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Subject Topic: Help needed
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via mobile 02/8/2020 at 10:43am
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We bought our first caravan a couple of months ago, it's a old 1983 compass echo 400ls , we have started to give it a make over which is good so far, I've looked on line to try and get any information or a manual but having no joy it's like they dont exist. Wether the name has changed, who knows? I know that's what it's called because it's still got its stickers, any help out there would be greatly appreciated thanks


02/8/2020 at 10:57am
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no handbooks wont exist now for a 36 year old caravan, you might be lucky and have generic parts that you can find a manual for tho, did you have a problem that your wanting help with?


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02/8/2020 at 11:25am
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Can't help you specifically with your van, but what I can say is that caravans from all manufacturers are virtual clones of each other utilising bought in appliances and fittings from common sources. The only differences between vans tend to be minor layout, decor etc., and body structure methods. Even chassis were bought in from one of two manufacturers in more recent decades.

Look for the brand and model number of each appliance, fridge, cooker, heater, toilet etc. (the info will be there somewhere, although not always obvious!) and go search Google for manuals for those appliances, you'll likely strike lucky. Most appliances change very little from year to year, so also worth looking at manuals that are close in year if you cant find exact year. That'll give you most of the info that would be in the van handbook (they only fill it with copy and pasted extracts from other manuals).

Anything specific to the van that is a problem or mystery to you, try asking a specific question on here, there is a mine of information amongst members.

Good luck.


via mobile 02/8/2020 at 12:09pm
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Thanks, yes agreed all appliances easy to find info, it was more to do with charging the battery and electrical diagram, previous owners have tinkered about with sockets switches, I cant seem to get the battery to charge when I'm plugged into hook up, I'm sure I will work it out, we go away in it this weekend, first time 3 young ones and a dog, cozy!! But I'm baffled why I cant find anything online, not even a picture, in the morn I'm going to call hymer , see if they can be any help, I'm new to all this + never been on a forum b4, fantastic! I'm sure theres plenty of people who dont mind spending a few mins to share any knowledge like you guys 👏👏👏


02/8/2020 at 12:18pm
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why call hymer? ok have you checked to see if the battery charger is actually turned on? there should be a switch on the caravan wall that will have a 3 way rocker switch with car and 12v on it, or it could have the switch on the actual charger, either way charge the battery up using a car charger to get you thr this weekend and give you time to sort this out later, even take the car charger with you just in case the battery did go flat, but for a weekend you should be fine


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02/8/2020 at 2:42pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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May well be worth joining the Retro Caravan Club.

https://www.retrocaravanclub.co.uk/

They seem to have a wealth of information. I'd join myself, but as my caravan is from 1992 it is "too modern".

There are several on here though that have a lot of experience with electrics, including me, so I'm sure someone will be happy to help with any info you may need.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


via mobile 02/8/2020 at 3:44pm
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Nice 1 guys, I've seen online that hymer bought compass out in the 90s, yes there are 2 switches that I'm not sure about, when I use um nothing happens. I'll look into the retro club thanks. Am I able to post pictures on here? Under the cupboard where the rcd is theres a switch and a voltage dial , I'd imagine the switch next to it is for charging, it's just that it doesnt do anything either way its switched, trial and error I suppose, I'm sure we'll get there, this wkend will root out any probs, and knowing u guys are on hand, thanks again its bloody marvellous, I'm a tecnofobe who can just about manage this smart phone 👍


02/8/2020 at 4:49pm
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no hymer bought out the exploere group only in the last few years, compass was incorporated into the explorer group around 2000

yes you can post pictures but you will have to find the instructions for that somewhere on here, perhaps search for "how to post pictures" it should come up then

just to confirm you have checked the 240v plugs and that they are actually working, stranger things have happened where it turned out to be the cable or the socket at home wasnt wired correctly just plug a household lamp into any socket to check you do actually have power coming in the caravan


02/8/2020 at 4:58pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Smart phones are way out of my league, I'm using an old laptop. I could probably rewire a caravan in my sleep though. I did rewire the motor cruiser (boat) that I had.

You can post pictures on here using the green bar above the post reply box. Having said that I don't know whether it's the same on a phone as it is on a laptop though.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


via mobile 02/8/2020 at 8:01pm
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Hi All in need of some advice myself, pitched up a couple of times over this weekend for the first time in my Bailey pageant 2 berth tourer. Got to the first site all was fine with the electrics and water pump, the second site I got to I started having problems (was a bumpy ride in) hooked the 240 up electric all fine but as soon as I attached my water pump and switched to on, the volts dropped and the pump wouldn’t work as if it was maybe overloading or shorting out? I know very little about electronics lol. The transformer? Seemed to be buzzing (like a rattlesnake sound) and when I switch the water pump on the sound intensified. But then the water pump would start working and the volts would be stable and as they should be.(intermittent fault) so pulling my hair out, basically wondering if i need a new transformer? Or if even the site would be to blame for the current being unsteady? Hope my description paints a good enough picture for ppl that know this game because I’m new to this and know only a little. Thanks in advance


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02/8/2020 at 9:07pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Hi Jamie and welcome. It sounds to me like you have a problem with your leisure battery. The water pump runs off your battery, which is charged by the transformer which is actually a battery charger. The charger shouldn't really make much noise, you can barely hear mine, but if the charger noise intensifies when you switch the pump on, it indicates that it is working as the pump is drawing power from it.

It is possible you may need a new transformer (charger) as it should not be making a lot of noise. You can only hear mine if you put your ear right up to it and there's no other noise around.

Your water pump should still work even if the charger is switched off, as it will run off the leisure battery. If it doesn't your battery is flat or completely dead.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


via mobile 02/8/2020 at 9:22pm
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Thanks for your reply...I never had my leisure battery plugged in I didn’t think I needed to as I was running from the electric hook up. So maybe this is the problem after all? As my van at a guess is late nineties to early 2000


02/8/2020 at 10:07pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Jamie1702 on 02/8/2020
Thanks for your reply...I never had my leisure battery plugged in I didn’t think I needed to as I was running from the electric hook up. So maybe this is the problem after all? As my van at a guess is late nineties to early 2000



That could account for the noise. The battery stabilises the voltage from the charger, and of course provides a back-up for running the pump and lights if the mains supply fails, which can happen sometimes on sites.

If your caravan was built after 1992 it should have a CRIS number etched into the windows. From this you can determine the exact age.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


via mobile 02/8/2020 at 10:59pm
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Hi colin , is that right if ur windows are etched it provides a rough date , I was told that our caravan was 1986 but all the windows are etched, what would be your thoughts on this pal


03/8/2020 at 8:41am
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Car & Caravan
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Do a search on how to read a caravan CRIS number, it'll be far easier than someone trying to explain it
its interesting


03/8/2020 at 9:45am
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Pete1972 on 02/8/2020
Hi colin , is that right if ur windows are etched it provides a rough date , I was told that our caravan was 1986 but all the windows are etched, what would be your thoughts on this pal



If the windows are etched with a CRIS number, it will give you the exact year of manufacture. I believe all caravans after 1992 were done, but I think some were done before, but maybe only 1991. Your caravan might just be younger than you think.



-------------
Best Regards,
Colin



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