Workshops with expertise in the habitation cells of your vehicle

[Jude]

Workshop services. Where o where can I find truth speaking mechanics? Soothsayers. Mechanics who talk bs are not soothing.

I have been exploring how I can power up my laptop and augment my power options off-grid because I will need warmth and the fridge in the first quarter of the year in Morocco. The battery will give me about 72 hours before it goes down to 40% or less.

Am I going to freeze to death at night? I have gas and a solar panel, right?

Oh yeah? but, I am told I do not have a solar panel, THAT IS NOT A SOLAR PANEL MADAME! (Much laughter by the guys). That is just a black decorative panel on the front of your Crafter. A beauty spot, so to speak. OK, so why do I have a Voltronics solar panel regulator that is fully functional in my electrical cabinet? Does it illuminate my beauty spot to acne levels? I launch into hours deciphering the whys and wherefores of solar panels and examining original specs and sales pitch prior to prospective legal action. I bought the damn van with a solar panel.

Please Sir, my leisure battery under the footwell is not being charged on hookup and is discharging at an alarming rate. Can you test it? NO, MADAME, YOU DO NOT HAVE A BATTERY UNDER THERE! OK, so what is that rectangular doohickey thing under the footwell marked AGM then?

Two handsome big posh Scottish guys with a smart digital test kit say: "We have checked your LEISURE battery functionality madame, it is perfectly fine - it is under the hood". Oh Yeah? That is also an AGM and it is the engine battery. Clearly they cannot comprehend anything about the leisure battery.

All hail for Norauto in OBAN for locating the leisure battery, testing it and replacing it AGM For AGM, because by this time it just died.

Please SIr, my leisure battery is still discharging fast. Here I am in MIlton Keynes. " I know why you are not getting any energy from the hookup madame. It was OFF! I just flicked the switched to the UP position madame - that one located at the back of the vehicle next to the exterior shower head cable! Simple! " OK, so the shower switch is the hookup switch is it? Bit noisy isn't it? Oh, but my battery is still not charging on hookup and it is down to 30%, I whine. The shower switch does not want to activate the hookup cable. Could be an exciting shower.

Three visits to VW on the other side of Glasgow from Loch Lomond, asking motorhome drivers, visit to WV Agent in Milton Keynes, reading over and over of manuals and watching videos by maestro California Chris and the only person to solve the problem of failed hookup feed was my clever brother who is a engineering maestro (and with my help), after several hours of groping around, we found a lose kettle plug and socket (not visible to the naked eye) under the driver's seat. We introduced one to the other and whoopee! We have energy! Now that was simple - if only it had been in the handbook or video.

While on the question of plug sockets - I would like to know what the socket on the outside framework of the driver's seat is for. So far nothing seems to run on it.

This lack of expertise results in much anguish, unnecessary expense, endless hours of research. But I learn and that is always good. Nevertheless I would like to know of the location of a reliable VW agent/s with expertise in the habitation cell of the van, in the UK, and other parts of Europe. I suspect Jean Lain in Chambery, France, is good. And in the end this site is a help.

 

[dspuk]

Hi Jude - I think you have a 600 givcen the profile, even though this is the area for the 6.1, so I'm not so clued up.

As for MK - I live near there and the reality is both the VW dealers there are not Cali dealers, they are just van or car dealers, so anything to do with any habitation is a best guess and most of us will know more than them. I only use them for servicing and nothing else.

For decent service and advice you generally need to be sticking with dealers who deal in the Cali's vs the vans.

As for the seat plug. Again, if it is like a 6.1 it is a invertor plug and will generally only run devices at 300W or below (150W for older versions). So depends on what you are trying to run. They tend to be best for emergencies as off hook up a reasonable drain on the leisure battery.

 

[Jude]

Hi Jude - I think you have a 600 givcen the profile, even though this is the area for the 6.1, so I'm not so clued up.

As for MK - I live near there and the reality is both the VW dealers there are not Cali dealers, they are just van or car dealers, so anything to do with any habitation is a best guess and most of us will know more than them. I only use them for servicing and nothing else.

For decent service and advice you generally need to be sticking with dealers who deal in the Cali's vs the vans.

As for the seat plug. Again, if it is like a 6.1 it is a invertor plug and will generally only run devices at 300W or below (150W for older versions). So depends on what you are trying to run. They tend to be best for emergencies as off hook up a reasonable drain on the leisure battery.

Thanks, so I am not go to blow up anything if I use the seat plug while on hookup?

 

[Kev56]

Question for the electric people, if the seat 240v socket is rated at 300 watts what actually happens if you plug in something that draws more than that. Just wont charge, blow fuse or damage the system ?

 

[WelshGas]

Question for the electric people, if the seat 240v socket is rated at 300 watts what actually happens if you plug in something that draws more than that. Just wont charge, blow fuse or damage the system ?

Probably overheat and shutdown. May blow the fuse.

 

[kurienp]

Question for the electric people, if the seat 240v socket is rated at 300 watts what actually happens if you plug in something that draws more than that. Just wont charge, blow fuse or damage the system ?

The fuse will blow first. All circuits are fused for a reason and that is good. It does lead to a.lot of fuses so good to have a fuse diagram and a.set of spare fuses of different values


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[kurienp]

Thanks, so I am not go to blow up anything if I use the seat plug while on hookup?

No, nothing will happen. Worst case, if you overload, it will blow a fuse.

The incapability of many of the dealers in understanding basics is truly mindblowing! This is where the forum helps.

For electricals, two things I would recommend:
- a fuse diagram
- a set of spare fuses.

... and you will be able to solve most of the challenges yourselves, and that is the best ... before you let any of the incompetent nincompoops loose on your vehicle (or find a good dealer such as Breeze or an independent near you).

You also mention about the solar panel on your GC. Is the solar panel factory fit or aftermarket?

 

[dspuk]

Thanks, so I am not go to blow up anything if I use the seat plug while on hookup?

No. Nor off hookup. As long as the unit W is less than the socket W. The max is written on the socket.

 

[scottk]

Breeze in Poole are always highly recommended for service.

 

[andyinluton]

Question for the electric people, if the seat 240v socket is rated at 300 watts what actually happens if you plug in something that draws more than that. Just wont charge, blow fuse or damage the system ?

It just doesn't work. Nothing blows, nothing overheats. Must have some sort of internal cut out.

 

[pluc99]

I'm lucky in that my dealer is a family business with 3 sons in their 20's that all grew up with camping. My suggestion is to find someone near you that rents out GC's and ask them where they go for service.