Electrics Confusion

dinglebin
dinglebin Forum Participant Posts: 47
edited March 2016 in New to Caravanning & Touring #1

Hi, we own a Swift Charisma 560 which is 8 years old.  I just wanted to ask a question about how I should be running the electrics when towing and on site.  The main switch in the van gives the option of being set to either car, van or in between the two.

1) I assume that when Im towing if I want to run the fridge that I need to leave it in the car position and it will run off my car battery? (remembering to turn it off when the car engine isn't running).  

2) If I don't want the fridge to be running when travelling do I just leave the switch in the middle position?  

3) When on EHU do I leave the switch in the van position or central position?  

4) Which position would run my leisure battery only?

5) Should I leave the battery charger in the on position constatntly whilst away?

6) Is there any other combinations I've overlooked lol

Thanks in advance guys and gals

Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #2

    Not sure what switches you have on your fridge, I have 240/battery/gas and I select 'battery' if I want the fridge to chill whilst towing. Providing that your car is wired correctly, your fridge will only work when the engine is running. Your Car/off/caravan switch is only for when you're connected to your tow car to give you the choice of where your 12 volts comes from to power your caravan short term in a lay-by etc. It's nothing to do with powering your fridge while on the move. Again, when on EHU it doesn't make any difference which position the switch is in. 

    When on EHU if you want your battery to stay charged and therefore things like your toilet flush & 12 volt lighting to work, then leave your charger on.

  • dinglebin
    dinglebin Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited March 2016 #3

    Thanks that makes more sense to me now.  However, If the car/off/caravan switch is nothing to do with powering the fridge then how is the fridge powered when on a non EHU site?  Does it automatically detect that the car isn't connected and therefore default
    to the leisure battery when the fridge option is set to battery?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #4

    When on a site withuot EHU you only have the gas option available

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #5

    Your fridge will only operate on the battery when the battery is being charged while the car is running. On site, with out EHU you will have to turn it onto the gas setting and probable have to manually ignite the burners.

  • dinglebin
    dinglebin Forum Participant Posts: 47
    edited March 2016 #6

    Thank you.  I didn't realise that. 

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #7

    We were advised that the best idea with the car/caravan/off selector switch was always to leave it in "caravan" position.

    When you connect to your car and turn on the engine, there is a relay in your car that sends the 12v power to the fridge, and in your caravan there is one called a "habitation relay" that then turns off all the  12v power from the caravan battery to things such as the pump, the heater fan and the lights.

    It should all work automatically, all you need to do is the selection of 12v on the fridge, unless you have one that self selects.

    Which make and model of fridge do you have?  And do you have all the handbooks?

    You can download the Swift handbooks from their website, look under "handbooks" and then "archive" and select your year.

    A full fridge handbook should also be available on the manufacturer's website.

    For questions regarding your van, I suggest you also join SwiftTalk, on the forum you will find lots of useful information, and can also ask questions directly of Swift.

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