First ever trip??? (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

Hi all

We are going to take our first ever trip out in our MH this weekend and were planning on just going to Billing Aquadrome for a night to just learn all the basics of the new van and get used to how it works.

Trouble is that im pretty sure its a 2 night minimum stay at Billings and although this wouldnt normally be a problem (dont want to miss my fishing match on Sunday!) we only want to stay for 1 night.

Basically im now after any recommendations for a nice open all year campsite not too far from Leicester ??

Thanks in advance

Rob

 

[johnp10]

Before you go anywhere, check out folks' views of places.

 

[trekkin]

I would never go back to billing, expensive, and full of the
"do as you likey" ( rhyming slang )travelling types.
Make sure you lock everything and chain it down.

Why not try
http://www.bosworthwatertrust.co.uk/stay-with-us
On our list of next year tries

Or kingsbury water park
Broken Link Removed

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[bobandjanie]

Hi Rob could be you last trip going there, when we went bikes satellite dish and almost a motorhome went missing.
If you only want one night, and could manage without electric I would say Lakeland Estates Lyndon Top Rutland Water.



Its down the lane before the nature reserve on the right top of the hill. £7.00 a night. Water and dump.
Bob.

 

[Rob]

Billings gone downhill then i take it ???

Not been for a few years

We are going to book Bosworth tomorrow morning unless we get any better suggestions before i go to bed..lol

Thanks

Rob

 

[DuxDeluxe]

As above - avoid Billing unless you want to be put off for life. Stuff has legs there.

All the best - this site just saved you a lot more than the subscription!

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[grasscutter]

Lots of choice on http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk

 

[JockandRita]

Hi Rob could be you last trip going there, when we went bikes satellite dish and almost a motorhome went missing.
If you only want one night, and could manage without electric I would say Lakeland Estates Lyndon Top Rutland Water.



Its down the lane before the nature reserve on the right top of the hill. £7.00 a night. Water and dump.
Bob.

The same sentiments as Bob and Janie here. We were on that meet too, and won't ever go back to Billing Aquadrome. There is a traveller's site very close to it.

Good luck,

Jock.

 

[Rob]

Going to Tallington Lakes near Peterborough now for first trip to get to grips with everything.

Fingers crossed !!

Rob

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[davidbaldam]

Rob, I think you've done the right thing. Tallington is a nice site, you could also try Rutland CC site which is I think at Essindine.

 

[JockandRita]

Going to Tallington Lakes near Peterborough now for first trip to get to grips with everything.

Fingers crossed !!

Rob

About 3 x miles from us Rob, so any problems, just PM with your phone number and we'll take it from there. We are at home this weekend.

Have a good first trip out (shake down).

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Tackle man]

Going to Tallington Lakes near Peterborough now for first trip to get to grips with everything.

Fingers crossed !!

Rob

Tight lines Rob!
I'm a match fisherman too. We are off to Devizes in Wiltshire next Wednesday for a few days at the CC&C site next to the Kennet and Avon Canal. I'm planning to dangle my tackle!

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[JockandRita]

Rob, I think you've done the right thing. Tallington is a nice site, you could also try Rutland CC site which is I think at Essindine.

Hi David, isn't that in Greetham just off the A1, rather than Essendine which is further east past Stamford?

A nice little site is the one opposite the Rutland Water Sailing Club, at Edith Weston.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Falcon 269]

We stayed here for a couple of nights recently. Quiet, very helpful owners and a good cafe on site. And fishing, too ...

http://www.waterloofarmleisure.co.uk/

 

[Rob]

Tallington was great

Nice big pitch..friendly staff...nice pint and bite to eat after our late arrival....

MH was great apart from the bloody lights (well all 12v!!)

Got to pitch , connected hook up all was good. All sockets , fridge etc worked apart from the lights and water pump!!

Now this is almost certainly something im doing wrong but i just dont understand it?? I would have thought that everything in the van would work once plugged into main site electric??

On the control panel in the van it just indicated that the leisure battery had no charge (was two thirds charged before we set off) People have said about switches for this that and the other but i cant find anything in the manual or by looking around. Fuses were all ok.

Anybody have any suggestions for a auto electrician to sort it out or is it just me being daft ??

Cheers all

Rob

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[JockandRita]

Please see PM Rob.

