Using Movers When Connected To EHU

Very probably.

Wouldn't it make sense to unplug the cable to be safe and sure?

No, I had to plug ehu in once when my LB died and had no detrimental effect to anything. As far as I'm aware it would just be like using any 12v item such as a 12v TV whilst hooked up.

Correct MM it does.

All I can say is mine coped ok albeit for a short while perhaps 2mins

Like I said guys I've done it and lived to tell the tale  no detriment to my van electrics 2016 Sterling Elite x

Like others, my motor mover instruction booklet states that under no circumstances operation the mover whilst still plugged into the mains 240V.

Depends where the isolator for the mover has been fitted. There's a 12 volt ciggy socket & phono sockets under my EHU plug/socket, the mover isolator is under a locker.

Powrtouch evo  4wd on mine.

Makes no difference whether it's plugged into ehu  still only pulling power from the 12v system guys.

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!

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.

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.

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