Electrics - Car or Caravan

[Gary_374358511]

This may sound like a bit of daft question but I've been surprised on here many a time with all the experience floating around.

Basically, When the car is hooked up to the caravan, there doesn't seem to be any power getting to the van. We first noticed this when we couldn't get the fridge working whilst towing. Upon checking all my switches, fuses and meter reading, there is no power at all getting to the van from the car so it's not just the fridge.

When we switch to caravan, everything works fine. I suppose my question is, is it more likely to be the grey socket on the car or the connector on the van.

It's a 2004 Sterling Eccles Moonstone so it's not an old van.

I was going to prod around the electrics on the car this weekend with a 12v tester but not really sure what I'm doing. If the car is OK, where do I start on the van.

Thank you all again for you help.

Gary

 

[tash]

If you drive your car to a local trailer centre they sometimes have a hook up so you can test your cars hook up

regards tash

 

[Mikey1]

Gary

First thing to do is check the 12s on the car with the engine running to see if you have 12volts on the fridge and ignition controlled pins.

You may not have the split charge relay fitted/installed

 

[rayc]

Gary, with a test lamp or meter first check for 12v(+) on pin 4 with (-) on pin 3. This is the "permanent feed".

Second check for 12v(+) on pin 6 with (-) on pin 7. This is the fridge supply.

 

[Guest]

It sounds like the installation on your car is not correct. As mentioned some dealer will fit a dummy plug and check for you, or try a trailer Company such as Indespension, or Witter who can check the system out. You may even find the feed wire from the battery is too thin and cannot take the current.

Proding around may not be too helpful as some systems only work when the caravan is connected so testing it alone is useless. I know from personal experience and blew the fuse in the boot in the process.

 

[Brum1]

Gary, with a test lamp or meter first check for 12v(+) on pin 4 with (-) on pin 3. This is the "permanent feed".

Second check for 12v(+) on pin 6 with (-) on pin 7. This is the fridge supply.

Pin 6 should only be "live" when the engine is running and sometimes it should be above idle speed.

 

[David_374301039]

Hello Gary. I don't know when it all changed, but caravan makers today have installed a relay so that it is not possible to run the electrics in the van with the 12S plug connected. So when you stop, disconnect the 12S (grey)socket and everything should work. The live feed from the car it now seems is redundant!!!! Hope this helps.

David (from Kent)

 

[albert3]

Hi Gary

I recently took my Sterling Eccles Jewel back to the dealer for some warranty work, one of the problems was identicle to yours , the dealer put a test set on my car and shown that the black plug was fine but there was nothing from the white plug. Upon investgation by an engineer he found that the earth from the relay had disconnected and had blown the fuse to the supply. he simply reconnected the earth and put a new fuse in and everything now appears to be fine. Your problem may be as simple. Hope this helps