Hi I'm completely new to caravanning so not sure if I'm missing something. I've just bought a Bailey Pageant Moselle 2001 and connect the hookup using a house socket adapter. The plug and socket work fine as I've checked but I'm getting no power in the caravan. The fuse boards are all on and tried every switch. Seems to work fine when connected to the car through tow electrics. I can hear that little inverter thing buzzing I've attached a pic of. I can't seem to find my multimeter to check but does anyone know if I'm possibly missing something. The multimeter at the fuse board just shows 9v. May need to get a specialist out.
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Electric hookup not working
- Thread starter Simon2710
- Start date
First off check if mains is reaching the caravan by pressing the test button at the top of the RCD - it should trip instantly. If it does not it suggests there is no supply to the caravan. Rather than a digital multimeter I suggest getting a non-contact mains tester - Toolstation or Screwfix sell them. Hold that next to the EHU cable then the mains cable inside the van and you will quickly (and safely!) find out if mains is getting in.
RCDs are designed to protect anything mains operated that is connected after the RCD. On site there will be an RCD in the pillar to protect the EHU cable between the pillar and the RCD in the caravan: the RCD in the caravan protects anything mains inside the caravan. Similarly a fuse or MCB is there only to protect the cable. An MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) does the same job as a fuse and can simply be viewed as a quick acting resettable fuse. The RCD tests for leakage of electricity and nothing else (apart from being a main switch!) It has a current rating but that is only the maximum that it capable of carrying without fusing the internal contacts.
You mention that you can hear a buzzing sound for the power unit in the picture? Even in 2001 many caravans had a switched mode power supply (SMPS) that works at ultrasonic frequencies so it should be 'silent.' Knock off the MCB that is marked as 'batt charger' and ensure the noise disappears. One thing you do not say is if there is a battery fitted. A SMPS does not need a battery - it can drive all of the 12V requirement on its own - however some supplies do need a battery connected for them to produce an output. I don't know if this is the case for you.
The meter is not showing 9V, the needle is just sitting in its rest position. If you had a meter showing 0-15V say, then a small change would be difficult to see. If you make the meter work only 9-15V a small change is easily seen.
RCDs are designed to protect anything mains operated that is connected after the RCD. On site there will be an RCD in the pillar to protect the EHU cable between the pillar and the RCD in the caravan: the RCD in the caravan protects anything mains inside the caravan. Similarly a fuse or MCB is there only to protect the cable. An MCB (Miniature Circuit Breaker) does the same job as a fuse and can simply be viewed as a quick acting resettable fuse. The RCD tests for leakage of electricity and nothing else (apart from being a main switch!) It has a current rating but that is only the maximum that it capable of carrying without fusing the internal contacts.
You mention that you can hear a buzzing sound for the power unit in the picture? Even in 2001 many caravans had a switched mode power supply (SMPS) that works at ultrasonic frequencies so it should be 'silent.' Knock off the MCB that is marked as 'batt charger' and ensure the noise disappears. One thing you do not say is if there is a battery fitted. A SMPS does not need a battery - it can drive all of the 12V requirement on its own - however some supplies do need a battery connected for them to produce an output. I don't know if this is the case for you.
The meter is not showing 9V, the needle is just sitting in its rest position. If you had a meter showing 0-15V say, then a small change would be difficult to see. If you make the meter work only 9-15V a small change is easily seen.
