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Hi all i just bought my 1st caravan having used a trailor tent for the last 5 years or so, its a 1987 Abbey Lancaster anyway it needs some minor repairs which i can do no problems, I have a couple of questions if anyone can help me.

1st of all on the towing frame there are 2 connectors 1 is obviously for the towing lights etc, and the other..? the connection is slightly different instead of 3 holes across the middle ,the middle one has a pin there...?

2nd There was no battery but i found the wires that make the lights run off a battery,and connected a battery which goes to the Zig unit, this all works fine as when i select Caravan Battery on the Zig unit the lights work fine, Although the green and red leds dont work to let me know if the battery needs charging, How does the battery Charge..? at the moment i have a car battery charger connected to it so when the van is hooked up it charges,

Also is the battery supposed to charge when driving..?

Does anyone also know about the water heater there is a tank that is covered in polystyrene which has a gas pipe going to it, also there is an electric wire going to it which comes from a little control panel with 3 leds on it, red,green,yellow, then from that there is a water pipe which goes to a plastic housing on the side of the caravan which seems to have 2 holes which look electical and a larger hole where it seems a water pipe would connect, should there be an external pump here..?

Sorry for the vague descriptions but thanks for any help...

If anyone could point me in the direction of maybe some instructions or pictures that would be great.. thanks

If this helps my caravan is the same as this one here

http://www.caravans-for-sale.com/14687

Hi Tonycrew, just found your thread.

I still have the 1987 Abbey catalogue and handbook. The standard Zig unit was the MP3, this just worked the 12v system. The optional extra was the CF9 battery charger/mains convertor/12volt distribution unit. In the owners handbook  under the mains circuit diagram there is a warning that " caravans fitted with Zig CF9 charger must have the 12 volt caravan battery in circuit". In the instructions  under caravan battery it says " You can charge the battery direct from the mains via the Zig CF9 charger/converter unit ( if fitted). The Zig CF9 requires that the battery be kept in circuit even when 12 volt is used direct from the mains, you can also use the Zig CF9 to charge the caravn battery from your car when in tow". 

Regarding  the water heater it should be a Carver Cascade 2. You can get copies of the handbook and operating instructions on e-bay.

The instructions say make sure water flows from the hot taps before switching on.

When you switch on green light should come on and stay on. Indicates that heater is operating satisfactorily and does not refer directly to the burner operation.

Yellow and green lights on together indicates voltage of the power supply is too low. Heater should switch of automatically.

Red and green on together show burner has failed to light in the 10 second ignition period. Usually due to failure of the gas supply, or air in the gas pipes. Switch off and try again, which resets the controller and initiates a new ignition sequence. To clear air you may have to do this several times.

Various submersible pumps were fitted, my Somerset has a Comet fitting on the side of the van, yours sounds like it could be a Whale. All the taps appear to be Comet Novo and you can still buy them new as well as replacement micro switches, van connectors and plugs.

If your interested I can post technical data for the Lancaster.

hello, am the owner se a caravan abbey Lancaster in Spain. It is a question of an abbey Lancaster of 1988, and I want to enroll her in Spain, Necestito the homologation code asi as the caracteríasticas techniques, would Thank that me the puediesen to contribute or they put me in touch with alquien that can.

thank you.
regards.

I expect his reply, since is very important for my.
thank you.
regards from Spain

MY EMAIL IS: Pedornes at hotmail.com.

Hello TYNE,  Abbey Caravans were taken over by Swift Group. They should be able to give you the information you require to register your caravan in Spain. They can be contacted here: http://www.swiftleisure.co.uk/contact-us

ok, thank you, but if somebody has this caravan and can me say the code or send me the characteristics would be better for my. Because in the official house me envian a certificate that costs 300 euros. Already envie an email to swift have than say me. A greeting and very agradecido agent8.

This is what have me contextado in swift:
 
Dear Mr Diego

1988 Abbey Lancaster

Thank you for your email.

Due to the age of your Lancaster and as the Swift Group did not take over
the right to build under the Abbey name until 1992 we are unable to provide
you with the requested Certificate of Conformity.

I recommend speaking to the Spanish authorities who will be able to advise
you on how to proceed.

I trust this is of use.

Yours sincerely.

if somebody can help me it agradecería, need the ficha técnia and the code of homologation. A greeting Alejandro