Help with Lunar Jupiter - battery/charger problem?

[Jeff_374373666]

Hi - new to this so please be gentle!

We have just bought our first van - a lovely condition 1996 Lunar Jupiter SE. Every system and appliance works perfectly - except the battery charger/battery.

i.e everything works when hooked up to the mains but the battery does not charge, the charger light does not illuminate and no power is available on 12V when 'van' is selected on the main console.

The battery condition indicator is in the red and, as I said the charger 'on' lamp does not illuminate.

A couple of questions -

1) Would a totally dead battery prevent the charger from working - and the charger 'on' lamp from illuminating? (The van has not been used for 18 months)

2) Where is the battery charger on this model of van! I've looked everywhere and just can't find it! (I understand it should have its own fuses to check but can't find it to check 'em) I have looked all round the area near the battery housing and so on - with no luck. The wires then seem to disappear towards the central electric control unit but there appears no way to access the back of that unit - and I expected the charger to be a seperate unit housed somewhere in the van anyway?

Any help gratefully received!

All the Best,

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Jeff,

It's quite likely that the battery is dead or close to being dead - and needs replacement or "proper" charging outside of the caravan.

Most UK caravan chargers are designed to supply a trickle charge voltage to the battery - and aren't powerful enough to raise a battery from the dead. The reason for this is that the charger can be left on all the time and not fry the battery...

So yes - try to charge the battery with a good charger (like a CTEK or similar)

Where is the charger? - probably integrated with the power pack.

Robert

 

[Jeff_374373666]

Cheers Rob - I'll investigate further along the lines you suggest.

All the Best,

 

[Gafferbill]

Hi Jeff

The battery will need replacing if it has been standing for 18 months.

Disconect the battery and see if the charger powers the 12 volt system of your van when turned on, and the 3 way switch in the mid position.

If not check circuit breakers on central control unit are on.

The charger is almost certainly behind and part of the central control unit.

To remove, disconect electric hookup to van for safety.

Undo the screws on the face of the central control unit and pull out.

These units do not normally fail.

A dead battery may be causing it to self protect.

 

[Jeff_374373666]

Aahh - great - cheers for that gafferbill - the van does power up on 12V with the rocker switch in the mid position so I am hopeful it is the neglected battery that is the issue. (i.e. the charger is self-protecting in the way you mention)

I'll try to get a multimeter on the battery leads as well and see if its getting 13 volts or so with the charger on - if so I'll try to get into the back of the consumer unit in the way you suggest.

Unfortunately the van is on a site 200 miles from me - it will be late October before I can get down to try this - but I'll post the results here in case its useful to others.

Fingers crossed!

Thanks for the advice - really helpful.

All the Best.