Electrical Issues

[Woodentop]

If the battery is down but not out and the 12V PSU is working there is a very old trick that you can use to bring the battery back.
Disconnect the battery - surprisingly the negative is best for safety - and connect a 12V 21W bulb (or filament headlamp bulb) in series between the black cable and the battery negative. Turn on the mains and if it is going to work the bulb will light up brightly. Leave if for a couple of hours and the bulb will gradually dim until it extinguishes. Switch the mains off, remove the bulb and reconnect the black wire to the battery. Use a meter to check the battery volts: if it is 10V or higher switch on the mains and leave it for several hours. Eventually the meter should read over 13V at which point the battery is probably revived. If the battery is a bit below 10V just put the bulb back in circuit and leave the power on for a few more hours.
It was common practice to revive wet cells in portable valve radios in this way post WW2 and in the '50's before transistors came into being. I've done it a couple of times on some of our caravans and it has never failed yet!

 

[matty12]

Battery fully disconnected and no 12v equipment working.

Assume this is now an issue with the transformer/charger installed in the unit

 

[matty12]

Apologies, I appreciate I have asked a lot of questions, and these may be basic questions, but can you just confirm if these fuses have an impact on anything 12v related? Or are they merely for the supply coming in from the vehicle towing the van?

Thanks again,

 

[shoreace]

Hi Matty 12,I'm glad to hear the 240volt, sockets are working now ,

 

[matty12]

Evening all

All electrics are now working on the Caravan. Found a replacement control unit for £80 from Staffordshire Breakers and everything is A+. Would recommend, as paid and delivered in less than 48 hours!

All hinges have been replaced for cupboard doors. Total outlay now at £86 - chuffed

Couple further questions if any of you don’t mind please -

There’s a 10A 240 Volt switch by the door - what is this? Some sort of Master switch for 12v lights? Doesn’t seem to do anything at the moment. One of the 12v lights isn’t working, so took it apart and tested with a multimeter, all fine. On taking it apart we noticed there were two red cables going into it instead of one, so wondered if this was down to a master switch?

Gas & Electric heater - seems to work fine off the electrics. Does anyone know where the gas comes into it, as can’t seem to see anything underneath the Caravan. Would rather just run from electric and ensure the gas is blanked off, just for safety reasons really.

Thanks all

 

[RogerL]

Typically, the gas is piped below the floor from the bulkhard regulator, if fitted, into one of the cupboards where there a master gas tap manifold - the pipework for the heater usually then goes under the floor to the heater.

If you can't find any gas pipe under the floor, that suggests a bodge job by a previous owner.

 

[matty12]

Typically, the gas is piped below the floor from the bulkhard regulator, if fitted, into one of the cupboards where there a master gas tap manifold - the pipework for the heater usually then goes under the floor to the heater.

If you can't find any gas pipe under the floor, that suggests a bodge job by a previous owner.

Thanks - I’ve only had a quick scan, so something could be there.

can see the pipe work for the cooker and hot water, just haven’t identified anything running to the heater.

Cheers

Matt

 

[toad a caravan]

Photo of fuse box top , rear lights 12n plug on other end of black 7 core flex,other fuse box from 12S plug on the other end of grey cable

 

[toad a caravan]

Fuse shown is what was used after glass but before blade fuses they are known as continental fuses,,I would replace it with a new blade fuse and fuse holder