Absolute beginner

[SalB]

So, having retired and bought a motorhome I have realised how little I know and how much I need to know!! Can anyone point me in the direction of an idiots guide to using your motorhome (gas supply, electrics and everything!) For example, what do I need to charge my leisure battery from my home? Just an adaptor. Never felt so stupid in all my life. Yours in (embarrassed) hope of help and guidance.

[Barryd999]

Welcome and dont be afraid to ask questions. Everyone started like you with no real knowledge.

 

Might be easier if you tell us what make and model van you have but generally all you need is an electric hook up cable like this one.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10M-1-5mm-sq-STD-DUTY-EHU-CABLE-MAINS-HOOK-UP-LEAD-VW-CAMPER-MOTORHOME-CARAVAN/332256167127?hash=item4d5c02c4d7:g:WbgAAOSwnDZT2SZh

 

For connecting it to home sockets though you just need an adaptor like this one

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UK-Mains-Adaptor-Cable-13a-To-16a-Fly-Lead-Hook-Up-Caravan-Generator-016118A/233780702723?hash=item366e6a6e03:g:OmsAAOSwJ4Zfr16s

 

Thats assuming you have a standard socket on the side of the van to take one of the blue ends but chances are you will have.

[david lloyd]

For a little light reading you could obtain a copy of The Motor Caravan Manual. This is published by Haynes and written by a well known, long time motorcaranner, John Wickersham. There are usually copies to be found on eBay.

 

David

[Keithl]

david lloyd - 2020-12-04 7:02 PM

 

For a little light reading you could obtain a copy of The Motor Caravan Manual. This is published by Haynes and written by a well known, long time motorcaranner, John Wickersham. There are usually copies to be found on eBay.

 

David

This one... "Motorcaravanning Handbook" https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1844254283/

 

Keith.

[SalB]

David, Keith

 

Thank you, book now on order! Roll on Sunday!

 

Barry

 

That might help! I have a Swift Kontiki Sport 524. I have the cable you show. I guess I Just need to buy some sort of adaptor to convert The cable to my house plug socket.

 

Many thanks and look out for lots more questions.

:-D

[Bulletguy]

SalB - 2020-12-04 7:56 PM

 

Barry

 

That might help! I have a Swift Kontiki Sport 524. I have the cable you show. I guess I Just need to buy some sort of adaptor to convert The cable to my house plug socket.

 

Many thanks and look out for lots more questions.

:-D

The second link in Barrys post is that item. It plugs into your house mains and the other end fits into a mains cable (first link on Barrys post) which then fits into your motorhome/campervan mains socket. Plugs on the long lead are male/female so impossible to get wrong!

[Mikeandthewife]

Hi SalB

It's worth pointing out, (as you should with anything electrical), to plug the electric lead into your van first, then plug in at your electric supply point. This becomes even more critical when away from home, such as when on camping sites, (you dont want to be walking across grass with basically a live lead in you hand).

 

This is a great forum for well informed experience/advice and right now, most of these guys/gals are all itching to get away but cannot for obvious reasons, so I would blast away with your questions, while you've got a captive audience. A books good, but could lead you down the path of purchasing all sorts of wonderful things that after a while will be for sale on Ebay, these guys will keep you right, so my advice would be, fire away.

Mike

[Derek Uzzell]

Evidently the Swift Kon-Tiki Sport 524 was introduced for the 2020 model-year (ie. it began to be marketed in mid-2019). There are useful specification details and a photo in this advert

 

https://www.wandahome.online/print/vehicle/524-2020

 

and more information here

 

https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/buyers-guide/motorhomes/details/524/144138

 

(There was an earlier Swift/Bessacarr 524 model that had a big bulge over the cab, but the Swift Kon-Tiki Sport 524 is significantly different.)

 

The relevant Swift Owner’s Handbook can be found here

 

https://orbit.brightbox.com/v1/acc-jqzwj/Swift/handbooks/pdfs/000/000/296/original/2020-Coachbuilt-Motorhomes-Handbook.pdf

 

The “Swift Command Power Control System” uses Sargent equipment and looks to be complex. There’s a YouTube video about the EC800 control-panel that may be helpful (that’s assuming that the Sport 524 has that panel.)

 

 

Also some Sargent EC800 on-line comments here

 

https://tinyurl.com/yxs8blyj

 

This article may also be useful

 

https://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/motorhomes/articles/practical-advice/motorhome-advice-motorhome-tips-for-beginners

 

(The article’s full version (“Motorhome newbie tips”) printed in the February 2019 issue of MMM magazine probably isn’t worth bothering with.)

