Electrics

[Miles_374355961]

I have a 1994 built Elddis Wisp 400/4 caravan which has given excellent service. I have recently noticed however that when plugged into the mains I have 240v and 12v systems although when the mains supply is stopped there was nothing on the 12v. I removed the battery, charged it at home, connected it and when switching on the 12v the lights came on for a second or two then nothing. I bought a new leisure battery which was fully charged. When I connected it to the caravan I had the same result, a couple of seconds of light then nothing. I do know that the caravan charger appears not to be charging the battery. Will a new charger solve this problem or does it appear to anyone to be more that that?

 

[RichardJ]

Hi Miles

If I am right, the charger is the problem, the 12 volt system is similar to a car, if the charger has a fault it can drain the battery.

Try dis-connecting the charger, connect the battery and try again.

 

[HenryS]

Hi. MILES. Regarding your problem, whilst I accept that it looks like the charger is not charging, I do not understand how a fully charged battery (the new one)would go flat in 2 seconds after switching on the lights. I'll sleep on it . Henry

 

[rayc]

I'm with Henry on this. The starting point is what is happening when a charged battery is connected and lights only stay on for a few seconds. The battery cannot be going flat in that time - 85ah discharged in a few seconds would be HEAT and most likely a fire.

The circuit from the battery will have to be followed to find the disconnect, possibly a duff fuse or holder, high resistant joint etc.

ray

 

[HenryS]

Hi. Miles. I have had a look at the wiring diagram from an Abbey GTS of 1992 vintage which I used to own. Interestingly it does not show a separate charger, only the mains transformer. You mention that when plugged into the mains, the 12Volt lights work which would indicate that the transformer is OK. Can you check the voltage of your new battery? 12.7v would be nice. I wonder if the 2 seconds light you are getting is residual current from the transformer when you switch from mains to battery. I wonder who will be the first to point out that if there is no charger and the transformer is OK why is the battery not charging and my answer is I don't know. I think the problem lies between the battery and the distribution panel as is the opinion of Ray. Perhaps some bright spark will shed more light on the subject. Henry.

 

[TrevorM]

A possible explanation for the lights lasting only around 2 seconds without a mains connection is that this is the duration taken for the output capacitor on the charger / power supply to discharge sufficiently to not run them. If no 12V equipment was switched on when the charger was switched off, this capacitor could remain in a charged state for some time.

The fact that the 12V system works with mains on indicates the charger is working.

To my mind it looks as if the connection between the charger and the battery has become disconnected - fuse??

Good luck with it.

Enjoy your holidays,

Trevor M

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

Caravans of that age had a 3 way switch fitted for the 12 volts system. Car off van. I was told that if you used 12v from mains you had the switch in the off possition issolating the battery.

Is it possible that this switch is in the off possition?

 

[Iain_5062081]

Did you ever get a resolution to this problem? I have a similar problem with the 12V side of a Lunar Jupiter (1986) that I have just bought. Radio would work fine until you turned some lights on and then the meter died. Turn every thing off and the meter goes back up. Turn the radio on and all dies again. I have taken the battery out and charged it, but has the same result.

Iain

 

[mkej100]

Miles ..you sure the battery accepted a charge did you load test it after charging ,if it has been left over the winter without any activity then the battery can begin to die had the same problem at work today meter in van showed half way but would not perete motor mover turned out the battery was last used last August.

Take it to your local garage they should have a decent batery tester and would probably test it FOC if you talk to them nicely.

Mike.

 

[Miles_374355961]

Many thanks to all that have replied with sound advice. Here is the story so far. Taking into account all that you kind people have said I took a good battery into work where our electrical people "tong" tested the battery and announced that it was fine, they then charged it up. I connected it to the caravan and ..... nothing, not a flicker. I then connected the caravan to the mains and the place lit up like a gin palace on 240 and 12 volts. I left the mains connected but switched everything off for about a week. Disconnected the mains, tried the 12v system and managed about a long flicker then nothing. Connected the mains again, no 12v lights but 240v sockets okay. Mentioned this to a caravanning engineer at work and he has the exact same problem. He had removed a 'bit' from his electrical bits and is having it checked out. Apparently the 'bit' can be bought 'off the shelf' so it must be a reasonably common requirement so, I will wait and see. There might be a bit inside the bit that can be replaced at a fraction of the

 

[JamesH]

Many thanks to all that have replied with sound advice. Here is the story so far. Taking into account all that you kind people have said I took a good battery into work where our electrical people "tong" tested the battery and announced that it was fine, they then charged it up. I connected it to the caravan and ..... nothing, not a flicker. I then connected the caravan to the mains and the place lit up like a gin palace on 240 and 12 volts. I left the mains connected but switched everything off for about a week. Disconnected the mains, tried the 12v system and managed about a long flicker then nothing. Connected the mains again, no 12v lights but 240v sockets okay. Mentioned this to a caravanning engineer at work and he has the exact same problem. He had removed a 'bit' from his electrical bits and is having it checked out. Apparently the 'bit' can be bought 'off the shelf' so it must be a reasonably common requirement so, I will wait and see. There might be a bit inside the bit that can be replaced at a fraction of the