My Bailey Senator California 2001 has decided to stop charging it's battery when connected to 240 hook up. Actually I think it might have decided to stop charging it full stop, either on 240 or when connected to the Rangey. How difficult is it to check and fix the charger unit? I have a reasonable knowledge of the witchcraft that is electricity. Is it easy to replace the charger? I assume from a quick look it's the white box with 240v wiring going in and two wires (black and red) coming out fixed to the front bulkhead under the seats? Everything else is fine and the RCD didn't trip. The 240 sockets and lights are all okay too.
Battery not charging!
- Thread starter Cerbera
- Start date
Cerbera, To check if the battery is charging measure the voltage at the battery terminals. Without the charger on it will be approx 12v and with the charger on will be approx 13.8v.
On my van the symptoms you describe would point to the CAR/VAN switch in the distribution unit being in the middle ( unmarked )position. This disconnects the battery so that it is not charged from either the car or charger. In this position my van 12v circuits are powered from the charger i.e. The van can be used on hook up without the battery being in circuit..
On my van the symptoms you describe would point to the CAR/VAN switch in the distribution unit being in the middle ( unmarked )position. This disconnects the battery so that it is not charged from either the car or charger. In this position my van 12v circuits are powered from the charger i.e. The van can be used on hook up without the battery being in circuit..
Interesting answer......when I did the CC Manoeuvering course, the instructor advised us to put the CAR/VAN rocker switch in the middle position while towing. Seemed daft to me at the time, but he was adamant.
Can anyone clarify exactly what setting this switch should be set at, under the differing circumstances...
Cheers!
Can anyone clarify exactly what setting this switch should be set at, under the differing circumstances...
Cheers!
jeff, I can only talk about my van which is a 2006 Ace. The instructions for the different types of unit that could be fitted, depending on the rangeof vans, all say the same thing:-
Van position: In this position the caravan battery will feed the van 12v circuits and be charged if the charger is ON.
Mid position: The battery is disconnected and the caravan 12v circuits are powered from the charger only.
Car position: The feed from the car on pin 4 of the 12N will power the van 12v circuits.
Checks that I have carried out confirm this is how it operates.
Ray
Van position: In this position the caravan battery will feed the van 12v circuits and be charged if the charger is ON.
Mid position: The battery is disconnected and the caravan 12v circuits are powered from the charger only.
Car position: The feed from the car on pin 4 of the 12N will power the van 12v circuits.
Checks that I have carried out confirm this is how it operates.
Ray
furthermore: in the van position the battery will be charged from the car via the feed on pin 4 when the car engine is running.
Hello Cerbera
The symptoms you describe, could have several different causes.
I have to assume that with a charged battery connected, and no mains or tow car power, your 12V appliances still work. If not, then the battery is probably at fault.
By 2001 all caravans should be fitted with a power supply rather than just a charger. In which case disconnect the battery, and plug the mains in, and see I any of your 12V appliances work, If they do then the power supply is ok.,
If not, then check the positions of the 12V distribution switches, and also check for blown fuses. If all these check out and still no power then the power supply is suspect.
However that does not explain the loss of charge from the tow car.
If there is no output from the 12S tow charge socket on the car, then the cars fuses and split-charge relay may be suspect. Some caravans also fuse the tow charge circuit in the van so remember to check there also.
I the fuses have blown, then it means that something has caused them to blow, so there is or has been a fault of some description elsewhere.
Is it possible that the battery was (even just momentarily) connected the wrong way round in the caravan?
If all this fails to resolve the difficulty it needs the services of a technician to fault find.
The symptoms you describe, could have several different causes.
I have to assume that with a charged battery connected, and no mains or tow car power, your 12V appliances still work. If not, then the battery is probably at fault.
By 2001 all caravans should be fitted with a power supply rather than just a charger. In which case disconnect the battery, and plug the mains in, and see I any of your 12V appliances work, If they do then the power supply is ok.,
If not, then check the positions of the 12V distribution switches, and also check for blown fuses. If all these check out and still no power then the power supply is suspect.
