Symbol Charging

Unfortunately my 2004 AS Symbol never came with the factory manual and I’m a little confused about the EHU requirements.
 
When on EHU will both leisure and engine batteries be charging, or do I need to alter the rocker switch to a certain position. The left hand switch is marked “HAB” and “Vehicle” as shown in the picture below. With a mid position, which I’m not sure means it will charge both or is in fact “Off”.


 
Thanks
   
Brian

Sorry, just to add one more question to the above. When on EHU with the sole purpose of charging the batteries, is some form of controller recommended, or is this inbuilt into the system?
 
   
Brian

Hi

I had a 2004 Symbol, it will not charge the vehicle and habitation at the same time. Must use the Hab / Vehicle switch to alternate.

Stewart John wrote:Hi

I had a 2004 Symbol, it will not charge the vehicle and habitation at the same time. Must use the Hab / Vehicle switch to alternate.

Many thanks, I had figured that was the case but wasn't sure.

Did you use some form of charging controller or is it OK just to plug in?

Brian

Hi Brian

As they say plug in and go all the charging controllers are on board. The battery charger should be under the cupboard below the oven. Lift the two boards out at the bottom of the cupboard.

Thanks again Stewart, peace of mind at last  

Brian

Just another point on this - the battery condition meter only shows the leisure battery irrespective of the charger rocker switch position.

Paulmold wrote:Just another point on this - the battery condition meter only shows the leisure battery irrespective of the charger rocker switch position.

Not what I was told on handover. He said to move the rocker switch to either "Hab" or "Vehicle" then check condition.

Then again he told me the Symbol only had one table, guess what I found when I opened the "wardrobe", yep, the second table.

Make you wonder about these handovers???

Brian

Hi,
This maybe stating the bl***ding obvious but I found that I needed to switch everything in my Harmony off at the main box before plugging in and disconnecting from the mains. If not it blows my 30amp Hab. fuse under the drivers seat which needs double jointed fingers to replace it !!
Hope this helps.

newterry wrote:Hi,
This maybe stating the bl***ding obvious but I found that I needed to switch everything in my Harmony off at the main box before plugging in and disconnecting from the mains. If not it blows my 30amp Hab. fuse under the drivers seat which needs double jointed fingers to replace it !!
Hope this helps.

   
Thanks newterry, trust me, nothing is bl**ding obvious to me and I appreciate your comment.
 
Trouble is, with my knees (hips and back), that’s not going to happen (why are all these switches, gas knobs etc. down at ankle height???).
 
But so far no problem, I’ve connected it up a couple of times at home and i'm off on my first trip this weekend (I’ve forewarned the campsite to be gentle, incoming newbie )
 
Brian

I eventually found that the fuse holder can be pulled of its bracket for access!
First time out, remember, van to hook up on arrival, loop spare cable, no coils.
Hook up to van on departure.
ps My 1st rule of motorcaravanning- make you've got a folding trolley for the heavy stuff eg. full toilet cassette......
Have a great time.

Up to speed on the cable layout. I have a few folding trolley’s, but on this occasion I’m only going for one night (reasonably local), to see what problems I encounter (single bed or double bed, cooker, fridge, water heater etc.). Taking the dog with me, so we’ll see how he takes to it. At the very least he’ll have a good walk out.
 
Weather is looking the best it’s been this year, so that’s a step in the right direction.
 
Brian

Brian,
Single beds every time, no climbing over a body for the loo in the night and fewer infill cushions taking up storage space !!!!!
Don't forget to take a 5litre water bottle for tea making so as to avoid tank water- yuk.
There's plenty more tips but I won't bore everyone, they're well documented elsewhere on this forum, search for 'tips for newbies'.

We take 2 x 2ltr water bottles as they fit in the symbol driver and passenger door trims.

Have fun
Paul

newterry wrote:Brian,
Single beds every time, no climbing over a body for the loo in the night and fewer infill cushions taking up storage space !!!!!
Don't forget to take a 5litre water bottle for tea making so as to avoid tank water- yuk.
There's plenty more tips but I won't bore everyone, they're well documented elsewhere on this forum, search for 'tips for newbies'.Yes, I figured a single bed was the way to go. There’s only myself and the pooch now, he’s only 16 weeks, so when he want’s to go, he wants to go NOW, scrabbling about would not be a good idea. I bought a 2.5cm Duvalay, so I’m looking forward to trying that out.

 
Yes, I figured a single bed was the way to go. There’s only myself and the pooch now (widowed), he’s only 16 weeks, so when he want’s to go, he wants to go NOW, scrabbling about in the dark would not be a good idea. I bought a 2.5cm Duvalay, so I’m looking forward to trying that out.
 
Not sure whether to use the bed by the sliding door or the offside, but those are the things I want to sort out.  I like the idea of 2 x 2lts of water in the door (at least for this short trip), leaves room for a couple of cans of Guinness in the fridge  


Brian

The offside single will leave the sliding door free and we used sleeping bags, 1 under and sleep in the top one to smooth out the lumps and bumps.
Fitting the 2 smaller bottles of water in the door pockets is a great idea.
If you're going on a CC site you'll need best bib & tucker too

newterry wrote:The offside single will leave the sliding door free and we used sleeping bags, 1 under and sleep in the top one to smooth out the lumps and bumps.
Fitting the 2 smaller bottles of water in the door pockets is a great idea.
If you're going on a CC site you'll need best bib & tucker too

Looking good, Duvalay fits a treat. Measured the length, 5' 8", spot on as I'm 5' 71/2" (it's funny, I remember being 5" 8 1/2" at one time   )



Getting excited now.

Brian

Brian,
I think you've cracked it, nice one. Hope you've got a checklist......
Terry

We seem to have lost track of the battery charging issue ! This has been something puzzling me so this post prompted some action.
I connected the hook-up cable and deployed my trusty voltmeter. The results show that the rocket switch does indeed direct the charge selectively either to the habitation battery or the vehicle battery. In the central position it was charging both batteries. In this switch position, however, I measured a rise in voltage at both batteries but at a lower voltage increase than the sum of the voltage increases when the batteries are charged individually.
I have always understood that one should not attempt to charge two batteries of different specifications and I think that in this situation the battery holding the higher charge may be limiting the output of the charging unit to the other battery.
Conclusion for me is.... charge just the battery that needs it, usually the habitation battery. I am convinced that leaving the switch in the central position will lead to inefficient charging of the habitation battery.
If there's a tame electrical engineer out there, please comment.

KMRTOPAZ wrote:We seem to have lost track of the battery charging issue ! This has been something puzzling me so this post prompted some action.
I connected the hook-up cable and deployed my trusty voltmeter. The results show that the rocket switch does indeed direct the charge selectively either to the habitation battery or the vehicle battery. In the central position it was charging both batteries. In this switch position, however, I measured a rise in voltage at both batteries but at a lower voltage increase than the sum of the voltage increases when the batteries are charged individually.
I have always understood that one should not attempt to charge two batteries of different specifications and I think that in this situation the battery holding the higher charge may be limiting the output of the charging unit to the other battery.
Conclusion for me is.... charge just the battery that needs it, usually the habitation battery. I am convinced that leaving the switch in the central position will lead to inefficient charging of the habitation battery.
If there's a tame electrical engineer out there, please comment.

Thanks for that, I'm no electrician but your findings seem in line with what happens in my vehicle. I did eventually find the owners manual (stowed away at the back of a cupboard), so I'll give that a good read this weekend while trying things out. 

Brian