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Subject Topic: Shower on leisure battery? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonCambo8140
06/5/2014 at 11:10pm
 Location: Merseyside
 Outfit: 1996 Sterling Sprite-Volvo S40 2.0d 06 View Cambo8140's Profile View Profile   Reply to Cambo8140 Reply   Quote Cambo8140 Quote  
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Hi
Sorry if im asking a stupid question but we have bought our first caravan today and havent really got a clue what we are doing!
The question i want to ask is... Does the shower work off the leisure battery?
We asked the previous owner and he said the pump and water heater works off the mains hookup and hes not sure about the leisure battery as hes never used it.
We are just thinking of when we use it for festivals etc when no hook up is available.
He seems to think it doesnt run off the gas but i dont think he was sure.
The caravan we bought is a 1996 2berth sterling sprite.
Thanks


Personjanus
07/5/2014 at 12:05am
 Location: Rochdale
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 470 Mondeo titanium 140tdc View janus's Profile View Profile   Reply to janus Reply   Quote janus Quote  
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Simple answer is yes, the water pump runs off the 12v system so with no hookup and a battery the pump will still work. If the pump works the shower works. Showering in a van is an art because of the limited supply of hot water, the standard technique seems to be rinse off with the shower, turn shower off, wash all over, wash hair, then rinse off with the shower. Without hook up the fridge runs off gas as does the water heater, and most of your lights if not all will also be 12v.

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Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


Persontango55
07/5/2014 at 12:10am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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The shower operates exactly the same as any other tap in the caravan so when you turn on the water it activates the pressure switch which in turn operates the water pump which delivers the water supply to the tap being opened which in this case is the shower head. The pump is powered by a 12 volt supply which comes direct from the leisure battery. The hot water tank that heats the water can be heated by gas or 240 volt mains electric if you are connected to an electric hook up. Remember that the more water consumed in the shower the quicker the barrel and hot water tank empties so the hot water slowly goes cooler after time. To save water and allow more time in the shower I bought a trigger shower head so you can turn on and off instantly without having to interfere with the hot and cold shower taps.

Caravan Trigger Shower Head


Persontango55
07/5/2014 at 6:38pm
 Location: Lichfield
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It wasn't a stupid question actually as we have all had to learn the basics including myself but did the two replies answer your question?


PersonBill Terry
07/5/2014 at 7:00pm
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still in the shower.

-------------
Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!


nant mill.N/Wales
just dont go there.


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Persontango55
07/5/2014 at 7:19pm
 Location: Lichfield
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Quote: Originally posted by Bill Terry on 07/5/2014still in the shower.


I like it Bill.


Personlizzy23
07/5/2014 at 7:59pm
 Location: leeds
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Just make sure the barrel is full before you start, I can was hair, and shower fully on half a barrel


PersonGrampian91
07/5/2014 at 8:20pm
 Location: Midlands
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I thought lizzy was going to say make sure the barrels are full as a dash across the campsite dressed in only soap suds can be embarrassing/chilly?



PersonLobeyDosser
08/5/2014 at 1:13am
 Location: Argyll Scotland
 Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4 View LobeyDosser's Profile View Profile   Reply to LobeyDosser Reply   Quote LobeyDosser Quote  
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If you are new to caravanning can I suggest that you get yourself a Haynes Caravan Manual. If you can find one in a secondhand bookstore or a charity shop to coincide with the approximate year that your caravan was made, so much the better.
That will tell you everything you need to know about your van and a few helpful suggestions as well.
Also take it with you when you go on trips. They are worth their weight in gold when something goes wrong.

-------------
Lobey.


Persontango55
08/5/2014 at 1:22am
 Location: Lichfield
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It isn't the Haynes 'Caravan Manual' they need Lobey, that's for damp and structural repairs, it's the Haynes 'Caravan Handbook' which is something entirely different explaining the very basics of caravanning needs such as water, gas and electricity etc. which includes information on leisure batteries and 12 volt power. I have both of these books but it a waste of the OP's money if they go and buy the wrong book.


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PersonLobeyDosser
08/5/2014 at 1:34am
 Location: Argyll Scotland
 Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4 View LobeyDosser's Profile View Profile   Reply to LobeyDosser Reply   Quote LobeyDosser Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 08/5/2014
It isn't the Haynes 'Caravan Manual' they need Lobey, that's for damp and structural repairs, it's the Haynes 'Caravan Handbook' which is something entirely different explaining the very basics of caravanning needs such as water, gas and electricity etc. which includes information on leisure batteries and 12 volt power. I have both of these books but it a waste of the OP's money if they go and buy the wrong book.


I beg to differ. It is called the Haynes Caravan Manual written by John Wickersham and has the ISBN number ;-
ISBN 1 85960 308 4 and I have it in front of me right now.
I have the 1993 edition, reprinted in 1997 and so it covers my 1997 Caravan.
It tells me everything I need to know regarding the equipment that was installed in my caravan and |I use it in conjunction with the handbook that came with my caravan.

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Lobey.


Personkpnuts81
08/5/2014 at 9:14am
 Location: Warwickshire
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Lobey is right I too have the sme book only mine is a 4th edition printed 2009 and reprinted 2010


Person664DaveS
08/5/2014 at 9:20am
 Location: Shropshire
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We have found thet having 2 aquarolls is handy. We use CC and C&CC sites with minimum facilities so it saves trips to the tap.  It takes a few secs to swap the pickup over from empty to full container.

Mrs D gets upset when the aquaroll empties halfway through her shower! 

We also use the method described by janus! (Making sure roll is full before showering!)



-------------
DS-There's more to life than football!!!


Persontango55
08/5/2014 at 11:19am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
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Here are the two Haynes books:

The caravan Handbook

The caravan Manual


PersonLobeyDosser
08/5/2014 at 12:31pm
 Location: Argyll Scotland
 Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4 View LobeyDosser's Profile View Profile   Reply to LobeyDosser Reply   Quote LobeyDosser Quote  
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Hopefully without being criticised by other forum users, may I recommend another book, useful to both beginners and long term caravanners, buying and using new and secondhand vans.

It is called Make The Most Of Your Caravan. ISBN 978-1-444-10115-7.
This really is a bang up to date book and sold under the Teach Yourself publishers.
This book will save you a fortune as well as enhancing your whole caravan experience.

-------------
Lobey.


PersonCambo8140
09/5/2014 at 10:53pm
 Location: Merseyside
 Outfit: 1996 Sterling Sprite-Volvo S40 2.0d 06 View Cambo8140's Profile View Profile   Reply to Cambo8140 Reply   Quote Cambo8140 Quote  
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Hi all
Sorry for late reply. Been messing about in our new caravan today and are still unsure what were doing! Haha! Need to buy a new gas bottle i think so going to sort that tomorrow and try the shower. Weve since found out the battery is dead so were charging that tonight. Hopefully thats all it is! Thanks for your feedback it really does help and ill let you know how i get on. I think the manuals mentioned are a must for us!
Kind regards



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