 

Plenty of other ‘educational’ stuff out there (example here)

 

https://thegapdecaders.com

 

but studying the Swift manual should be the first step.

 

(My French master used to say “Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest”. Excellent advice, though I never took much notice at the time...)

[Conrad]

Welcome to our world, you'll find looking at posts here we all need a little advice now and again. Bear in mind people rent a 'van with no previous knowledge and somehow get by! Handbooks that you should have got with your new toy should tell you how to work most things.

This time of year two things come to mind - depending on how much you'll be using it in cold weather. Because of the risk of freezing, don't leave water in the system. You're handbook should tell you how to drain it, or ask back at your dealer. (See my tip on Winter water use in the Hints and Tips forum about occasional day use) Other thing is, if you don't drive much in it, the engine battery will discharge itself and may or may not charge from the 'van being plugged into the mains. I've got one of these maintenance chargers from Halfords, https://www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-maintenance/battery-chargers/halfords-6v%2F12v-maintenance-charger-329091.html which I've wired in and leave plugged in via 'van mains socket. Do you not have a solar panel, if so it should keep your leisure battery charged, as long as you've turned everything off, including the control panel backlighting.

[SalB]

Mikeandthewife

Thank you. Great advice as I'd not even thought about that!!

 

Derek Uzzell

Amazing!! Thank you for all that. I will read and inwardly digest as advised...

 

Conrad

Thank you and again, great advice. We do have a solar panel (just not too. much sun at the mo :) ) I'm worried about the battery going fast as the storage site doesn't have an electrical supply. I guess we'll need to take it out for a drive every couple of weeks?

 

[SalB]

PS

 

What is "PSU"?

 

What is "RCD"?

 

How long does the leisure battery take to charge from a domestic supply?

 

And, thank you for your patience...

[Spyder]

Have a good look on YouTube, loads of helpful people. Try Bob Earnshaws channel, gives some very clear explanations on everything from beginners to going through the Chunnel

https://www.youtube.com/c/BobEarnshawMoHo

 

[witzend]

SalB - 2020-12-04 6:41 PM

 

So, having retired and bought a motorhome I have realised how little I know and how much I need to know!! .

 

when we where in your position we spent a several days living in ours on our drive no sneaking into the house allowed

[Ninian]

Hi,

PSU. Power Supply Unit.

 

RCD. Residual Current Device. When its down ( OFF position ) UP is the ( ON position ).

 

Depends how flat your battery is.

[SalB]

Ninian - 2020-12-05 10:08 PM

 

Hi,

PSU. Power Supply Unit.

 

RCD. Residual Current Device. When its down ( OFF position ) UP is the ( ON position ).

 

Depends how flat your battery is.

Thank you -- should have been obvious!

[HymerVan]

A great world of adventures lies ahead.

 

For me the adventure bible has been "Go Motorhoming" by Vicarious B

ooks. Its a bit long in the tooth now but many things wont have changed.. Buy it read it and practice it

 

 

 

https://www.vicarious-shop.com/collections/motorhome-aires-stopovers/products/go-motorhoming-and-campervanning

 

Very best of luck !!

 

 

[Derek Uzzell]

The information in the Swift Owner’s Handbook (link in my posting of 5 December 2020 8:50 AM) is extensive (190 pages) and covers batery-related matters in some depth. For instance, it appears that the leisure battery Swift fits is either a wet-acid type housed in a floor-mounted compartment or beneath the rear seating, or an AGM battery lying on its side beneath the cab driver’s seat.

 

Battery charging via a solar panel (standard for the Kon-Tiki Sport 524 model) is covered, as is the ‘smart charging’ feature that is part of the Sargent “Swift Command” electrical system.

 

Many of the basic operations (eg. draining the fresh-water and waste-water tanks - guidance in the "WINTERISATION” part of the Handbook’s “MAINTENANCE” section) are operated via the motorhome’s control-panel - so anyone who is smartphone-literate should have absolutely no problems .. :-( :-(

 

The Handbook’s “WINTERISATION” section also includes ‘electrical’ advice on storage while the motorthome is connected to a 230V mains hook-up or not (copy of advice attached)

 

However, as Ian has said “...the storage site doesn't have an electrical supply”, if the solar panel can’t keep his motorhome’s batteries adequately charged, there seems to be little alternative to his suggestion to drive the vehicle (for a significant period of time) every couple of weeks.

