new to caravanning, please help.
hello, we are new to caravanning and hoping to set off next week.
we have quite a few issues and although had a demonstration when we purchased the caravan we cannot get our power to work. We have set up to trial water and waste systems and hitching up etc but we have no power when we press the power switch. Our Sargent x400 power system has no lights on? Tho nothing seems to have tripped. Does anyone have any advice on power or batteries, worried we have ran battery out or something? To be honest totally clueless with everything, perhaps a beginners help list if there is such a thing? Thank you. Pamela Barr
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You don't say the model or make of your caravan but If this is a Swift then there is usually a good section in the handbook you should have?
For the Sargent system we have (older) there is a black switch on the unit which must be in to switch the system on. You can then turn it on at the panel (above the door?) and the LEDs or display should then be on.
I would make sure you are connected to mains before doing this which will make the charger available (there may be a switch for this). Again, the handbook should help and you can then check the battery voltage although if it's new, the battery should be charged up but assume nothing and leave nothing to chance.
Your dealer should be able to help if none of this or any other posts work?
If it is a Swift, then ask on SwiftTalk.
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Hello and welcome to CT and our wonderful hobby.
Sorry not a caravanners so can't help specifically, but there are master switches, ours are in the wardrobe, they need to be on if you're using mains electricity. We have panel for battery and pump, above our habitation door, for 12v. The pump switch needs to be on regardless. I'm sure someone will be along with proper help very soon but might be a good idea to post the caravan make model and year.
Sadly the thread has doubled up, one of hhe vagaries of this new improved website 😉. It seems 1st post appears on both but it's not always the case so check both.
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thank you very much for replies. The caravan is an swift island arran 2010 model. I will try and add to profile if it is an option.
the caravan seems to not have come with user manual though I will call where purchased and ask for one or where to get one as it will be useful 🙈
I had never heard of swift talk so will have a bash at that today!
thanks again.
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You can download the manual put the name of caravan model and year google owners hand book it will come or go to the swift web site. If you want to checkout the 240v side you need the 240 adapter from any caravan accessories shop, plug it in and attach you 240 lead just has you would on site
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totally daft question, but you are hooked up to a 240v supply?
the sargent Control Panel should come on even if not hooked up, they do 'freeze' occasionally and a simple remedy is to remove the cover, unscrew the panel, pull/unplug the cable (resets the panel), reassemble.
good luck.
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Welcome PB !!
As BoleroBoy and Heethers have asked Have you got a 25 yard long bright orange ( normally ) cable to plug one end into the 'van and the other, via an adapter, into a 13A normal household socket ??
Without that you will not get 'Power' as I understand it ( 240v ) in the 'van
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Another daft question; does it actually have a battery fitted? Batteries are extras although usually with a secondhand van you would get the previous owners battery unless they removed it.
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Just to let folk know, there is an error occurring with this thread. There is a duplicate thread of the same name which I have now hidden from view. I think this is a website peculiarity rather than there have been two threads posted. I'll try to keep an eye out in case there are any other problems, but if we fail to spot them do let the community manager know or email my directly using the email address in my profile.
David
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You say you have hitched up and have no power- is this on your panel? I have a Bailey and when hitched up the power is not on the panel. As soon as I unhitched the power is there. I wonder if yours is the same? Welcome to the club and all the best for the future!
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We are new caravanners as well. Have just completed our Virgin trip in our new Swift Challenger 560. We share you frustration!! And we got the manuals.....
on site we kept tripping the post which allegedly was 16. With a couple of helpful fellow campers on the site we went through a painful and frustrating process of elimination. Now the site manager assured us the trip was new and rated correctly!!! So I had come to the conclusion the charger was faulty!!! Left the van on site for a couple of days, went back and lo and behold everything was working fine so either the battery charger fairy paid a visit or the post trip miraculously repaired itself.
question, have you checked your power supply?
is the an easy way of checking site post trips? Rather than relying on the it's ok mate from the site people?
this was a private site not a club site
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No easy way to check a trip/RCD and on many sites you can't reset it yourself either if you inadvertently trip it. Last socket I plugged into had a fault & tripped as soon as the warden reset it ..... turned out to be a fault with the post's light.
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Another Noddy point. Is the trip/test button in your caravan (mine is by the circuit breakers) reset to on? Does 220v work at any of the sockets?
What I woukd do is this, Is battery in, charged and terminals clean and firmly attached? Turn on Master Switch and any others on control panel. Check 12v system (turn on a light or something); if 12v not working it may be the fuse from battery - mine is 'in line' just as the cable leaves the battery box. Connect to mains. Check test button, it should trip the main circuit breaker. Check other CBs are in the on position. Reset CB and then ensure power is getting through to caravan, you may have some indicator or level of battery charge - it should have increased to approx 13v. If no power and you are competent enough try to trace where power stops getting through (ie meter to cable to check voltage). Any electrician should be able to solve the problem quite quickly.
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Hi Flatcoat
Not complaining about the site, site manager made us very welcome and was generally helpful, we were on Little Satmar.
Guess its one of those 'oddities' we will have to get used to!!
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