New to our Motorhome and need advice re battery, getting solar panels and instructions.......... (1 Viewer)

[Penny Steventon]

Hi All, several first here, first time on a forum and new to our motorhome. Its a 2003 McLouis Glen we bught late last year, had a few weekends away and worked most things out. however not sure how a leisure battery works ours has a switch beside it with 3 postions - I assume 0 is off but what does 1 and 2 do? control panel over the door into van has no instructions, have worked out one section for water, one on ech and so guess the other is for the leisure battery but it only shows red lights - therefore I assume leisure battery totally flat, can I trickle charge or charge from main battery? can anyone help?

 

[lorger]

Hi and welcome, do you have a photo of your control panel

 

[TUCANO]

to the fun although I am unable to offer you much in the way of advice regarding your post. This site is a mine of useful information and there are some very informed members so someone will come along and answer your question.
Norman.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MC 55 FUN]

Just an example : our power control switch has 3 positions too

OFF - no electrical power is supplied.

VEH - vehicle battery is supplying power to the habitation area

HAB - leisure battery is supplying power to the habitation area

 

[Penny Steventon]

Hi and welcome, do you have a photo of your control panel

Thanks for your reply - Just realised that would be a sensible thing to do - will have to wait till day light as currently no lights in van!

 

[Penny Steventon]

to the fun although I am unable to offer you much in the way of advice regarding your post. This site is a mine of useful information and there are some very informed members so someone will come along and answer your question.
Norman.

Thank you - and such quick replies too!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Penny Steventon]

Just an example : our power control switch has 3 positions too

OFF - no electrical power is supplied.

VEH - vehicle battery is supplying power to the habitation area

HAB - leisure battery is supplying power to the habitation area

That would be perfect - if I knew which was which mine numbered 2 0 1 - think I will take a picture and post it on here, but thanks anyway

 

[MC 55 FUN]

That would be perfect - if I knew which was which mine numbered 2 0 1 - think I will take a picture and post it on here, but thanks anyway

When you figure it out be aware that using the vehicle battery is generally considered to be very short term use only, without the engine running, as you could end up with a discharged starter battery & consequently be unable to start the vehicle.

If the leisure battery is discharged you'll get little or no power out of it, so the switch position that does provide power is likely to be the vehicle battery position.

 

[lorger]

does the power work when switch is in both positions, if so disconect your lesuire battery and see if it still works in both positions. If it doesn't then that position is your leisure battery.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Penny Steventon]

Thanks for all the above - will experiment with various switch positions..putting photo of switch on here,

and of the control panel for which I have no instructions

 

[canopus]

Looks like it could possibly divert the charge from your solar panel between the hab (leisure) battery and the starter battery.

 

[TJBi]

A quick Google search found a generic McLouis user manual at http://mediacenter.sea-content.com/data/public/0cf08f.php?dl=true ; have you tried searching for the user handbook and separate instructions for the electrical control panel unit?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[mitzimad]

my guess would be that switch isnt original equipments as mentioned could be solar looks like the panel has options for batteries at the right hand side
just realised the title of thread seems to indicate there is no solar

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard