After many years of owning a Caravan, I recently decided to downsize a bit and get a smaller car, and more fuel efficient outfit. The car is now an 08 Astra 1.9 Diesel, and yesterday I picked up a 1995 Conway Countryman for a song. (46MPG on the tow home, why didn't I do this years ago?!)
The main use for the camper will be digs while i'm Motorsport Marshalling (One of those little blokes in Orange Boiler suits who clear up the accidents at Motor Races, an odd hobby, but it makes me happy). This means that for 90% of the time, the camper will be used on unserviced pitches with no EHU.
Talking to the previous owner, they always used serviced pitches so didn't have much use for a leisure battery, so couldn't tell me where to put one.
I'll obviously have to have one for the water pump, but will the igniter work on the fridge when on gas without it?
I've read a few posts here from a few years ago about similar vintage models, but I was wondering if there's any new knowledge you could help me with.
Hoping to go on Maiden Voyage with it on 16/17th April.
I would guess fridge of that age will have piezo igniter, no battery required. Does it have a red button along top that clicks when you press it in? If you don't want to go to expense of battery you can use plastic can with spout for sink & a couple of battery led lanterns.
If you fit a battery then you can wire it up to charge as you drive through grey 12s lead to towbar but you need twin sockets on car or just fit battery & charge it when you get home. If you are only staying a couple of nights then battery will do that ok. Go for larger 110amp/hr leisure battery if you have the space.
Yep, I've had Twin electrics fitted so I'm good to go there.
I know you have to be careful where you situate the leisure battery. IIRC, they give off nasty gases while discharging, so you have to allow them to vent to outside, but I guess this is less of a problem in a tent. The potential sites I can think of are the under seat/over wheel storage, The front gas box (Surely not?!) and the cupboard on the floor just to the left of the Fridge.
Is there anywhere else I should look for the battery connectors and where I should site the battery?
They gas when they charge,not during discharge,and a good sealed battery will only give off fumes if is is being badly overcharged.No nasties are produced,just hydrogen and oxygen during normal charging,and tiny amounts at that,so any smell indicates a problem. Front gas box is a good place,it will be vented, so a gas build up is unlikely,though make sure the gas is off for a bit before connecting/disconnecting battery,as is your under seat area.A small mesh vent should be provided. A non sealed battery can have a vent tube which goes through the floor. Wherever it goes,it should be secured.
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Post last edited on 03/04/2016 12:17:52
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On my 1995 countryman the battery was fitted in the cupboard to the left of the fridge. Not sure if this was original though. I removed it as i wasn't keen on there being a battery there, all the electrical connections are behind the panel on the left in that cupboard.
I purchased a plastic battery box to house it fixed a 12s socket to the outside of the box, now all I do is place it outside near the drawbar and plug the 12s plug into it this runs the water pump etc.
Quote: Originally posted by vwgpmk2 on 03/4/2016
On my 1995 countryman the battery was fitted in the cupboard to the left of the fridge. Not sure if this was original though. I removed it as i wasn't keen on there being a battery there, all the electrical connections are behind the panel on the left in that cupboard.
I purchased a plastic battery box to house it fixed a 12s socket to the outside of the box, now all I do is place it outside near the drawbar and plug the 12s plug into it this runs the water pump etc.
That sounds like mine, I had a brief look yesterday, and it sounds the same. Does your have a funny door stop thing in front of the door that stops you opening the door properly?
The battery box sounds like an excellent idea, that could kill a few birds with one stone.
Quote: Originally posted by Alistair Munro on 04/4/2016
I received a couple of Gas Bottles, but they're those horrid 907 things that seem to be making you pay twice the price for half the gas.
Is there any reason I can't slap on a Calor regulator and use 3-4kg Calor Butane bottles?
we used to have a 1999 Pennine fiesta (which is the same layout as the countryman ) and we used a 4.5 kg Calor butane bottle.
------------- Exercise every day and Die Healthy....
So I did some tinkering today. Gas an fridge tested and working :)
I managed to get the camera in to see that battery box. Am I right in thinking the white cable is the 12v battery supply? An if I attach some connectors on there, I'll have on board 12v supply and in transit charging?
OK from memory the white cable is part of a wiring kit for mains supply to the fridge used if your trailer had onboard mains electrics fitted, if you remove the fridge you will find it is not connected. The fridge is powered by mains using the plug located on the top near the sink.
The cable that goes into the top of the connecting block is the 12v supply for the fridge for when it is connected to your car so it operates whilst you are driving. If you intend to place your leisure battery in that cupboard and have it charging whilst towing then you need to connect from the positive of the battery through a fuse into the top of the connecting block to the blue coloured wire that is part of the large grey cable that comes up through the floor, the negative side of the battery is connected to the white cable.
If you want to operate the pump and 12v sockets from your leisure battery you will have to add another cable from the positive of your leisure battery again through a fuse into the connecting block where the green wire is ( if you look under the connecting block where the green wire is you will see "metal jumpers" connecting all the red supply wires together.
As I have said before I didn't like the idea of having the battery in the cupboard so I removed it purchased a plastic battery box (£16-£20) depending on size fitted a 12s socket to the outside connected the battery positive to pin number 4 and negative to pin number 3 then all you have to do is place it near the drawbar and plug the 12s plug in to it then there is no need to alter the internal wiring.
To charge the battery I purchased a smart charger from aldi about £13 and I simply plug that in if the battery is low but as you are only powering the water pump then it should last ages.
Hope all that makes sense.
No problem. Also means you can put the battery in the boot therfore taking a bit of weight out of the trailer and easier to charge at home before you set off.
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Topic: Conway Countryman 1995 12v?
