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Hi

we bought our lovely (though slightly more mature) Swift Challenger last year and had a great time out and about. About to start using it again but there are a few things, niggles I'd like to get ironed out.

The main one is the battery, last year we used only sites with electric hook up but would like to start using the smaller CL type sites problem is I cant seem to get the battery to charge. Even if we have been on Hook up all weekend it doesnt seem to charge. Prior to us having it the van had sat unused for about 4 years on someones drive so am thinking may need a new battery.

The other question is inside the van there is a meter to show how much power is available and it has a switch that can be turned to either a picture of a car a picyure of a caravan or it can be left in the middle. Which setting should it be on for charging the battery?

Thanks

Sorry it was so long

Hi

I would suggest that after 4 years of not been used the battery will be completly flat. Most of the time a battery will never recover from a complete discharge so you may need to buy a new one. Do you have an indoor charger you could try? Maybe put it on for a trickle charge for 24 hours and then see if it has any life. Dont forget to check all your fuses as this may be stopping it from charging.

The switch you refer to will be

 Select the car picture when towing the van as this will opperate your fridge and charge your battery

Select the caravan picture once you are on site and connected to an EHU

and i would imagine the middle will be the Off position.

Hope this helps

Quote: Originally posted by floggitt on 22/4/2011

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I seem to recall from our swift a few years ago worked like this. There are 3 separate circuits though the 12s grey plug for the fridge, charging and a 12v feed for powering the van.

select the caravan symbol and the van lights and pump and stuff will work from the leisure battery. The mains charger will charge the caravan leisure battery when on ehu.

In the middle position the battery is off but if you are on ehu the lights etc. will still work from the mains charger

select car symbol and the caravan is powered from the car and the mains charger will charge the car battery when on ehu (and the 12s grey plug is coupled) This is not usually used but is idea if you want to charge your car battery. or if you are not on ehu and the leisure battery is low you could plug the car in and use that to run your lights and pumps etc (but dont flaten it so your car will not start)

If the towcar is wired correctly the fridge will only run on 12v when your engine is running and the switch on the fridge is turned on, regardless of the car/off/caravan switch.

like wise with the charge from the car to the leisure battery this will charge regardless of the switch position

Your battery will very likely need to be changed

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I'll second this, we have a Swift and I have checked the handbook, and if the car is correctly attached via the grey cable the fridge and charger will work regardless of switch position, as long as the engine is running. There are a few relays in the system that shut off the rest of the caravan electrics (lights etc) when the engine is running anyway. Depending on age there are a few fuses (one of which is the battery charger) in the wardrobe behind the heater, There is a blank floor which lifts up and the fuses are ususally at the back. Also there is a fuse directly from the battery, and on mine it is under the bed where the battery box is tucked underneath said battery box, its a 25amp job and if blown can give the impression the battery is u/s.

Jon

Quote: Originally posted by robin52 on 24/4/2011

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surely if the battery was dead and not charging there would be no power to the 12v lights in the caravan. Or am I being dense.

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Swift use a combined battery charger and transformer, so that if you are hooked up, then the 12v supply comes from the transformer as well as it charging the battery, so the battery can be u/s but as long as the charger is working , then you will get a 12v supply.

Jon

Hi mrshorsy, I have same type of 3 way rocker switch, and have the built in volt meter.

1. pic of car, put to that position when towing ( will run fridge and charge battery).

2, Centre is Off (no 12V supply or Volt meter).

3, pic of Van, put to that position when on site, or at home, EHU ( runs 12V supply and charges battery).

As suggested charge battery,check Voltage with a volt meter, let stand for few hours then test again, to see if holding charge. If it holds charge it may be ok. I charge my battery 4 hours on charge 4 hours off, 4 hours on, i was told that a long time ago, not sure if it still holds true now with all the advances in batterys.

check the main fuse, sounds to me like you are powering the 12V off the transformer, not the battery.

if the main fuse looks ok, have a look see what the holder looks like, I have a more mature challenger, and the fuse holder had go so mucky/corroded it wouldnt make good contact, giving the symproms you describe so I changed it, you may need to chartge the batt off the van as its effectivly been stood dormant for a while.

I'm with Tim on this one, sounds like the main fuse from the battery, as I said before its usually tucked underneath the battery box. Sounds like your charger is working, otherwise you would not get any 12v electrics at all, even on hookup.

Jon

I have a Swift Alouette.The van works off mains electric when the switch is in the middle(off).The volt meter goes all the way over obviously indicating mains power.I was advised by a caravan dealer/repairer that the switch is for 12v only if not in the middle and that damage can occur if you put the switch on the caravan symbol(battery)when using mains power.I too am new to caravaning so don't really have much of a clue.