12v socket problem

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jewel1973

Jul 14, 2008
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i have a problem with my only 12v socket. it is the old 3 pin type. when i plug the leisure battery charger in to it- it works. the problem is that when i plug any other item in (using a plug to cig lighter adaptor) it doesn't work. i've tried my tv, phone charger etc. obviously the adaptor is the first thing i thought of, but it has no fuse?

i bought the adaptor from towsure recently.

has anyone got any ideas?
 
Damian

Damian

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Mar 14, 2005
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Juliet, are you sure you mean 12v and not 230v socket?

A battery charger only works on 230v, I do not know of any that operate on 12v as you would be taking more out than putting in.
 
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jewel1973

Jul 14, 2008
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Juliet, are you sure you mean 12v and not 230v socket?

A battery charger only works on 230v, I do not know of any that operate on 12v as you would be taking more out than putting in.
Click to expand...
hi, it is a 12 volt. the wan was owned by an electrical engineer before me. under the seat on the battery side is a charger. it has 2 plugs, one to the 240v socket, and one to the 12v. when the generator is on or its on hook up, it charges the 12v battery. i can check the name of the unit if that helps. the van is a 1990 elddis whisp 350/2.
 
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jewel1973

Jul 14, 2008
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hi, it is a 12 volt. the van was owned by an electrical engineer before me.

under the seat on the battery side is a charger.

it has 2 plugs, one to the 240v socket, and one to the 12v. when the generator is on or its on hook up, it charges the 12v battery.

i can check the name of the unit if that helps.

the van is a 1990 elddis wisp 350/2.

sorry this is how the comment hould have read.
 
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WatsonJohnG

Mar 14, 2005
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It sounds like a TP2 unit made by Labcraft that was popular some years ago before built in chargers were fitted

I would take the top off the plug adapter and see if it is wired to all the pins

You could also check that there is output from the unit with a multimeter and which pins it is on

It may be that only 2 of the 3 pins are wired up and that it doesn't match up with your adapter

Its important to get the polarity right or TVs etc could be damaged

Hope that helps
 
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WatsonJohnG

Mar 14, 2005
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It sounds like a TP2 unit made by Labcraft that was popular some years ago before built in chargers were fitted

I would take the top off the plug adapter and see if it is wired to all the pins

You could also check that there is output from the unit with a multimeter and which pins it is on

It may be that only 2 of the 3 pins are wired up and that it doesn't match up with your adapter

Its important to get the polarity right or TVs etc could be damaged

Hope that helps
Click to expand...
http://www.labcraft.co.uk/technical%20assistance.htm
 
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jewel1973

Jul 14, 2008
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thanks for your advice.

i took the face plate off the socket, it has only 2 wires. blue to the live side and brown to the neutral. i used a volt test screwdriver and they both have power. there is no earth.

i took the cover of the adapt it plug, there is no fuse, and only 2 wires, white and black to the live side and plain white to the neutral, again no earth.

when plugged in there is no detectable power with the volt tester screwdriver.

do you think it would be worth either changing the socket to a newer 2 pin. or putting a 3 pin plug on the items i use in the van, like the 12v tv?
 
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rayc

Mar 14, 2005
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juliet, I'm a little confused! I assume it is a TP2 pack and that it has a large 3 pin DC outlet where one pin is positive and the other negative {live and neutral are mains voltage terms].

Are you saying that when you measure the output at the TP2 socket you get 12v but if you connect the plug then you cannot detaect voltage?
 
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jewel1973

Jul 14, 2008
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it's a bit hard to explain,

the charger is under the seat, it has 2 lead coming off it, one is 240v, and plugs into a 240v socket in the van,

the other lead id 12v, and plugs into the only 12 volt socket in the van. i think the idea is that when on mains etc if both plugs are plugged in , the battery will be charged, which does work.

the problem i'm having is solely with the 12 volt socket in the van,

the charger lights up,when plugged into 12v only,

but when i plug anyother 12v item into the 12v socket, they dont work.

i took the faceplate off the socket in the van, and tested the connections with a volt screwdriver, it lights up if current detected, i don't know what the current is.

so i'm thinking the problem lies with the 12v adapt-it 2 connection that i got from towsure. the adaptor allows you to pug-in to a 12v socket in the van, with any cig lighter connection items, eg phone chargers.

i don't know if this is any clearer??

juliet
 
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rayc

Mar 14, 2005
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Juliet, bear with me as I understand this system very well having used on at work for years to power radio equipment whilst mobile.

Please explain what you mean by "the charger lights up, when plugged into 12v only".

How it should work is that the charger "Volts Normal" or the "Volts Low" lamp should be on, dependant on the state of the battery.

When you connect the mains the charger on lamp should light and the battery should be charging.
 
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rayc

Mar 14, 2005
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Juliet, bear with me as I understand this system very well having used on at work for years to power radio equipment whilst mobile.

