Using Movers When Connected To EHU
Comments
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Very probably.
Wouldn't it make sense to unplug the cable to be safe and sure?
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My humble apology for trying to offer some advice to possibly help you avoid damage.
Here's my second suggestion. Why not try it and see and then come back and tell us what happened?
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The Powrtouch Classic Caravan Mover (except handset) is a 12volt DC powered device and it should not under any circumstances be powered by any other power source than a 12volt DC leisure battery. NB. Using the Powrtouch Classic with the caravan connected to the 240volt mains could cause damage to the caravan internal charging system.
This is from the power touch MM instructions.Notice it says could.
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I can't see that there would be any problem, assuming a healthy battery charge. I image it is not recommended because of the danger of stretching the mains lead.
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I would say that you should definitely not do this.
I did it once (just to move the caravan a few feet, can't be bothered unplugging the mains, what harm could it do) and it burned out the charger.
There was a distinct smell of burning, but everything seemed to be working so off we went on holiday the next day.
After about three or four days, the lights faded. We realised that the charger hadn't been charging.
I managed to get a mobile caravan engineer out to fit a replacement charger which has served us well ever since.
But lesson leaned!
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I would say that you should definitely not do this.
I did it once (just to move the caravan a few feet, can't be bothered unplugging the mains, what harm could it do) and it burned out the charger.
There was a distinct smell of burning, but everything seemed to be working so off we went on holiday the next day.
After about three or four days, the lights faded. We realised that the charger hadn't been charging.
I managed to get a mobile caravan engineer out to fit a replacement charger which has served us well ever since.
But lesson leaned!
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Thanks guys for all the responses - I liked the responses from those who said they had tried it and it caused no harm as it would make my life easier to do so .....
However IanH response has a tale of caution that can't be ignored so I will continue to be cautious after hearing that.
Tinwheeler - No need to apologise - everyone is entitled to a view. But on this occasion I was trying to ASCERTAIN if anyone knew if moving the caravan in the driveway whilst connected to EHU would cause any problem to the caravan electrical system or to the mover system? Please don't take offence but on so many occasions on forums someone asks a specific question and everyone who doesn't know the answer responds - why I dont know. If it was easy as why not just remove the EHU just in case, I would do so, but you don't know the logistics of how I get a caravan in and out of my driveway - so I thought I would ask the people on here who have a wealth of knowledge on all things caravan - I thought that was the idea of a forum? And guess what the forum has answered with personal experiences that mean I can make a more judged decision.
Thanks to everyone for the responses
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Perhaps if you had been a little more specific in your OP we might have had a better grasp of why you were asking, S2S.
If you think I apologised you should read it again and perhaps you will see that your second post was unnecessarily terse. If you know what happens on forums, you should have been prepared for all eventualities and I think you would be unlikely to ascertain anything but more likely to garner opinion.
You see, on forums we also often get people without a clue about technical issues and it pays to take a cautious approach to save some people from their own foolish actions.
In your position, I would read handbooks and instruction manuals and enquire with the manufacturers of the mover and the caravan. I would only take comments on forums as a rough guide and not as conclusive evidence. The posts I would take most notice of are those that quote from handbooks and Ian's sorry tale. Still, it's your choice.
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Perhaps you were fortunate that time, and might well not be the next time. Electricity, as you well know, is one of the dark arts!!
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The only reason for the charger failing in this circumstance is shody design. I often wonder if the manufacturers of such products are REALLY that incompetent .....or whether they in fact value the (lucrative) 'spares' market.
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The only reason for the charger failing in this circumstance is shody design. I often wonder if the manufacturers of such products are REALLY that incompetent .....or whether they in fact value the (lucrative) 'spares' market.
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As Fozzie, our isolator switch is positioned to stop you doing it. In both our current and previous caravan. I always assumed it was placed in this position for a reason, however I do not know this to be a fact. Where do they place it on vans with a central battery box and separate EHU connector?
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not an electrics expert but dont chargerscome in two general 'types'...
1. the battery charger is just that (a charger) and any 12v kit (like a motor mover) must run from the battery
2. the charger has another mode, one that drives the 12v items when connected to an ehu, via a transformer process
if your van has this 2nd type, perhaps. using a heavy duty item like a motor mover might damage the charger/transformer, whereas on the 1st type there is no issue as its being powered solely by the battery?
hence, some posters have issues, some do not?
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Hi All,
Happy New Year.
As a caravanning retired ex-physicist (with a motor mover) perhaps I could add my thoughts to this thread.
Motor movers are normally connected (via an isolating switch) directly to the battery terminals. Thus the connection is quite separate from the other 12 volt systems in the caravan, which may (or may not depending on the model) be powered either from the battery, or directly from the charger unit when connected to an EHU.
The current fed from the charger into the battery (usually up to a maximum of 20 amps) will depend on the voltage across the battery terminals. A motor mover will take considerably more than 20 amps, especially in starting a manoeuvre. However, providing the battery is reasonably fully charged and in good condition, the battery voltage will not drop too much, and the current input from the charger will be well within its normal capacity. However, if the battery is not fully charged and in poor condition, it will seek the much higher current directly from the charger. Then you have a problem.
Thus my conclusion is that it should be OK, providing your battery is in good condition and reasonably fully charged – but I would probably not do it myself!
Cheers
Paul R T
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Good post, Paul. Nail on head, I believe.
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So it's best to play safe and unplug.
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no detriment to my van electrics 2016 Sterling Elite x