[Brian Kirby]

Just one thing re Derek's extract from the Swift manual above. This seems to suggest that there will be no charge to the hab battery if a 240V EHU is not connected. However, the van apparently has a factory-fit solar panel - which surely should provide battery charging under those circumstances? Wrong manual, or possibly missing supplement?

[Derek Uzzell]

As I said in my last posting, the Swift Handbook relevant to Sally’s Kon-Tiki Sport 524 has 190 pages and - although it has information about the motorhome’s electrical system, the solar panel, winterisation and storage, how these things can (or may) interact and the implication for an owner may not be explicitly stated.

 

Wading through the Handbook (link here)

 

https://orbit.brightbox.com/v1/acc-jqzwj/Swift/handbooks/pdfs/000/000/296/original/2020-Coachbuilt-Motorhomes-Handbook.pdf

 

might confirm if it includes (or does not include) advice on battery charging from the solar panel while the motorhome is off 230V EHU, but I’m not going to do it.

[Brian Kirby]

Derek Uzzell - 2020-12-06 12:07 PM

 

As I said in my last posting, the Swift Handbook relevant to Sally’s Kon-Tiki Sport 524 has 190 pages and - although it has information about the motorhome’s electrical system, the solar panel, winterisation and storage, how these things can (or may) interact and the implication for an owner may not be explicitly stated.

 

Wading through the Handbook (link here)

 

https://orbit.brightbox.com/v1/acc-jqzwj/Swift/handbooks/pdfs/000/000/296/original/2020-Coachbuilt-Motorhomes-Handbook.pdf

 

might confirm if it includes (or does not include) advice on battery charging from the solar panel while the motorhome is off 230V EHU, but I’m not going to do it.

OK got it. Page 98.

 

"Depending on specification, your motorhome

may be fitted with a solar panel of up to 120W,

and if a solar panel is fitted then a suitable solar

regulator will also be installed. This solar panel

and regulator may provide additional 12v power

whenever sunlight is available to the panel, and

this will be directed to the EC800 power supply

unit. Conditions allowing, and depending on

the settings chosen in the EC800 power supply

unit, the system can give the leisure battery

a daily boost when camping without a mains

230V supply, or while the vehicle is in storage.

 

Regulator operation

 

The regulator operates automatically, turning

on and off as required to charge and operate.

When the solar panel is exposed to a source of

sunlight the regulator starts to operate. When

the voltage from the panel reaches a usable

level, the Panel Output LED will flash indicating

that the battery is being charged (see battery

charging above). If insufficient power is being

generated by the solar panel the regulator will

turn off. The regulator checks the solar panel

output every 30 seconds and turns on/off as

required. On overcast days when the solar

panel output is minimal the regulator can still

deliver a small charge, and in this mode the

LED’s are not illuminated to conserve power.

 

Control Panel

 

When the solar panel is operating the leisure

battery voltage display on the control panel

will increase, however this does depend on the

amount of load placed on the system and the

amount of power being generated by the solar

panel at that time."

 

So it seems that if/where the panel is factory fit, it should provide a suitable charge supply charge the leisure battery but, it seems, not the starter battery. This will also need occasional charging during storage, due to the persistent drain on it from on-board electronics.

[Derek Uzzell]

Page 78 of the Swift Handook deals with “Solar Charge Management” and includes the ‘Smart Charging’ advice shown on the attached file.

 

Questions about Sargent equipment and charging starter and leisure batteries in motorhomes equipped with solar panels have come up in the past on motorhome forums, often querying the effect of Smart Charging. The trouble is that, as the base-vehicle (Fiat Ducato in this case) and the habitation electrical system become more feature-loaded, the harder it’s likely to be for the motorhome buyer to gain familiarity.

 

[SalB]

Thank you everyone. It's starting to make sense (if I read it all very slowly several times!!)

 

To give you "old hands" a smile, I've just been out in the van and stopped to make a cuppa but the kettle didn't work. Panicked about what I was doing wrong. Didn't even know the power sockets wouldn't work when not plugged into mains supply!

 

[Bulletguy]

SalB - 2020-12-07 2:20 PM

 

To give you "old hands" a smile, I've just been out in the van and stopped to make a cuppa but the kettle didn't work. Panicked about what I was doing wrong. Didn't even know the power sockets wouldn't work when not plugged into mains supply!

:D :D

 

You need a little 1 litre camping kettle which gives enough water for two mugs and use your gas hob to boil. Like this which is nice and compact but does the job; https://tinyurl.com/y56qxwro