Electric problems first time tower

ScreenNameEE505D485D
ScreenNameEE505D485D Forum Participant Posts: 4
edited July 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

We went away in our 2014 Sprite major 4 this weekend. This is the first time I have ever towed so it's all abit new.  We had to get the towbar fitted also. When we arrived on site the battery didnt have enough charge to work the motor mover as it was nearly
dead so we trickle charged it all weekend and it was fine when we moved off today. After we drove off today a warning message came up on the Volvo dashboard saying something about a bulb not working on the trailer. We checked everything again but couldn't
find any fault so ignored it. On arriving back at the caravan storage before I disconnected the car electrics from the caravan I thought I would just to see if it had been charging the battery, but the green recharge light wasn't on dispite it being switched
on. Now we are back home trying to work out what the problem is and why the car isn't charging the leisure battery when moving. My dad has suggested that we have a rocker switch in the caravan which we should turn to change the way the electrics are behaving
but I don't remember seeing one or being shown anything when they handed the caravan over, so does that should right in a 2014 caravan?  Also this could be the bulb fault that the dash message was telling us as we could have blown a fuse?

 

Comments

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

    The bulb warning could just be an iffy connection at either the plug/socket  or its bulb holder on the caravan. 

    Did your towbar fitter wire your car to charge the caravan's battery and power its fridge?

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited July 2016 #3

    I agree about the bulb but wonder if the battery needs replacing as it should have been charged up on site and the loss of charge on the way home would suggest this although the problem could be the charger.

    Given the thin wires used to connect the car to the caravan the charge it produces at the battery is often minimal so I would not worry about that.

  • armourer
    armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
    edited July 2016 #4

    110 amp battery is far better if your using a mover

    get auto electrician to check wiring

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited July 2016 #5

    You need to check that there is a fridge supply from the car with the engine running, a permanent supply is also required for any battery charging. 

     

     

  • ScreenNameEE505D485D
    ScreenNameEE505D485D Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited July 2016 #6

    Ok so I think I've found the issue. We had no idea of the existence of the isolation switch on the PSU, the guy who showed us round the caravan didn't highlight this to us and we even pulled away from the dealer with it turned on. Just by doing some googling
    last night I have now discovered the importance of this. I need to clarify this with them today but it would appear that after being fully charged this weekend the minute we hitched up it blew the fuse on the PSU.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited July 2016 #7

    I agree about the bulb but wonder if the battery needs replacing as it should have been charged up on site and the loss of charge on the way home would suggest this although the problem could be the charger.

    Given the thin wires used to connect the car to the caravan the charge it produces at the battery is often minimal so I would not worry about that.

    Write your comments here...

    It might be fair to assume that the battery on a 2014 van would be no older than 2 years. Suggesting that the battery might need replacing seems a little premature.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited July 2016 #8

    Ok so I think I've found the issue. We had no idea of the existence of the isolation switch on the PSU, the guy who showed us round the caravan didn't highlight this to us and we even pulled away from the dealer with it turned on. Just by doing some googling
    last night I have now discovered the importance of this. I need to clarify this with them today but it would appear that after being fully charged this weekend the minute we hitched up it blew the fuse on the PSU.

    If you do not have the handbook for the van, which explains all that, you can download one from the Swift website.

    Also suggest you join the SwiftTalk forum , which is monitored by Swift and Sargents and they will give good advice.

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