Sorry I couldn't be of help at Tallington.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[sdc77]

Glad you enjoyed your first night..
Water pump often has its own switch.. Maybe on control panel?
Your battery may need testing and could need replacing if it's been left flat for a period..
12v lights should have worked before being plugged in?
A quick Google search produced this
http://www.neilthecaravanmedic.co.uk/caravanservicing.aspx

But others may know better local electricians

 

[sedge]

You could try giving Mark at CLS a ring - Central Leisure Services - he may well have some ideas of either what it is or who to contact - or being based in Nuneaton isn't too far away to come out to you - although he is busy, but it's still worth ringing him to pick his brains.

He is a member and comes rallying with Fun, plus he's a trade member here too which means we get a discount !

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[Rob]

Thanks for ideas

Waiting for Neil to get in touch with a price

Cheers

Rob

 

[Rob]

Just carried out a few checks with multi meter so here goes hopefully someone can advise further

Leisure battery on charge in garage 13V

Once charged 12V

Connected in MH with one light on 11V

In MH with engine running 12 - 13V

In MH with EHU plugged in and one light on 11V

Panel showing 220 going in and also battery charge indicator showing power going to battery

How does this all sound please?

Thanks for taking time to read

Rob

 

[wizzer59]

So did you get your lights working then Rob? looks like you need a new battery to me, but then I'm no expert

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[JockandRita]

How does this all sound please?

Sounds to me Rob, like your battery is shot, and not taking nor holding a charge. A reading of 12.7v when off charge for an hour or more, indicates a fully charged battery.
The reading you are getting whilst on charge, is from the charger/alternator, and not the battery's holding charge.

Time to open you wallet, and if you've got the room, add another of the same size and capacity. I can recommend Tayna Batteries for good prices and quick delivery, having used them myself.

They reckon that these Bosch S5 and Varta Silver batteries (both exactly the same) make much better leisure batteries than those which we are all used to. See this very interesting article.......http://www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk/battery-technology.php

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[DavidG58]

I am in the 'non expert' camp as well I am afraid, but I would have expected the charger to give enough output to run a few things even without a battery, so that might be the weak link, bit possibly a failed charger could have caused the leisure battery to fail as well

Good luck, both relatively simple jobs (low valueish at least, even if you get them done for you)

 

[Rob]

Cheers for the replies

Leisure and van battery were only fitted in May this year?

Previous owner told me this and they have both been date stamped?

Have been in touch with Neil the caravan medic who can hopefully cast a light as to what it is. Trouble is though its a minimum 55 quid for him to come out!

Rob

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[JockandRita]

It is not recommended to use the charging system without a battery in place, but if you disconnect the battery, and take a reading from the charging terminals whilst the charger is on, what reading do you get then?
I can't see the charger being the problem, because you have also had a reading of 13v when the engine is running and the alternator is charging. Again, take a reading at the charging terminals with the engine running and with the battery disconnected. That should give a reading nearer to 14.4v . Taking a reading whilst the battery is still connected to the charging terminals, won't give you a true reading of the battery voltage, and if the battery is shot, ie, not taking a charge, both the onboard charger and the alternator will be working overtime anyway.

A reading of 12v indicates that the battery is only 25% charged. My money is on a duff battery, however, we need to know why a relatively new leisure battery has failed.

State of Charge Specific Gravity Voltage
12V
100% 1.265 12.7
75% 1.225 12.4
50% 1.190 12.2
25% 1.155 12.0

Discharged 1.120 11.9

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[Rob]

Hi Jock

This is just confusing me even more now !! LOL

Tried what you said and got no reading on leads whilst battery disconnected with engine running and with EHU??

Dont get it at all

Cheers

Rob

 

[mjltigger]

Charger may not provide a charge when the battery is not connected. Similarly if the battery is fully charged or near fully charged may not give full power depending on how smart the chager is.

How long has it been plugged in on ehu. I thought mine was shot (reading 6v) but left it on ehu outside while I waited for the new one to arrive. When the new one did arrive after a week I went and did some jobs out there using my inverter tI charge my drill battery and having all the lights on and running the water pump from time to time only to realise I had unplugged the van when I moved it and forgot to plug it back in... The new battery is now sat on my sideboard while I work out whether to keep it at home as a spare, take it in the van as a spare, hook it up to give me double the life or send it back...