Auto-Trail 2015 Apache/Tracker Handbook

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Electrical Services

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All Auto-Trail vehicles have both a 12V and

230V electrical system.

The 12V electrical system is supplied by a rechargeable leisure battery that is located in a dedicated battery compartment within the vehicle (locations of leisure batteries varies from model to model so please familiarise yourself with your battery location prior to using the vehicle for the first time).

The leisure battery is charged either by the vehicle alternator when the engine is running, or by the on board battery charger when the vehicle is connected to a suitable mains supply via the hook-up lead supplied with the vehicle.

Connection the mains supply also activates the 230V sockets as well as various mains appliances.

All Auto-Trail vehicles utilise a combined power supply unit (PSU) that contains the battery charger, 12V fuses, mains RCD (residual circuit breaker) and MCB’s (miniature circuit breakers).

Please familiarise yourself with the location of the PSU unit prior to using the vehicle for the first time (individual specifications of PSU units will be described in more detail later in this section).

Connecting The Vehicle To A Mains Supply

Your Auto-Trail vehicle is supplied with an orange mains hook-up cable that will connect your Motorhome to a suitable power supply on site via the mains hook-up point on your Motorhome.

www.auto-trail.co.uk

Mains hook-up points vary from model to model so please familiarise yourself with your particular location prior to using your vehicle for the first time.

Your Motorhome should only be connected to a supply that meets the requirements of BS7671.

The site warden will hold information regarding the suitability of supply.

• Locate the charger power switch on the PSU unit and switch to the ‘OFF’ position before connecting the mains supply.

• Connect the supplied hook-up cable (orange cable with blue connectors) to the Motorhome and then connect to the mains supply.

• Check the RCD operation by ensuring that the

RCD is switched ‘ON’ (lever in up position).

Press the ‘TEST’ button and confirm that the

RCD is turned off (lever in ‘DOWN’ position).

• Switch the RCD back into the ‘ON’ position

(lever in ‘UP’ position). If the button failed to operate the RCD seek professional advice from a qualified electrician.

• Check the polarity of the mains supply by locating the Reverse Polarity indicator and ensure that the indicator is not illuminated.

If the indicator is illuminated seek advice from a professional electrician.

• Locate the MCB’s within the PSU (adjacent to the RCD) and ensure they are all in the

‘ON/UP’ position. If any MCB’s cannot be reset this could indicate a fault or an overloaded circuit.

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Electrical Services

Owners Handbook :

• Locate the power switch on the PSU and turn to the ‘ON’ position. The switch will illuminate when turned on.

It is now safe to check the operation of the 12V and 230V equipment.

Overseas Connections

Connection to mains voltage overseas requires particular attention. Electricity supplies abroad may be of reverse polarity. The significance of this is that when an appliance is switched off, it may not be electrically isolated.

It is useful to check the polarity of the supply so that the connection can be made neutral to neutral and live to live as recommended. Your Auto-Trail, however, is fitted with a double pole circuit breaker.

Check that all Motorhome equipment is set to accept the site supply prior to switching it on.

Please note that if too many appliances are in operation at one time, the MCB may trip. This is a safety measure. On some sites, the power is not sufficient to power all appliances. If in doubt, consult the site manager or warden.

PSU Courtesy Light

The cupboard in which the PSU is situated is equipped with a courtesy light that is activated when the cupboard door is opened. This light is supplied by the on board leisure battery of the vehicle when stationary. Should a fault occur on this circuit and the light fail, starting the engine will reconnect the light to the vehicle battery circuit to allow fuses and circuit breakers to be checked etc.

Wiring of connecting cable and Motorhome mains inlet:

Pitch outlet supply

Cable plug

Flexible Wiring

Brown

Blue

Green/Yellow

Cable coupler

Motorhome mains inlet

Live

Neutral

Earth

Fixed Wiring

Red

Black

Green/Yellow

The cable plug is connected to the cable coupler by a 2.5mm flexible 3-core cable.

Warning:

It is essential that connections are made exactly as shown. If the terminal markings are not in ignored. If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician.

Generators

If a generator is fitted, the vehicle must be regularly speed is used to govern the output and frequency of the unit in KW and Hz, and if this is allowed to vary beyond a safe level, permanent damage could be chargers etc.

IMPORTANT

Periodically, preferably not less than once a year, inspected and tested. A report on the condition should be obtained as described in the

Regulations for Electrical Installations, published by the Institute of Electrical Engineers.

It is important that the main switch at the site point should be switched off, the supply flexible cable disconnected and any cover replaced on the socket outlet at the site supply point. It is dangerous to leave the supply flexible cable connected.

system that is not described in the ‘fault table’ and your supplying dealer cannot resolve the problem, Sargent Electrical Systems operate a telephone help line that is available during normal office hours.

Tel: 01482 678981

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