Electrcal controls on 2004 Moonstone.

Rockbyter
Rockbyter Forum Participant Posts: 21
edited March 2019 in Caravans #1

Hi again everyone, picked up the new to me van yesterday.  Lengthy handover went well though the guy made light of measuring nose weight and said it didn't matter and promptly placed the new awning in the doorway about a metre behind the axle.  Anyway, the one thing unclear to me is the switches in the control panel in the cupboard.  Not really sure of their function and what position they should be in for traveling and for storage so I though best to ask here as people will have used these.

Thanks for any advice, just waiting for my towing course then booked in for 4 nights at Doe Park near Barnard Castle.

Comments

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #2

    Hi Rockbyter and welcome to Club Together.

    Are you able to post a photograph of said control panel?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,148 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #3

    Do you have a handbook, Rockbyter, or have you checked the Swift website for a downloadable version?

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #4

    The alternative is to phone the dealer (if you used one?) and their service department or someone with knowledge of your van should be able to run things through with you again on the phone. 

  • Rockbyter
    Rockbyter Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited March 2019 #5

    I will get a photo, might be a ESM 2000 but not sure.  I have all the manuals but it is not really described.  The other unit above the entry door is a AC50 and easy enough.  The one in question is at the base of the cupboard that stores the table.  I can go back to the dealer and ask their service department as they are close by.

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
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    edited March 2019 #6

    Suggest you try Swifttalk forum too, Swift themselves may also help.

  • Rockbyter
    Rockbyter Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited March 2019 #7

    Think this might be the bit I am after!  See picture.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #8

    We have had 2 Sterling vans, our first one had a similar selector switch and the handbook said much the same.  On handover we were advised that most of the time we should use Caravan Position, and only change that when absolutely needed.

    The Car Position is only for use when connected to the  car electrics with ignition OFF, you can then use power from your car battery in the van, but beware of running down your car battery too much.

    If you have a newish car, you may find it tries to take over what you can do with your electrics, when stopped for lunch ours would not allow us to do anything without first unplugging from the car, a real pain.

    The centre position isolates the 12v, but your van has a habitation relay that automatically does this when towing, so we never used other than the caravan position.

    Note that 12v running the fridge and charging the battery are not disabled by the habitation relay.

    When in storage you may wish to use the centre position to ensure nothing is draining the battery.  We had the van at home on hook up so this was not a concern.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2019 #9

    Our previous van to this was a Sterling also with this 3 position switch, agree with 'KjeIINN', and we always kept it in the 'caravan' position. It did everything correctly whilst towing and on site, certainly a confusing switch when come across for the first time.

  • Rockbyter
    Rockbyter Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited March 2019 #10

    Thanks, that's great and reassuring.  Can't wait for our first outing which will be met with a mixture of excitement (even at my age) and trepidation.  So off to the storage compound now to play about with things and familiarise. laughing

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