lights and fridge whilst towing

[rob_374352623]

I've a Bailey Ranger 2008, Can any tell me when I'm towing should the volt meter display the voltage and should I be able to turn the lights on in the caravan whilst connected to the car, as I'm not sure and it makes me wonder if the fridge is working or not?

Regards

Rob

 

[KeithJ]

Hi Rob

I have a Bailey Pageant and the volt meter and lights and pump do not work in the caravan when the cable is connected to the car - whether the engine is running or not. This does not affect the fridge, which runs when the engine is running.

I don't know why it works like this, but it is normal as far as I know - my van has been like it since new, three years ago.

Keith

 

[JTQ]

That modern a caravan will be wired to turn off all the normal 12 volt equipments when connected to a running car. So lights, pump, TV etc should not work.

The fridge's 12 volt powering supply and its indicator light are however left on.

This isolation is done via the van's so called habitation relay.

I don't know about the voltmeter.

 

[xtrailman]

You could fit a LED across your battery, along with a fuse would be preferred.(engine must be running)

As the battery charge is enabled via the fridge supply, it would give an indication that the fridge is supplied, other than that you could find the outgoing supply to the fridge, and loop of that with the LED, again fuse down to the wire rating of the LED wire, 2amp would do.

I have a light on my old 2004 fridge, but that only confirms a supply, not that the fridge is working ok. We use a thermometer in the fridge for that.

 

[Reg]

I used to run the fridge while towing but it eventually charred the contact in the 7 pin plug and it had to be replaced.

We now freeze about 6 freezer blocks before we go and put them in the freezer compartment and connect up to the mains with the fridge turned on over night before we go. We rely on the blocks to keep the fridge cold when traveling. Then turn all the caravan electrics off.

It seems to work OK for us.

 

[Jennifer_374461363]

Hi Rob

I have a Bailey Pageant and the volt meter and lights and pump do not work in the caravan when the cable is connected to the car - whether the engine is running or not. This does not affect the fridge, which runs when the engine is running.

I don't know why it works like this, but it is normal as far as I know - my van has been like it since new, three years ago.

Keith

Something not quite right there. When you plug into the car, if you select car battery then the lights etc in the van should work. When you turn on the ignition they should stop working