Faulty Electrics?????

[Holly_374463510]

This is my first time on this forum or any forum actually so hello everybody. I am hoping someone will be able to give me some advice about a caravan I have just brought. This is my first van and have to admit I doent really no agreat deal about caravans. Tried to hook the caravan up to a 110 amp battery today and none of the electrics work, when the caravan was delivered to us all of the outside lights were working when connected to the car. The cables have to very rusty clips could this be the problem? The van is a Compass 1984.

Many Thanks

Holly

 

[Len_Cuff]

Could there be a switch somewhere to switch the 12V on? Son borrowed our van this week and had the same problem. Suddenly no 12V at all after packing the van. Turns out he tripped a smal switch by the mains fuse panel under one of the beds!!

 

[Damian]

Holly, lets start at the beginning.

When you say you tried to hook up to a 110ah battery, please explain in more detail what you did, and what dis not work.

If you only have a battery as power, you will only have the 12v items working, such as most of the lights (except any mains spotlights, inside, at the front of the van), fan on fire, extractor fan in roof, if fitted, water pump.

The outside lights are powered by the towcar, nothing to do with the van battery.

When you connect mains to the van, then as long as all the mcb's are in the on position, and the charger is switched on, then everything should work.

Make SURE that before you put mains powr to the van that the water heater is switched OFF until the water system has been filled up and no more air comes out of the taps.

 

[Holly_374463510]

Hi ya, thanks for your replies. We placed the battery in the front of the van, we then appled each of the clips (one wire is white one is blue). Then went into the van and turned the switch to caravan battery (this is on a panel with switches for the water pump, lights and aux) we also turned the light and aux switch on. Nothing in the van worked. We then tried swapping the clips around the battery and still nothing worked, Not even the light on the panel lit up. We do not have a charger, but have been advised that the battery we brought was fully chaaged. As I mentioned before the clipps are very rusty, I dont no if this would affect it. Really worried we have brought a lemon!

Holly

 

[Damian]

Hi Holly.

The white cable is normally the negative cable.

With it being clips instead of battery clamps it would seem that it may not be a standard installation.

In your position I would get a mobile engineer to come and have a look and explain how it all works.

Do you have a multimeter? or any kind of testing equipment, and more importantly, know how to use it to fault find?

That is not meant as a put down, just sensible question, as even with 12v, it is very easy to cause extensive damage in a very short time if you know nothing about the system you are dealing with.

Having rusty clips will not help the problem but it is not the main reason why it is not working.

 

[Holly_374463510]

I know this sounds thick, but what is a multimetre and what does it do? Would it be better to take the van to our local caravan dealer and repair workshop? Not sure we could afford to call out an engineer.

Holly

 

[TonyH1]

Hi Holly. A multimeter is used to check electrical circuits and power outputs. To be honest, if you're not familiar with the name, chances are you're really up to sorting your problem out. I think it's likely you only need showing what needs to connected where. Have you any other caravanners near to you. We're usually very approachable!

 

[Damian]

http://www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk/mcea-find-an-engineer.htm
Holly, from your reply it is obvious that you do not know anything about electrics, or maybe any other system on the van.

There is nothing wrong with that, and I am not trying to make you feel bad, however, you are dealing with systems which can and will, if not safe, kill you.

Calling out an engineer probably will be cheaper than a main dealer, also there may be a long time delay in getting seen by a main dealer as they will have their customers who bought vans from them to deal with first.

Th elink above may be useful, copy and paste it into your browser, then look in your location for an engineer, ring him and ask how much to come and look it over for you.

 

[Holly_374463510]

Many thanks for everyones replies. Iv now thankfully got the battery working by repositioning the clipps on the battery. I took your advice though Damian and have a mobile engineer visisting on monday to show us round the van.

Many Thanks