Mystery switch in battery locker

MikeBos
MikeBos Forum Participant Posts: 35
edited September 2017 in Caravans #1

I recently bought, second hand, a 2016 model Sterling Elite 565 caravan.  During the handover, I queried the presence of a small ON/OFF switch fitted inside the battery locker, asking what its purpose was.  The dealer representative didn't know but said "Oh, it'll be in the user manual".  Needless to say, it's not mentioned in the Swift user handbook.  I can see that the two wires from the switch go to the Sargent power supply unit but I can't figure out what this switch is for.

Just browsing the Sargent website I came across some wiring schematics and see on the diagram an optional "walkaway" switch connected in to the power supply.  This might be what I have fitted to my caravan, but what does it do?  Any ideas anyone on what the purpose of a "walkaway" switch is?

Comments

  • Fozzie
    Fozzie Club Member Posts: 550 ✭
    500 Comments
    edited September 2017 #2

    MB First of all I had thought it was the isolator switch for a motor mover,but reading on when you said you followed the wires to Sargent power supply,I had similar but the switch was inside the van,not in battery box.

    The paragraph below is copied from the Sargent pdf file.

     

    The EC400 system has a shutdown feature that can be used when the vehicle is in storage. This
    allows the leisure electronics to be turned off when not required to save battery power. When in the off
    state the alarm and tracking system supplies are still active, all other supplies are turned off.
    Before using the system please ensure the system ‘Isolate’ switch is in the on position (button in).

  • MikeBos
    MikeBos Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited September 2017 #3

    Thanks for your reply Fozzie, but it's not a shutdown switch.  The power supply (Sargent EC 600) has a dedicated shutdown switch on the fascia.  The mystery switch in the battery locker doesn't shut down the power supply, doesn't turn any lights on/off, or have any effect that I can discern so far.  But it must serve some purpose, it'll no doubt be something obvious when I find out.  I'm trying to get the dealer to enquire of the previous owner, but they're dragging their feet.

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2017 #4

    Mikebos. it sounds very likely that it could simply be a switch connected to an alarm system either defunct or still working. My caravan has one which only I know about. It stops the tracker and alarm being switched off by the standard ' methods' In other words, if I ever get a caravan stolen again, the thieves will think they have turned it off but it won't be. - that's the theory anyway.!! 

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2017 #5

    That reminds me of my original Mk1 Mini.  The interior illumination was from two pea bulbs on the speedometer binacle worked from a tiny switch. As the light was pretty well useless it was simple to shift the feed for the electric fuel pump from the ignition switch onto the light switch. It never stopped a theft but caught my wife endless times as she had stuffed things onto the parcel shelf.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2017 #6

    My alarm is a piece of cake to unplug  .... it's in full view under a locker. My un-used tracker was easily found when I was looking for something else ..... also easily unplugged.

  • MikeBos
    MikeBos Forum Participant Posts: 35
    edited September 2017 #7

    Maybe you're right Merve, but hard to test that theory.  Will await a response from the dealer, failing that I will start removing covers from the power supply to see what terminals the wires go to, and follow up with Sargent.

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