? :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 10, 2010 Author Share Posted July 10, 2010 Expert opinion an humour too!! The Heki hole is about 60 x 40 mas y menos as the Spanish say. Cant quite see the opening for the a/c but instruction book said 40 x 40 and it replaced a vent. It is definitely smaller than the Heki. Is that still an option? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Passera - 2010-07-10 6:10 PM Tx Brian Whatever would i have done without you people! Sorry to keep the saga going but put the a/c on about an hour ago (on hook up) and in paranoia fashion went out to check and while in the van it cut out. Checked the control panel and leisure battery light was on red. It eventually moved up one light and in cut the a/c - though still not cold air. Down went the light and off it went. When i have left it running for 3 4 5 hours it maybe this is what has been happening. I think this was your theory that recharging was not taking place. Will know soon enough Hi again Frank, Could it be that the fan in the a/c is running from your leisure battery which is obviously now flat and when the voltage falls the fan stops and the a/c trips out? What is happening then is the battery is slowly recovering with no load on it to the point that the a/c fan switches back on and you get a (shortlived) burst of cold air. The question now is why is the leisure battery not being charged from the EHU? Is there a switch you have not turned on or maybe a blown fuse? This needs sorting out before you go blaming the a/c unit for being faulty. Is there a master switch or anything similar you need to turn on? Our AT has a large red switch on the main unit which turns the charger on and off, everything else works with it off but the leisure battery does not get charged. What make or model of mains unit do you have? Perhaps someone else can then advise what action to take. Keith. Edit. If you cannot work out why the battery is not charging then how about getting a stand alone charger plugged into a 13A socket as a short term remedy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Frank - generally I believe the answer to be a yes. There's some practical things you'd have to do if your MH has been "Britishified".....change the headlights back to continental dip, ensure speedo shows KMs (if it shows miles as well as kms I believe that's OK), relocate rear fog lamp(s) for Spanish ITV requirements; and get homologation certificates for any "structural" additions to the vehicle side of things such as tow-bar, scooter rack, air-ride auspension; also ensure all tyres on each axle are exactly the same, etc Any English-speaking Gestor in your area could advise on the details, and all-cost for doing the transfer process for you. There are are also a couple of Companies who advertise in the vehicles section of the Costa Blanca News as specialising in importing your vehicle for you who might be worth a quick phone call for more detailed advice. If you're anywhere near Alicante, there's a good MH dealer with workshop facilities and a decent shop too on the N332 coming out of Alicante centre northwards called Caravanas Ferero. Sales Manager there speaks quite good Englsih, service manager only speaks Spanish but one of his technicians speaks excellent English. (Good try on the Spanish; but I think to be spot-on it's "mas o menos") Cheers, Bruce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 keith I agree with what you say. I may be wrong but I assume on hook up the a/c should be bypassing the inverter and i do not think it is therefore pulling from leisure batteries. At the point last night the unit cut out I tested the batteries and the reading was 11.8v. This morning it is 13.8v. I think the leisure batteries are being charged but cannot keep up with the pull from the a/c. I saw something else this morning. A on/off switch at the base of the bed. I was told to press this and unit goes to standby and can be operated by remote control. I have followed instructions but looking closer on hands and knees the small wording on this says "inverter on/off" However with this switch off i have no way of operating the a/c - even manual switch does not function. I can find no other switch over installed. The operating manuals are quite vague. there is one for mains feed and one for DC kit but nothing to suggest dual operation. There is a warning in the DC book not to operate the a/c on auto setting or for heat as it may damage the inverter. I have been running on auto in testing believing it was from mains - oops Am I right about mains should by pass inverter. If so installation error comes to mind. Also has anyone a view about damage to leisure batteries due to the drain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 So in a nutshell the unit will only operate from the leisure batteries and inverter and not directly from the mains. No wonder it doesn't stay on long! I think the dealer may have either misunderstood your needs and thought you only wanted to run it while driving or cut corners and missed out the mains connection. A question has just come to mind... How is the unit connected to the inverter? Is it by a 13A socket and if so has he located a mains powered socket next to it expecting you to swap the plug over between uses? Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 Keith No misunderstanding for certain. Off now but will check as you suggest. However it is all located under bed in storage so if a changeover is needed they never said nor would it be convenient place advise in a day or so Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 11, 2010 Author Share Posted July 11, 2010 keith could not resist a look and there is a tiny switch not marked. I feel a fool now but no one said at the dealer and I assumed it was auto. Can now go forward with tests tx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 Passera - 2010-07-11 9:59 AM keith I agree with what you say. I may be wrong but I assume on hook up the a/c should be bypassing the inverter and i do not think it is therefore pulling from leisure batteries. At the point last night the unit cut out I tested the batteries and the reading was 11.8v. This morning it is 13.8v. I think the leisure batteries are being charged but cannot keep up with the pull from the a/c. I saw something else this morning. A on/off switch at the base of the bed. I was told to press this and unit goes to standby and can be operated by remote control. I have followed instructions but looking closer on hands and knees the small wording on this says "inverter on/off" However with this switch off i have no way of operating the a/c - even manual switch does not function. I can find no other switch over installed. The operating manuals are quite vague. there is one for mains feed and one for DC kit but nothing to suggest dual operation. There is a warning in the DC book not to operate the a/c on auto setting or for heat as it may damage the inverter. I have been running on auto in testing believing it was from mains - oops Am I right about mains should by pass inverter. If so installation error comes to mind. Also has anyone a view about damage to leisure batteries due to the drain Doesn't the A/C have a plug into the inverter? To run it from mains, I had the impression one unplugged from the inverter, and then plugged in to a normal mains socket.You do need to turn the inverter off when not running the A/C, as the inverter will consume current even when the A/C is not running.Did you not get a full set of user instructions with the installation? You certainly should have, usually including the full installation instructions as well. You almost seem to have been left to work out how it functions by trial and error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JudgeMental Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 mine is completely automatic no need to unplug anything :-S have seen others mention re plugging and I don't get it, surely not properly installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 JudgeMental - 2010-07-11 1:20 PM mine is completely automatic no need to unplug anything :-S have seen others mention re plugging and I don't get it, surely not properly installed. No, my mistake, I see the inverter kits say they have a "mains priority circuit". Doesn't say what it does, but would imagine it should switch the supply automatically to mains when mains is detected. Might be worth carefully trying to work out where he took the mains supply from. If from the main switchboard, check that the supply is actually live. You said it cut out a few posts back. Are all other mains fed circuits working? Might it have a fault, and have tripped the supply. If you can find where it is taken from it should be easy enough to check. Just remember to disconnect the hook-up if experimenting! :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowan Lee Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 Passera, you've gone very quiet! Is it fixed? Perhaps you are en route back to the sunshine, we all have our fingers crosssed for you I am sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passera Posted July 13, 2010 Author Share Posted July 13, 2010 We went to the dealers on Sunday 5 hour drive and got the van back 1pm Friday. Just arrived back in Peterborough. To be honest absolutely knackered. I hope the good news is that it has been fixed but unable to test due to weather being so cold. Van has been 14/15C and a/c will only function higher than 16c. I am sorry but really bushed and off to bed in a mo. Will post fully tomorrow - quite a saga though all down to the installation and cannot overstate how helpful and vital everyones comments have been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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