Hi Everyone,
Can you please help me!!! I was given a Sterling Sprite Excel 450 LD by a friend of my dads who moved to OZ. I planned to start checking over things this weekend as I want to use it soon. I put the leisure battery in, checked a few things then filled the aquaroll put the pump in and nothing! The pump light was on but nothing so I grabbed my laptop and read a few posts here and there about micro switches and pressure systems? I checked my taps for Micro switches, only one has one (the cold tap in the shower room). The pump box has 3 spades 2 small ones and one large one in the middle. It also has a large white plastic screw in the middle. Can anyone tell me if it is a pressure or micro switch system and how to fix.
Thanks Knares
Welcome to the forum.
What year is the van please, if you know the model and year you can probably download a manual which might be useful for you. If the battery isn't charged the pump wont work do you have a multitester/Voltmeter if so if you are connected to mains disconnect leave for say 3 hours then take a reading from the battery. If the battery is low (a possibility if it has been left for a while?) charge the battery with a good leisure battery charger then see if the water pump works. This link gives good information re battery care Battery
As there is a little white plastic box with a dial screw on the top then yes, that's the pressure switch so forget about micro-switches altogether as it will only be one system or the other. Everything is determined by the battery power available so if there is insufficient voltage then don't expect the pump to run as it consumes more power than illuminating the 12 volt ceiling lights. Check the battery first and test as mentioned in the above post before twiddling with the pressure switch otherwise it will lead to more problems trying to get it set correctly trying to balanced the pressure between the hot and cold water.
The downloads are available 2000 onwards - sorry. I don't know if the 2000 spec differs to the 1999. The difference in batteries is important a car battery provides a high start current and is then charged by the cars alternator. A leisure battery has to provide a steady flow of current over a prolonged period and seldom gets replenished until the user recognises that its voltage level has substantially fallen. If left long in a discharged state, a battery will generally not regain its former condition. Manufacturers often recommend that re-charging is commenced when a battery drops to 50 per cent of its full condition. Your van will have an on board power supply, (sometimes referred to as a battery charger) its important that this is working as when you are hooked up it will help recharge your caravan battery. The size of the battery really depends how you intend to use it. 85 amp and 110 amp are normal ratings. If you have a motor mover you may need a 110 or 100 amp battery.