BCA 20 amp Consumer unit

[Montrose]

Can anyone offer any advise please ?
Spent today preparing van for use again after its winter hibernation.
Its a 2012 VIP with a BCA 20 amp consumer unit.
Tried to draw water, the pump would not run. Checked 10 amp fuse marked pump in consumer unit, it had blown
replaced with new 10 amp fuse, still no pump running. Checked pump by attaching to a separate 12 volt battery, pump worked ok. Checked 12volt pump outlet terminals, no voltage from the contacts. Went back to fuse
in consumer unit, that had blown now, replaced it with another new one.
Also checked to see if pump on Thetford was running - that does not.
I fear its a fault in the consumer unit, just wanted to ask if anyone thinks I have missed anything before
I call either my dealer or perhaps BCA on monday, any help appreciated.

 

[Hutch]

Are you talking about a Coachman VIP ?,
It could be a coincidence that the Thetfords not working, if you still have the water pump for filling the toilet , plug that in and see if it runs, that will show if you have power there, it has a small fuse under the cassete, that gets grubby,
also the terminals, at the van side for the water pump are tempremental, but blowing fuses suggests a short somewhere,. Try puting 240 power on and checking out your 12 volts lighting, and see what voltage your getting on the volt, meter, should be about 13 volts, if the Power Supply unit is working, The PS 301-2-BCA, was replaced by the -6a and now superseeded by the PS 306-6A-BCA, they are easy to replace , a slide in unit. . Around 2010, they were quite bad.
Hope I haven't given you any duff information.

 

[Montrose]

Thank you for this.
yes, Coachman VIP 460/2
Will try the fuse on the Thetford tomorrow, hope you may be right as a coincidence.
It doesn't have a separate filler pump for the Thetford.
Have brushed up the outside phosphor bronze contacts that the water pump
connects with (was aware that they get dirty and sometimes a little bent)
but no voltage at those terminals.
The BCA is working in all other regards both with EHU and off supply, all lights
ignitions, heating etc all perform all OK.
We had the card replaced in 2013 as were one of the vans that the BCA was allowing the battery
to drain, but not sure of there model numbers you suggest until I can look again tomorrow.
Thanks for the pointers, will let you know how we fare.

 

[Montrose]

Hi,
Have been and checked the Thetford this morning. After carefully feeling through the wiring loom,
I was unable to find any fuse. Having now re-checked the Handbook (Both Coachman & Thetford's)
have found they refer to there being a maintenance free, self resetting fuse in the system - but it is not identified as to where it is. Checked Thetford's web site, the user manual is no different to that supplied with the van, the spare parts list - which has exploded views makes no mention, and the installation guide, merely shows connection to the 12 volt supply and doesn't show any in line fuse. So thanks again, but I think to have eliminated there being a fuse there. Also, have checked the power outlet point for the toilet water refilling pump (I don't remember that we have actually got the pump - unless it was an extra) but there is no voltage either at that point. Really grateful for the suggestions however, as I would liked to have sorted it myself. Will phone dealers tomorrow and let you know outcome in due course.

 

[Montrose]

Hello
I am pleased to say that with the help of my dealers electrician via several phone calls the problem has been identified. The fault lies with the power supply to the Thetford flush. Once the power point had been disconnected and the earlier reply of looking for a Thetford fuse - was along the right lines, but my model did not have one) re-inserting the 10 amp fuse into the PCU, reconnected the water pump, switch on the water pump at the master and the pump does now run all OK. So thanks for reading and the help/pointer made was appreciated. The Thetford problem is liveable with, until the dealer takes the van in next week to make repairs.

 

[Hutch]

Glad that you got it sorted, when my power unit went, last year it took me a 140 mile round trip , from where we were pitched.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Our battery charger unit went faulty on the last day on one site before moving to another. We rang the warden of the second site for recommendations of mobile service engineers and the wife spent the journey contacting them. We managed to get one to meet us at the second site and he was there waiting for us at reception with the replacement part when we arrived. So it was a case of getting on a pitch, put the steadies down and let him in to replace the unit which was under warranty. Unfortunately we had to pay the callout charge but the replacement was free and he had arranged that we dropped the faulty unit off at the caravan dealers on the way home a few days later as we were passing nearby.