A&N Caravan Services

iampatman

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I mentioned a few months ago,when I was in Spain, that I was having problems with my Calira charging unit. Basically when I was on EHU there was no charge going in to the batteries so I was relying on solar to keep them topped up.
maingate from this forum suggested I get in touch with Allen Evans of A&N Caravan Services in Conwy, N Wales which I did and after many exchanges of emails the problem was identified. My charger unit was rated at 20amps which meant it would charge 200ah of batteries. When I installed my solar panel I also fitted two new 110ah batteries. Those, coupled with the starter battery, meant the charger unit was working overtime and eventually gave up. Calira no longer make this unit but have guaranteed to remanufacture faulty units for the next five years or so. A&N have a stock which they will fit provided they can have the old unit.
So, last Tuesday I set off to Conwy and the next day a new (remanufactured) unit was fitted. A full electric, gas and damp check carried out; a fuse fitted where I should have fitted one previously and a new Varta 110ah silver battery, which I had brought with me, was fitted. Quite a few other tips and hints were thrown in as well. Obviously the Calira unit wasn't cheap but the labour charges were perfectly acceptable and talking to the guys there it soon became apparent that they knew there way around 12v systems and motorhomes in general. I'd highly recommend them and also suggest a look at their website for some interesting info on batteries and solar panels.

A and N Caravan Services : Caravan and Motorhome Servicing/repairs, habitation checks, Motor Mover repairs, pre purchase inspection, Damp Checks-North Wales.

A big thanks also to maingate for setting me off in the right direction

Pat
 
Their website technical info is very good indeed, especially the stuff about Electrobloc units. So much so that I replaced my cheapy leisure batteries with two Varta Silver Calcium 110Ah batteries to cope with the load from the new PSW inverter.
John
 
I must admit I am slightly concerned with these stories of van charger units dying through use. In the yachtie fraternity you never hear such stories. Certainly if my electroblock dies I will do what I did in my last boat and fit a sterling charger and build my own DC distribution system and fuse/circuit breaker panel.
 
I must admit I am slightly concerned with these stories of van charger units dying through use. In the yachtie fraternity you never hear such stories. Certainly if my electroblock dies I will do what I did in my last boat and fit a sterling charger and build my own DC distribution system and fuse/circuit breaker panel.

Agreed. My Victron Energie Atlas Combi inverter/charger unit is nearly 18 years old and still works fine. Mind you, it may have something to with the fact that it was an arm and a leg to start with....
John
 

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