Jaws
LIFE MEMBER
- Sep 26, 2008
- 23,836
- 72,547
- Funster No
- 4,189
- MH
- C class, Chieftain
- Exp
- since 2006 ( I think ! )
It came as a bit of a shock to the system+going from a proper Eurobox to a brit built Autorail
Why so ?
Because as many will know, as soon as you start the engine everything in the had area switches off..
99% of the time it does not really matter, but the one thing we really did need was the ability to draw water whilst running ( several reasons, not the least being to flush the loo if we are on a long haul stint )
After various false starts I decided to go back to absolute basics and forget trying to modify all the ruddy Sargent system
So starting with what I needed to happen:
1) I wanted the water pump to work when the engine is running
2) I did not want a permanent live feed.
If the water dumps that would mean the pump would keep on pumping for ever even after the water has run out !
If a leak occurs I did not want a van full of water.
So..
I fitted a DPST ( double pole single throw ) relay that activates when there is a voltage coming up from the engine to the Sargent panel ( this wire is usually orange and white )
Find the orange wire with the white tracer and 'T' off of it to one side of the relay coil
I found the feed wire to the water pump and cut it ( on Autotrails it is usually green with a blue tracer ), putting the normal feeding wire end on one side of a 'normally closed' pair, and the other cut end to the common of that side of the relay.
That ensured when the engine is not running the feed to the pump works as Autotraill intended and only comes on when it is switched at the control panel
On the second set of poles I linked a wire from the from the same pole as the wire that goes to the water pump, and on the normally open side of the second set of contacts in the relay
On the normally open contact I put a +ve feed wire ( via a 10amp fuse ) to the leisure battery feed wire.
Lastly I added an earth feed to the relay coil
Now, when the engine is running, the relay kicks in, disconnects the water pump feed wire from the Sargent unit, and connects a +ve feed to it straight from the battery.
Attached is a wiring diagram that may be easier to follow than my explanation
Doing it this way ensured I did not 'back feed' in to the Sargent livening up other circuits which I may well not want live !
using this method I suppose it would be easy to change other feed circuits in the same way.. to the 'entertainment centre, or the lights for instance..
But that may be for another day.. At the moment I am just happy to be able to flush the loo whilst on the move !!
Why so ?
Because as many will know, as soon as you start the engine everything in the had area switches off..
99% of the time it does not really matter, but the one thing we really did need was the ability to draw water whilst running ( several reasons, not the least being to flush the loo if we are on a long haul stint )
After various false starts I decided to go back to absolute basics and forget trying to modify all the ruddy Sargent system
So starting with what I needed to happen:
1) I wanted the water pump to work when the engine is running
2) I did not want a permanent live feed.
If the water dumps that would mean the pump would keep on pumping for ever even after the water has run out !
If a leak occurs I did not want a van full of water.
So..
I fitted a DPST ( double pole single throw ) relay that activates when there is a voltage coming up from the engine to the Sargent panel ( this wire is usually orange and white )
Find the orange wire with the white tracer and 'T' off of it to one side of the relay coil
I found the feed wire to the water pump and cut it ( on Autotrails it is usually green with a blue tracer ), putting the normal feeding wire end on one side of a 'normally closed' pair, and the other cut end to the common of that side of the relay.
That ensured when the engine is not running the feed to the pump works as Autotraill intended and only comes on when it is switched at the control panel
On the second set of poles I linked a wire from the from the same pole as the wire that goes to the water pump, and on the normally open side of the second set of contacts in the relay
On the normally open contact I put a +ve feed wire ( via a 10amp fuse ) to the leisure battery feed wire.
Lastly I added an earth feed to the relay coil
Now, when the engine is running, the relay kicks in, disconnects the water pump feed wire from the Sargent unit, and connects a +ve feed to it straight from the battery.
Attached is a wiring diagram that may be easier to follow than my explanation
Doing it this way ensured I did not 'back feed' in to the Sargent livening up other circuits which I may well not want live !
using this method I suppose it would be easy to change other feed circuits in the same way.. to the 'entertainment centre, or the lights for instance..
But that may be for another day.. At the moment I am just happy to be able to flush the loo whilst on the move !!