Im a new motorhome owner I have got a 1996 fiat Ducacto Autotrail. I just need to know on the control panel for the 3 position switch is labled "Main" "Aux" centre position not named but im happy that is for when it is hooked up to 240v. my question. which position do i use to use the leisure battery ? probably a simple question (hopefully) my fault for not taking it all in when i collected it
Did you not get the motorhome handbook? Should have! That's got pages & pages just on the control panel.
However, I'll leave explanations to the techy folk as I don't know if all control panels are the same.
Hard to say without seeing it. Normally the 3 position switch would be to select either the Starter or Leisure battery. The centre position is usually 'Off'.
Only a guess, but I would think that Main = starter and Aux = Leisure. Handbooks often go astray, so you may have to play with the switches. On EHU, you may have to select the Leisure battery position.
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Yes Thank you Fiona & Capt Lightning I delayed my reply till I got home to quote from hand book. So here goes it says "main for cap and aux for caravan" which agrees with you Captain. However I do remember during collection the seller said "main" was what he used . If it helps anyone it is a KT9AT controller.
Thanks so far
After lots of checking our panel works like this.
On EHU any position everything works. Aux position everything works leisure battery gets charged. Center only everything works off mains. Main is engine battery, everything works on EHU but engine battery gets charged.
Good tip select this position for last 24 hours of your stay so engine battery is topped up.
Col B, thanks for that unfortunately it just muddied the waters a bit. What does "EHU" stand for? & as you say which Batt gets charged in which position I assume that's when your connected to mains. I have since sorted it by taking a meter reading (voltage) ie take reading from both batteries with nothing on. Then put switch to either aux or main position then turn on internal lights or other electrical items to make a "load" take another reading the battery that's has gone down is the one being used. To confirm it put switch in other position load should have moved to other battery .
As already posted by Taurian EHU = electric hook up. There are a few abbreviations frequently used in caravaning and site booking you will learn as you go along.
As you are handy with volt meter you could check that the individual batteries are being charged (or not) with the switch in different positions. If there is a fault on the circuit you could think a battery is being charged when it isn't. I speak from bitter experience.
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Topic: control panel explained
