MOTORHOME HIRER’S GUIDE
CHAUSSON 2 BERTH
5
Electrical Systems
There are two types of electrical systems aboard the motorhome: 12 volt and 240 volt.
12 Volt
Engine Battery
The 12 volt supply from the engine is from a normal 12 volt vehicle battery and is used
to start the motorhome and to supply all the normal electrical accessories used in a
vehicle (radio, Sat Nav etc.). It will also run the fridge and charge the leisure battery
while on the move.
This battery does NOT supply anything in the living area when the engine is switched
off.
Leisure Battery
This is a 12 volt battery but of a different kind from the engine battery since it does not
need to give a large surge of power to start the engine but instead provide a continuous
supply of electrical power to the living area, for the internal lights, TV etc. The leisure
battery is trickle charged by the vehicle engine whilst driving (but note this will not be
sufficient if the leisure battery is completely discharged) and from either a portable
generator or from a 240 volt hook up, the cable for which is provided.
240 volt
There is a 240 volt electrical system onboard which is the preferred method of supply
when the vehicle is parked up - typically on an allocated pitch on a camp site.
Once hooked up to a 240 volt supply you can use standard 240 volt accessories such
as microwaves, fans etc. as if you were at home, but you must be careful not to
overload the system by using more than one appliance at a time, which will trip out a
fuse.
The overload trip switches are located in the
‘garage’ storage area.
The 240 volt hook up will also recharge the leisure batteries.
The single power point is 240v and will only work when hooked up.
Hooking up to a 240 volt supply
