Bub Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Just bought a 2002 compass cruiser need a manual if anybody has one. Info needed about control panel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Welcome to the Out&AboutLive forums, Bub. Is this the design of control -panel fitted to your motorhome? If not, could you provide a photo of it, please. I can't help with the Compass owner's manual, other than to say it would have been pretty skimpy. You could try contacting the Compass and Herald Motorhome Club (assuming it is still active). If anyone could provide you with a copy of the manual, it's likely to be that Club. https://compassandheraldmotorhomeclub.weebly.com/ This 2006 O&AL forum thread may also be of interest https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/topic/2482-manuals/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bub Posted March 3 Author Share Posted March 3 Yes that’s it. Don’t understand so many aux switches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 The top left switch looks like it will turn on the power from the 'aux' (or habitation) battery. If not then it will turn on an 'auxiliary' device such as an awning light. The central switch will changeover power usage (and maybe charging) from the 'aux' (habitation) battery to the vehicle battery. Keith. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Bub Apparently the control panel is a BCA 27S unit. It's mentioned here, together with a photo. https://www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk/Apuljack-Replacement-BCA-27B/27S-Control-Panel-Kit__p-629.aspx If you contact Apuljack Electronics, they may be able to let you have a copy of the panel's user-instructions. https://www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk/Contact.aspx The panel's operation seems to be fairly straightforward when it is fitted in a motorhome. 1: The top-left button turns the panel (and 12V power-supply) ON or OFF. 2: The middle left-button selects which battery (leisure or starter) should provide 12V power and should normally be set to AUX. (AUX = the leisure battery). Choosing the VEH setting (VEH = the motorhome's starter battery) risks flattening the starter battery. 3: The purpose of the other buttons should be self-explanatory. 4: I don't know how to set the time, but I'm guessing one presses SET, then + or - adjusts the hours and minutes and then SET is pressed again. A GOOGLE-search on compass cruiser control panel will retrieve more information that may be helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bub Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 Someone has changed switch. This is the one that seems to turn panel on. Have a two way switch here might open it up and have a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 With older motorhomes (or even more modern secondhand ones!) there's never any certainty that the vehicle's original specification won't have been altered significantly during its lifespan. For example, this image shows a 'butchered' BCA panel where the right-hand two thirds has been replaced by a pair of gauges made by CBE. This 2011 O&AL forum thread refers to the top-left and middle switches https://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/topic/21993-compass-cruiser-740-control-panel/ In the early 2000s UK motorhome manufacturers often fitted control-panels that were also intended for caravan use and - as you'll see from the link - where the 27S panel's middle switch could have a VEH (Vehicle) marking, it could also have CAR (literally a car's starter- battery) instead. (And, at that time, it was quite common for UK motorhomes to have a leisure-battery as an option.) This 2017 MHFun forum thread mentions that the panel's wiring is complex https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/compass-cruiser-control-panel-broke.147584/ so, if your panel is functioning OK, you might be wise not to play about with it. BCA still exists and produces leisure-vehicle control panels. Although I'm doubtful that they would be able to help with your panel's operation, one never knows... https://bcagroup.co.uk/aftermarket/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecal Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 (edited) Hi "Bub" As you just previously brought the motorhome , why not make contact with the previous owner (or dealer) as to the operation of the panel and changes that may have been made to same. This is common factor on old motorhomes where faults occurs Hopefully they will inform you as to exactly and why the changes were done to the panel and it's operation , before you attempt any changes or repair yourself. Stops all the guessing and gives you a heads up should you wish to repair or not Regarding the manual , who knows they may even have a sheet or two of same, (They may just have to look for it,one never knows ) Regards Edited March 4 by onecal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bub Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 Thanks everyone some things to think about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted March 5 Share Posted March 5 21 hours ago, Bub said: Someone has changed switch. This is the one that seems to turn panel on. Have a two way switch here might open it up and have a look The middle switch of a BCA 27S panel would originally have been 3-position (I/0/II) and it now seems probable that this was the main ON/OFF switch allowing a motorhome owner to select which battery (leisure(AUX) or starter (VEH)) should be the 12V power source. A little more research also suggests that the top-left 2-position (0/I) switch may have been there to switch on supplementary equipment (eg. an external awning-light as Keithl mentioned earlier) and - if no supplementary equipment were present - the switch would have no function. The Apuljack Electronics link I provided earlier includes fitting instructions for their BCA 27S replacement PCB. https://www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk/uploads/General/Fitting instructions for 27S panels.pdf These mention the presence of a back-up battery (of some sort) and calibrating the panel for Current, Voltage and Water read-outs "as outlined in the User Instructions". So Apuljack MAY have a copy of those instructions. Apuljack also say they can provide replacements for the 5 switches in the panel's left section, but only the 2-position switches are advertised. This might well explain why your Cruiser's panel only has a 2-position switch labelled OFF and AUX (ie. the leisure-battery). Circular 3-position rocker switches are widely available (example here) https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/onoffon-mini-rocker-switch-12v-20a.html but, as running a motorhome's habitation 12V electrics from the vehicle's starter-battery is inadvisable, having a 2-position switch that just selects the leisure-battery seems like a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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