No 12V from car or van - 2 problems?

[Cerbera]

Long one short, I have a Bailey Senator California of 2001 vintage (but don't think this will be relevent)and have some 12v 'leccy issues. I haven't used the van for about 4 months or more and have in the meantime bought a RR Sport. Yesterday I decided to check that all the RR electricals were working correctly since it was supplied second hand (2006) with both white and black sockets fitted - previous owner Land Rover so you would expect it to be right!!.

Anyhow, the black socket is fine, all trailer lights working as they should. Now, get in the van with the RR engine running and both sockets connected to the van and no power - at all.

Switch to 'car' on the 3 way switch and I would expect to see 13+ volts on the meter, but nothing. Switch to 'van' and a faint twitch of the needle - flat leisure battery then. Hardly surprising.

So what's the likely problem of the no 12v from the Rangey? The socket seems to wired properly because the caravan reverse light works - which is off this socket. So is this likely to be a van problem or a RR one?

 

[oldievanner]

If they were only using it to tow a large heavy trailer/horse box it is probably not wired up for fridge/battery charger as it would not have been needed.Check behind trim etc where cables enter car,you will probably find only the reverse light feed and the earth lead from grey socket.

 

[oldievanner]

If they were only using it to tow a large heavy trailer/horse box it is probably not wired up for fridge/battery charger as it would not have been needed.Check behind trim etc where cables enter car,you will probably find only the reverse light feed and the earth lead from grey socket.

Sorry end should say:- socket are connected up.

 

[WilliamTups]

I had a smiliar problem with a Volvo, which in the end need a wire moving on the 13 pin socket, and I also then had to charge the battery in the caravan, after a good charge all worked fine.

But on my Freelander the twin electrics were a pre-wired loom that just plugged into the car on-board electric system (dealer fit)so if this was the case with your car, it may be possible that the wiring is correct but you have a fuse that has blown?

 

[Cerbera]

Forgot to say, yes checked all the fuses. Guess that the plug is not fully wired or are you saying it should be wired for fridge/battery as dealer fit?

Would a totally flat van battery have any bearing on this? I didn't think it would but of course I might be wrong and so the wife tells me, frequently am!

 

[WilliamTups]

Hi,

The Land Rover towbar system I had fitted by the dealer was a Land Rover system, so the twin electrics came pre-wired ino the sockets then the loom was fed through the car where it simply plugged into a control panel inside the boot, the cars computer then knew that the a trailer was attached and made things like Parking Sensors / Fog light disable and also flashed up a trailer light on the dashboard when indicating. I had no problems with the Caravan at all

But with the Volvo even when the earth wirer was changed my fridge did not work, whilst my mates did (when connected to the Volvo) so after a four month lay up I took the barrery off took it home charged it and this seemed to solve the problem with the Volvo. Might be worth considering?

 

[WilliamTups]

Hi,

The Land Rover towbar system I had fitted by the dealer was a Land Rover system, so the twin electrics came pre-wired ino the sockets then the loom was fed through the car where it simply plugged into a control panel inside the boot, the cars computer then knew that the a trailer was attached and made things like Parking Sensors / Fog light disable and also flashed up a trailer light on the dashboard when indicating. I had no problems with the Caravan at all

But with the Volvo even when the earth wirer was changed my fridge did not work, whilst my mates did (when connected to the Volvo) so after a four month lay up I took the barrery off took it home charged it and this seemed to solve the problem with the Volvo. Might be worth considering?

Sorry Spelling: should be Battery

 

[Damian]

Have a look at the grey socket, with a multimeter you should have, with engine running, 12v on pin 6 with its earth return on pin 7 for the fridge.

On pin 4 there should be 12v with its earth return on pin 3 for the perm 12v/charging circuit.

 

[Cerbera]

Damian, thanks for that. I'll check later. Also, I'll charge the van battery this week!

 

[Charlie25]

If like my Lunar, when the car is running there is a relay in the caravan that switches over and stops all internal electrics from working apart from the fridge/battery charging. When the engine stops this relay switches back giving 12v aux power from the 12s socket as normal.

 

[RogerL]

The 2001 Pageant and Senator caravans from Bailey definitely use a relay from the fridge cable in the 12S to control the battery charging - if the car 12S isn't wired for fridge, the caravan battery will never charge regardless of other car wiring.

 

[JTS]

Look at this. I posted it under Equipment & Accessories.JTS

12N+12S 12 Volt Caravan / Trailer Tester accessories Item number: 270210417578