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Subject Topic: Should we turn off the main consumer unit Post Reply Post New Topic
Personpapillonpat
23/6/2015 at 10:18am
 Location: Horsham West Sussex
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We have recentley purchased a 2010 Bailey Pegasus 462.

According to the instruction book under "Preparing to leave" We should switch off all the switches on the 12v control panel and the RCD and MCB switches on the main consumer unit.
What we would like to know is, If we switch off the consumer unit will the fridge still work through the connection to the tow vehicle?

We asked the company we bought it from and they said we don't have to turn off the consumer unit? If that is the case why does it say in the book that we should?

Our last caravan had a switch to switch from van to car.

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Lord keep your arm round my shoulder and your hand firmly over my mouth!


Persontango55
23/6/2015 at 10:25am
 Location: Lichfield
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The RCD and MCB are 240 volt mains power. The fridge is operated by 12 volt power from the car so the 240 volt trip switches are not related to the 12 volt circuit at all.
So yes, the company you bought the caravan was right so you are getting confused with something you read in the book.
The RCD and MCB switches can be left switched on because they won't function till you are connected up to 240 volt mains electric hook up anyway.


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PersonMotobiman
23/6/2015 at 11:07am
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It's always good practice to ensure no current is being drawn before unplugging a mains connection to prevent sparking at the pins so switching everything off is a good idea.

It's also good practice to plug the car in before switching the fridge to its 12 volt setting for the same reason.


Personpapillonpat
23/6/2015 at 11:15am
 Location: Horsham West Sussex
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Thank you tango55 and Motobiman. It's good to know we won't have to fiddle about lifting the bunk to get at it.
:)

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Lord keep your arm round my shoulder and your hand firmly over my mouth!


Persontango55
23/6/2015 at 11:25am
 Location: Lichfield
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Before I plug the caravan 12 volt electrics into the car's 12 volt socket I always switch the 'CAR/VAN' switch to neutral first in order to cut the power and not to create a spark then once connected I go into the caravan and switch it over to 'CAR'. There should then be a registered current of about 13 volts on the battery gauge.


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PersonMotobiman
23/6/2015 at 11:25am
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Under the bunk?

Is there not a mains isolator somewhere accesible?


Personsaxo1
23/6/2015 at 1:33pm
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The reason you should switch off the RCD and MCB is to ensure that when you connect to the 230 volt they are in the off position as is recommended.
saxo1


Persontrog100
23/6/2015 at 1:57pm
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car charging is automatic.. when its plugged in and the van system senses 13 volts from the car i.e. the engine is running the system switches the van 12 volts off and over to the cars charging connection.. nothing in the van except the fridge gets 12 volt power.. tis what the habitation relay does..

its kept separate deliberately.. things running in the van might confuse the cars computer brain system with modern cars..

trog







Personpapillonpat
23/6/2015 at 2:12pm
 Location: Horsham West Sussex
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Tango55 we don't have the CAR/VAN switch in this caravan. Just a panel with Master switch, lights, pump etc.

Motobiman. The charger/consumer unit are under one of the bunks. In the Coachman it was in the bottom of the wardrobe!

We rarely have the luxury of mains hook up so use a gennie.
Saxo1, would it be enough to just switch of the master switch when switching the gennie on and off? With our Coachman all we did was switch the CAR/VAN to neutral?

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Lord keep your arm round my shoulder and your hand firmly over my mouth!


Personpapillonpat
23/6/2015 at 2:18pm
 Location: Horsham West Sussex
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Thanks Trog. We wondered if that is how it works. It is a bit confusing after having a 'van with a switch to switch it over!

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Lord keep your arm round my shoulder and your hand firmly over my mouth!


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Persontango55
23/6/2015 at 2:25pm
 Location: Lichfield
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This is a valuable tip if you are using a gennie. Always start the gennie up before plugging in any power lead and remove before switching off too. This is because a gennie has a spike in the current which if switched on or off whilst equipment is plugged in can cause damage to electrical components such as a laptop etc. If you have a gennie with the sine wave technology then it's less of a concern but in my view still a valuable tip none the less.


PersonMotobiman
23/6/2015 at 2:45pm
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Quote: Originally posted by trog100 on 23/6/2015car charging is automatic.. when its plugged in and the van system senses 13 volts from the car i.e. the engine is running the system switches the van 12 volts off and over to the cars charging connection.. nothing in the van except the fridge gets 12 volt power.. tis what the habitation relay does..

its kept separate deliberately.. things running in the van might confuse the cars computer brain system with modern cars..

trog

Two circuits are connected, fridge and battery charging surely?

Always good practice to ensure no current is going to be drawn when plugging any connector in .........


Personpapillonpat
23/6/2015 at 3:51pm
 Location: Horsham West Sussex
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tango55 that is what we do but thanks for the tip anyway.


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Lord keep your arm round my shoulder and your hand firmly over my mouth!


Personnaturlist123
23/6/2015 at 5:48pm
 Location: Southport
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My Adria has two main switch's one for 12volt and other for 240volt. you turn of 240 to left of kitchen sink bulkhead and it turns off fridge 240, fire and gas valve also 240 to battery charger. but fridge and battery then work from tow vehicle 12volt if hooked up and engine running

The other is in doorway and isolates all lights,TV ETC inside van plus awning light. the manual says to do so.

Why gas as I always disconnect bottle for travel


Persontrog100
24/6/2015 at 10:00am
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"Two circuits are connected, fridge and battery charging surely?"

technically yes.. the main thing is the rest of the vans internal 12 electrics are isolated form the cars electrical system..

its assumed that when the cars engine is running there is nobody in the van and no need for the rest of the vans electrics..

older vans do it differently.. there is some kind of voltage sensing relay that automatically connects the fridge up only when the car engine is running.. the idea there being the fridge cant flatten the van or car battery or the car starter in the event of a flat car battery cant try and draw starter power from the van battery..

with older vans i think the rest of the vans 12 electrics stay active when the car engine is running.. i see no need to turn it off at the two way switch if fitted but some people may..

older vans may have been altered at some point in the vans life..

trog



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