THIS MONTH WE DISCUSS… SOLAR PANELS // FRIDGES // FIRE SAFETY
practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy Faircloth and Nigel Hutson
Powering up and cooling down
Winter may be on its way, but this is a great time – when you might not be touring as much – to get those important jobs done before the new season starts.
So, if you’re considering fitting solar panels, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to choosing and installing them, which starts over the page – with our help, you’ll have solar power right at hand during your 2024 tours. Also this issue, we take a look at how to fit a fan to your tourer’s fridge (p100), and address everything that you need to know about fire prevention and safety in your caravan (p104).
AT SKILLS SCHOOL THIS ISSUE…
Caravan genius
90 Solar power John Sootheran outlines the many benefits of using solar panels to boost your supply 96 The Penny Project pt 4 Nigel Donnelly reports on the next steps in refurbishing his latest caravan 104 Fire prevention Expert tips to help you secure the safety of family, belongings and your caravan
Weekend workshop
100 Fridge fans Keep your cool in the hottest weather!
102 What is a Watt? A caravan electrical essential
FIXING BROKEN LATCHES AND CATCHES
PC’S TOP TIPS
IT’S WORTH BEARING in mind that most caravan interiors are built by humans, not robots. So they can be fixed by humans.
The most common issues are with latches and catches that break or fail in some way. Often, though, they can be replaced with nothing more than a screwdriver and a little patience.
Check part numbers
The first step is to unscrew the old catch or latch – some have hidden fixings under coverplates that need to be picked out with a small flat-blade screwdriver.
Remove the damaged item and check to see if it has any part numbers or maker’s brands. If you’re lucky, these will be clearly marked. If not, it’s just a question of comparing parts online from