However that does not explain the loss of charge from the tow car.
If there is no output from the 12S tow charge socket on the car, then the cars fuses and split-charge relay may be suspect. Some caravans also fuse the tow charge circuit in the van so remember to check there also.
I the fuses have blown, then it means that something has caused them to blow, so there is or has been a fault of some description elsewhere.
Is it possible that the battery was (even just momentarily) connected the wrong way round in the caravan?
If all this fails to resolve the difficulty it needs the services of a technician to fault find.
Sounds to me like it could be the relays.
So if you have a faulty relay that may be causing the problem.
From memory (after reading John Wickersham's book - the caravan manual) he states there are two relays, one allows the fridge to only work when the car engine is running (regardless of switch position) and the other switches the 12v feed (permamnet feed -pin 4 - 12S) when the car's enigine is running to charge the van's battery, or to allow the van's battery to power the 12v appliance in the van (switch in the van position).
So if you have a faulty relay that may be causing the problem.
From memory (after reading John Wickersham's book - the caravan manual) he states there are two relays, one allows the fridge to only work when the car engine is running (regardless of switch position) and the other switches the 12v feed (permamnet feed -pin 4 - 12S) when the car's enigine is running to charge the van's battery, or to allow the van's battery to power the 12v appliance in the van (switch in the van position).
Thanks John L and Rubix, I'm fairly certain it's the power supply as all the fuses are intact and okay. All the 12V works when plugged into the car via the 12s socket so would assume that circuit is okay too. I've just driven back from France and the caravan battery is showing 11.5v so I guess it has received no charge from the car whilst towing though. The battery meter in the van shows 12.5v when switched to car and no engine running (what I would expect). The next step seems to be to check the 12v in the van works when hooked up to 240 with the van battery disconnected. If nothing works, then it is the power supply that is suspect then?
One last point, I noticed the lack of charge when the car was disconnected from the van, so again I have to assume the car split charger and the relays are all okay on the Rangey - the fridge still works when towing.
I thought you said the battery wasn't getting charged from mains and when the 'van was plugged into the car (and engine running).
That's why I suspected the relays.
Also I undersstand the van's battery is charged direcly from the alternator of the car (ie not via any charger), so if the charger was faulty the battery may still be being charged when connected to the car (and engine running).
That's why I suspected the relays.
Also I undersstand the van's battery is charged direcly from the alternator of the car (ie not via any charger), so if the charger was faulty the battery may still be being charged when connected to the car (and engine running).
Don't get me wrong Rubix, it's definitely not getting a charge from the mains, but because the van and car were disconnected I am assuming the fault isn't with the car end of things. I'm not 100% certain the van isn't receiving the charge from the car, just the lack of voltage in the van after a long drive makes me suspicious. If the power unit in the van has developed a fault then this would perhaps stop the van battery from receiving charge from anywhere? There doesn't appear to be a seperate circuit from the 12s socket to the van battery to charge independently from the van power supply box.
Cerbera, have you got the make / model of the switch module, that is the unit that allows switching beteeen the car and van - and possibly has an integrated charger? Ray
Cerbera, I get you now. the relay in the car is probably ok if the fridge is working whilst on-tow.
It may be possible that the battery has gone beyond a recoverable state. Even if you tried measuring the voltage across the battery terminals whilst on charge (either whilst engine running, or whilst plugged into the mains) it may not be high enough as the battery voltage may be "dragging down" the voltage of the charger (hance making it appear to be faulty)
I know this may not be possible but I would connect a known good battery and then measure the respective voltages when on charge by car or mains.
Hope you get it sorted
i had same problem on my van a couple of years ago, and i had to replace the on board charger as it would not charge and it fixed the problem
Mike
Mike
Quick update, I removed the power supply box from the van and it's dead! It's a MEC unit in white. Am I best to source another -
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