Power Qs from a newbie

Willsher614 replied on 18/07/2019 13:41

Posted on 18/07/2019 13:41

Apologies for what are probably silly Qs covered countless times before however I have tried to find the answers myself, though google and also forums on here (seeing various power, battery and fridge topics inc on the page below).

After both enjoying caravan holidays in our own youths and as a family ourselves in a large frame tent we decided to get our own and are going away for our first trip.

We purchased an Adria Altea 542DK and have discovered most answers to initial Qs but still have a few i would appreciate help with:-

(1) How do I switch between battery and main power (or is it automatic?) There is what i assume to be an isolation switch (pictured below if I have added link correctly) however the internal lights work with in switched either way, without any external power added so what does this switch do?
(2) How do I charge the battery (if/when needed) - does it do this automatically when towing/plugged into mains or should there be a selector switch somewhere? (as some advice/guides suggest)
(3) I was looking for a panel with battery levels and some other info (such as a charging selector maybe?) but all I can find is the image below - I'm assuming the switch on the left (Volts) is to show the battery level and this looks good as it shows around 13 when I switch it - do I leave the switch off and just switch it on briefly to check the levels, or do I need to leave it on in use as a kind of master power switch? I know the switch on the right is for the water pump (and assume I leave that on when in use, perhaps turning off overnight)
(4) Advice online suggests leaving the fridge plugged in the day before going to allow it to cool down on mains power rather the draining the battery on start up - I have turned it on and left a can in there to see if it gets cold but is there a way to know its on? It doesn't seem to have any LED or similar (its a Thetford N80) - i have turned the selector from off (0) to the mains powers symbol (battery and gas symbols also available).

Thank you in advance for any advice - I'm sure someone here will know all of this and be able to easily advice, for which I will be grateful. I am working my way through a Haynes Caravanning handbook as well as online advice but thought asking here would be more focused.

derekcyril replied on 18/07/2019 14:14

Posted on 18/07/2019 14:14

Hi ,welcome ,cant you find Adria instructions for that model on their website ? Dont know how old it is ,but i would be looking at age of tyres first and towing weight for youre car , Somebody will be along who has had one with proper advice ..Enjoy

EmilysDad replied on 18/07/2019 14:57

Posted on 18/07/2019 14:57

The isolation switch should have a red 'key' somewhere to operate it .... my guess is it's likely to be for a mover.

Navigateur replied on 18/07/2019 18:28

Posted on 18/07/2019 18:28

The swithch is operated by a red key.  It is where it is so that key has to be removed to insert mains plug, so whitch is probably for a mover.

The "volts" switch is only for the meter and is to avoid it draining the battery when no-one is looking.  The second switch is to turn off the water pump when water barrel is not connected to pump.

EmilysDad replied on 18/07/2019 21:27

Posted on 18/07/2019 18:28 by Navigateur

The swithch is operated by a red key.  It is where it is so that key has to be removed to insert mains plug, so whitch is probably for a mover.

The "volts" switch is only for the meter and is to avoid it draining the battery when no-one is looking.  The second switch is to turn off the water pump when water barrel is not connected to pump.

Posted on 18/07/2019 21:27

My mover's isolator is under a bunk because I have aerial sockets & a 12volt socket under my 240v plug/socket wink

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