regmcm Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Hi we hooked up on site to the mains electric for the first time. no problem. however the wife just plugged in an electric kettle somebody gave us and it tripped the main circuit. We flipped it back and unplugged but now the mains electric wont work. Ive checked the fuses in the circuit board and all look ok.... anybody help? site we are on is almost empty so nobody to ask. We are in a fiat ducato challenger 288 .......cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpstart Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Look at the post you have plugged in to and see if there’s is a circuit breaker there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will86 Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Lesson two. Never trust anything electrical that you are given ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Does anything else electrical work? Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regmcm Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 many thanks....managed to get the site sparky to sort.....steep learning curve this camping mullarky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 So what was the problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regmcm Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 sorry i thought i had replied to the post above about there being a circuit breaker in the external hook up point..... seems there was. Kettle now in bin. Next job just bought a refillable LPG gas bottle system for 250 quid after being quoted nearly a grand for one fitted....Now need to find somebody to install as i don't have the confidence to drill a big hole in the side of the MH........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 regmcm - 2020-10-02 6:18 PM sorry i thought i had replied to the post above about there being a circuit breaker in the external hook up point..... seems there was. For future reference EVERY campsite hook up point has a circuit breaker to protect the cable and everything that is plugged in to it. It is quite easy to trip a hook up post without tripping any breaker in the MH so you really need to be aware of everything turned on at any time, and don't forget the fridge and battery charger/power supply unit as they can draw several amps! Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted October 2, 2020 Share Posted October 2, 2020 Note that if you had other items working, then it might not be the kettle at fault, you may have overloaded the EHU. Our household kettle is 2.2kw, add in a heater of 2kw and that will overload a EHU. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 regmcm - 2020-10-02 6:18 PM ...Next job just bought a refillable LPG gas bottle system for 250 quid after being quoted nearly a grand for one fitted....Now need to find somebody to install as i don't have the confidence to drill a big hole in the side of the MH........ £1000 seems a lot even for professionally installing a refillable LPG-bottle system, but if Spanish regulations for fitting this type of system are similar to those of France, there are mandatory rules as to how the task must be carried out (unlike in the UK where ‘amateur’ DIY installation is commonplace) and that will elevate the price. And, of course, the overall cost will depend not only on the installation but also on the complexity, sophistication and quality of the components. I’ve no experience of Spanish campsite 230V hook-up points (EHUs), but French EHUs can be low Amperage (6A is common) and- in my experience - the EHU circuit-breakers are often left tripped out and cannot be reset withot the campsite warden doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regmcm Posted October 3, 2020 Author Share Posted October 3, 2020 Derek Uzzell - 2020-10-03 7:48 AM regmcm - 2020-10-02 6:18 PM ...Next job just bought a refillable LPG gas bottle system for 250 quid after being quoted nearly a grand for one fitted....Now need to find somebody to install as i don't have the confidence to drill a big hole in the side of the MH........ £1000 seems a lot even for professionally installing a refillable LPG-bottle system, but if Spanish regulations for fitting this type of system are similar to those of France, there are mandatory rules as to how the task must be carried out (unlike in the UK where ‘amateur’ DIY installation is commonplace) and that will elevate the price. And, of course, the overall cost will depend not only on the installation but also on the complexity, sophistication and quality of the components. Hi thanks for the reply. The only regulations seem to be that the system must pass the Spanish MOT (ITV) which isn't due for another 2 years. the biggest job in the installation is cutting a hole in the side of the MH to facilitate the filling cap. something I'm not keen to do myself. also looks like a filter needs to be added and also maybe a truma monocontrol valve? (although i don't think this obligatory? more of an extra safety feature?) any help or advice would be appreciated !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanb Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Derek Uzzell - 2020-10-03 7:48 AM I’ve no experience of Spanish campsite 230V hook-up points (EHUs), but French EHUs can be low Amperage (6A is common) and- in my experience - the EHU circuit-breakers are often left tripped out and cannot be reset withot the campsite warden doing it. That is equivalent to only 1380 Watts (W) at 230V. A normal domestic kettle can be rated at 3kW, or 3000W. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 Alanb - 2020-10-03 8:42 AM Derek Uzzell - 2020-10-03 7:48 AM ... French EHUs can be low Amperage (6A is common) That is equivalent to only 1380 Watts (W) at 230V. A normal domestic kettle can be rated at 3kW, or 3000W. Alan Yep, hence why very few 'Continental' MH's have electric heating. Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted October 3, 2020 Share Posted October 3, 2020 regmcm - 2020-10-03 8:05 AM ...The only regulations seem to be that the system must pass the Spanish MOT (ITV) which isn't due for another 2 years. the biggest job in the installation is cutting a hole in the side of the MH to facilitate the filling cap. something I'm not keen to do myself. also looks like a filter needs to be added and also maybe a truma monocontrol valve? (although i don't think this obligatory? more of an extra safety feature?) any help or advice would be appreciated !! In the UK a user-refillable gas bottle system would not be checked as part of a motorhome’s MOT test. This (old) Gaslow leaflet advises on installation, but - although it is recommended that a remote gas filling-point be fitted - this is not mandatory in this country. http://www.dicklanemotorhomes.co.uk/pdfs/gaslow-filling-instructions.pdf I’ve looked at the English-language catalogue for Challenger’s 2018 collection https://www.challenger-camping-cars.fr/sites/www.challenger-camping-cars.fr/files/shared/catalog/challenger-2018_cat-gen_gb_100_0.pdf but (although it’s clear that the 288 model has diesel-fuelled air heating) I’m not sure if water heating is by diesel or gas. It also seems that (as is common for Chausson/Challenger motorhomes with diesel heating) the gas locker is designed to accommodate a single large (13kg) gas canister. I would have thought your Challenger already has a ’safety’ gas regulator of some sort and - given that it’s a 2018 vehicle and if the regulator is a Truma/GOK product - that the regulator would be a vertical or horizontal ‘Monocontrol CS’ type (images below) though maybe not the latest versions that look completely different. Truma has recently revised the design of its LPG filter and the latest version is shown here https://www.truma.com/uk/en/products/truma-caravan-rv-gas-fittings/truma-gasfilter The likelihood - in the UK at least - is that few people fit a filter. There’s more potential risk with ‘autogas’ that oily residues in the gas will damage the regulator. The risk can be reduced by ensuring that the gas hose (pigtail) between the gas bottle and regulator is as short as practical and that the hose goes ‘up hill’ all the way from the bottle to the regulator. In the UK fitting a staniless-steel flexible pigtail is quite popular to overcome the possibility that the interior of a rubber gas hose might become damaged by the LPG and the resultant ‘muck’ travelling on to the regulator. As your Challenger has diesel-fuelled heating, it’s not likely you’d want to run gas-fuelled appliances while travelling, so safety equipment (specialised regulators and pigtails) that can allow gas heaters to be legally operated en route shouldn’t be necessary in your case. You’d be wise to check what the Spanish ITV demands regarding a user-refillable gas-bottle system, just in case there is some unexpected requirement that could affect the installation of the system you’ve just acquired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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