Habitation Service?

[Morganic]

Anyone had a habitation service done on their Cali? This is a check of gas and electric systems to ensure you don't get gassed or electrocuted.
VW Commercial Vehicles don't do such services so you have to go to a motorhome or caravan specialist.

I have just had mine done by an approved AWS workshop and it failed on a number of points!

Flame Failure device on hob. This should shut off the gas if the flames extinguished. It doesn't
Earth bonding to LPG. It failed resistance check.
RCD is reducing volts from 230 to 189 so unable to test RCD under load.

This vehicle is just over 12 months old and has been used 3 times overnight. This is first time electric hookup has been used.

Would be interested to hear if anyone else has had such an experience?

VW informed but service agent didn't have a clue what I was talking about! Waiting for them to come back to me.
Watch this space.

 

[WelshGas]

All Californias have a Gas Safety Check etc: as per the German Regulations before leaving the factory - Silver Disk on tailgate.
I have never heard of a RCD unit cutting the voltage as you describe.

I would like to know how experienced the Tester is in testing a California specifically?
The California is not the same as a Motorhome, Plastic and Fibreglass body shell on a metal chassis, nor a Caravan, similar construction.

On my vehicle the Flame Failure works fine.
I have full mains voltage at the interior Mains Plug.
The LPG pipework is bolted to the Aluminium Kitchen units which are bolted to the bodywork/Chassis.

So in summary - there are either major faults with your vehicle or the Habitation Check was incompetent or not suitable for a California.

Will be interesting to see what transpires.

 

[bvddobb]

A few months back we did the mandatory two-yearly habitation check at TÜV-Nord here on our 2008 Cali. All in order. As Welshgas says, in the design there is very little that can go wrong in the Cali. Surprised to read your story.

 

[Morganic]

All Californias have a Gas Safety Check etc: as per the German Regulations before leaving the factory - Silver Disk on tailgate.
I have never heard of a RCD unit cutting the voltage as you describe.

I would like to know how experienced the Tester is in testing a California specifically?
The California is not the same as a Motorhome, Plastic and Fibreglass body shell on a metal chassis, nor a Caravan, similar construction.

On my vehicle the Flame Failure works fine.
I have full mains voltage at the interior Mains Plug.
The LPG pipework is bolted to the Aluminium Kitchen units which are bolted to the bodywork/Chassis.

So in summary - there are either major faults with your vehicle or the Habitation Check was incompetent or not suitable for a California.

Will be interesting to see what transpires.

The tester is highly experienced and totally competent and AWS and MCEA approved. He doesn't leave anything to chance and has the up to date testing equipment. I have total faith in him.
He was also a VW apprentice who did his time and has tested all types of VW campers.
I think the problem is with the vehicle.
Have contacted VW but not heard anything!

 

[WelshGas]

You may be right, but as far as the Tester being experienced in all types of VW Camper, there is Only 1 VW camper, the California. The others are VW based conversions. A different vehicle altogether.
I hope you get it sorted.

 

[Meoncoast]

I think the problem is with the vehicle.

If you are correct there is both gas and electrical issues seems a bit unlucky

 

[bigmac77]

Flame failure devise should shut gas off after loss of flame in less than 60 seconds. You can test it yourself, run both burners for 10 mins then shut the gas off at the isolater under the hob and start a stopwatch listen for the both clicks, if less than 60 seconds it's a pass.

 

[Morganic]

You may be right, but as far as the Tester being experienced in all types of VW Camper, there is Only 1 VW camper, the California. The others are VW based conversions. A different vehicle altogether.
I hope you get it sorted.

Flame failure devise should shut gas off after loss of flame in less than 60 seconds. You can test it yourself, run both burners for 10 mins then shut the gas off at the isolater under the hob and start a stopwatch listen for the both clicks, if less than 60 seconds it's a pass.[/QUOT


Yes that's the test my engineer has undertaken.

 

[Tactical]

RCD is reducing volts from 230 to 189 so unable to test RCD under load

How is that even possible?

An RCD is just a double-pole switch controlled by current imbalance between phase and neutral.



There's no mechanism for reducing the voltage. The switch is either closed or open.

 

[CYCLOPATH]

Thanks , I hadn't thaught of checking such things.
I will now.
You could have saved my life
Good post

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks , I hadn't thaught of checking such things.
I will now.
You could have saved my life
Good post

I doubt it.