Please explain what you mean by "the charger lights up, when plugged into 12v only".

How it should work is that the charger "Volts Normal" or the "Volts Low" lamp should be on, dependant on the state of the battery.

When you connect the mains the charger on lamp should light and the battery should be charging.
Click to expand...
What I am trying to say is that you should get 12v from the battery even when the mains lead is NOT connected {assuming the battery is ok}.
 
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jewel1973

Jul 14, 2008
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hi ray, the charger is a 6amp ABSAAR unit.

when i plug the 12volt plug from the charger into the 12v socket the batt ok red light comes on. if i also plug in the 240v lead from the charger to mains in the van the yellow and /or green lights come on to indicate charging. that is all working fine.

the problem is when i try to use the 12volt socket for something else.

i thought id craked it tonight, when i discovered one of the wires from the towsure adaptor thingy has become detached from the solder.

so, i used the plug from the adaptor to make a lead for the tv, (using the tv's 12v lead), i did not work.

is it posible that the socket only does not output power, and only inputs from the charger to the battery.

should i fit a new separate 12v socket?

cheers
 
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rayc

Mar 14, 2005
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Juliet, Well even more confused. I thought ABSAAR were straight forward battery chargers that only gave an output when connected to mains. Any chance of a photo of your set up?
 
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Rubix

Jul 18, 2006
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I too am a litle confused.

I have an idea as to why it isn't working, but first a question, has it ever worked ? It's not clear whether you have just got your 'van or it has just stopped working.

If it hasn't ever worked I believe it may be a very "custom" setup created by the 'van's previous owner.

I think they have put a socket in the place of a plug, so in other words you need to plug the charger into this socket to charge the battery, instead of there being 12 volts coming out of the socket. This would explain why the charger works but when you try running anything else from the "socket" there is no power.

This may be entirely wrong and I will go and stand in the corner on one leg saying the 99 times table backwards.

It just seems to fit with your explanation

If of course it has in the past worked then it's back with the thinking caps on :)

Another question, what are you using to measure voltages, you say you used a "volt test screwdriver" these are only suitable for measuring mains (AC) voltages (if it is the one I am thinking of where a neon ligh illuminates when voltage is present) it would not woerk on 12 V DC (from the battery).

Hope this helps

Jeff
 
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rosies

Mar 9, 2008
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UUMMMMMMMM , now I have been thinking about this problem constantly for hours and hours and still come to the same conclusion . I'm sure its the Flux Capacitor that needs refuelling , Doc will tell you with what BUT don't trust Biff if he replies . -- Steve .
 
ProfJohnL

ProfJohnL

Mar 14, 2005
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Hello Juliet,

As you can see confusion reigns. The danger now is that assumptions may be made about your caravan's power arrangement, and certain advice offered may in fact be totally wrong and potentially dangerous.

For that reason the only safe thing to do is call on the services of a qualified electrician who can physically visit the caravan and resolve the problems.

Forums have their place with general advice, but when it comes to specific and possibly unique problems, they can never be as accurate as a hands on inspection.
 
J

jewel1973

Jul 14, 2008
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thank you all for your help,

it's an absaar unit,not labcraft.

is there a way of posting a picture of the setup on the forum?

ive had the van 1 year, ive never got the socket to work, i just have some free time away from caravanning for a few weeks and thought i'd brainstorm it.

i will buy a 12v tester.

cheers juliet
 
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colin-yorkshire

Mar 13, 2007
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hi all

I think the unit that juliet has is similar to the old rotel charger that I had in a airstream years ago it was supplied as an after market battery charger cum 12v power unit before the days when caravans had integrated circuits installed.

the idea was to charge the 12v battery system frome a 240v supply (generator or mains) to power the vans 12v system it had to be plugged in to both the 12v socket and the mains.

however it would not supply any equipment plugged directly to the unit as without the resistance of the battery in charging mode the unit cuts off the 12v supply.

the only way to power other 12v equipment was by using another 12v plug/socket fitted to the van. (ps mine had 3 other sockets fitted)

it seems judging by the confusion and juliets explanation that this is what she is trying to do get a supply direct from the unit to the tv but I dont see how that would work without being connected to the battery first.as it is the battery that supplies the power, the unit only charges the battery, as a by product the unit keeps the battery at full power while drawing a current from it.

the only way that 12v power can be obtained from the mains is by the use of a power pack with sufficent amps to run the appliance.

basically the unit as described is a battery charger not a power pack.

I hope this information was usefull.

colin.
 
J

jewel1973

Jul 14, 2008
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problem solved.

the wires on the 12v socket were round the wrong way. it seems that the whole van is wired up back to front.

i have had 2 new sockets installed, one cig lighter one and a new 12v socket.

the old one will be left just for charging the battery.

thank you to everyone for scratching your heads with me on this one.

juliet
 
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