 

[CYCLOPATH]

May be a touch of exaggeration, but still good to check RCD and gas cut off
It wasn't suggests to me when I bought the van
Also roof drain holes,
Lights, horn, tyres
I can feel a list coming on

 

[CYCLOPATH]

Oops, should have checked the search forum button!

 

[MattBW]

How is even possible?

An RCD is just a double-pole switch controlled by current imbalance between phase and neutral.

View attachment 11761

There's no mechanism for reducing the voltage. The switch is either closed or open.

Could be a bad cable, or a bad socket its plugged into?

 

[sidepod]

The RCD cannot reduce voltage as previously stated. There must be a loose connection somewhere.

In order to correctly test the RCD it will need a earth ref via the hook up cable.

Does the tester have the correct kit?
RCD trip time should be 0.2 max second at 5xI (150mA) in both 0 and 180 degrees phase angle.

I would question gas bonding given that the sink is isolated from the chassis via the cabinet and the bottle is isolated via a rubber hose.

 

[bigmac77]

What is AWS and MCEA?

 

[sidepod]

The reduced voltage sounds more like a voltdrop issue.
Perhaps the tester was using a coiled up 100m extension lead as s hook up?
Perhaps his supply already had a voltdrop issue? Who knows?

 

[WelshGas]

What is AWS and MCEA?

MCEA = Mobile Caravan Engineer Association

AWS = Approved Workshop Scheme

This is the Check list they are supposed to work to!

AWS-Motorhome-Annual-Habitation-Checksheet-V4-SAMPLE-Part-1.pdf

 

[Yorkdubshire]

Anyone had a habitation service done on their Cali? This is a check of gas and electric systems to ensure you don't get gassed or electrocuted.
VW Commercial Vehicles don't do such services so you have to go to a motorhome or caravan specialist.

I have just had mine done by an approved AWS workshop and it failed on a number of points!

Flame Failure device on hob. This should shut off the gas if the flames extinguished. It doesn't
Earth bonding to LPG. It failed resistance check.
RCD is reducing volts from 230 to 189 so unable to test RCD under load.

This vehicle is just over 12 months old and has been used 3 times overnight. This is first time electric hookup has been used.

Would be interested to hear if anyone else has had such an experience?

VW informed but service agent didn't have a clue what I was talking about! Waiting for them to come back to me.
Watch this space.

Could you have a loose neutral. We have lots of 3ph RPPs where I work and have encountered loose neutral connections which cause voltages to drop?

 

[sidepod]

Loose neutral would trip the RCD.
That's how an RCD works. It monitors the current delta between live and neutral.

 

[Yorkdubshire]

Loose neutral would trip the RCD.
That's how an RCD works. It monitors the current delta between live and neutral.

Even with no load/current?

 

[WelshGas]

Anyone had a habitation service done on their Cali? This is a check of gas and electric systems to ensure you don't get gassed or electrocuted.
VW Commercial Vehicles don't do such services so you have to go to a motorhome or caravan specialist.

I have just had mine done by an approved AWS workshop and it failed on a number of points!

Flame Failure device on hob. This should shut off the gas if the flames extinguished. It doesn't
Earth bonding to LPG. It failed resistance check.
RCD is reducing volts from 230 to 189 so unable to test RCD under load.

This vehicle is just over 12 months old and has been used 3 times overnight. This is first time electric hookup has been used.

Would be interested to hear if anyone else has had such an experience?

VW informed but service agent didn't have a clue what I was talking about! Waiting for them to come back to me.
Watch this space.

I have been watching this space, but you haven't posted any follow up. Was your vehicle faulty or was it not tested properly?

 

[Morganic]

I have been watching this space, but you haven't posted any follow up. Was your vehicle faulty or was it not tested properly?

VW have examined the vehicle. They have ordered a new RCD,gas valve and burners. All on back order. The installation work will be contracted out to a well known VW convertor. Fingers crossed. I doubt it was not tested properly. I was in the testers premises earlier. He knows what he is doing.

 

[Actionwave]

So do I need a habitation check or nnot, last one was 3 years ago according to the sticker?????

 

[WelshGas]

So do I need a habitation check or nnot, last one was 3 years ago according to the sticker?????

Not unless you are hiring the vehicle out, in which case I believe there is either a Legal requirement or your Insurance may insist on one.