No 12v power with battery removed but 230v connected

[Alanbrooke]

Just removed my caravan battery for the winter and connected 230v supply to the van. There's no 12v supply at the control panel for lighting in the van. I don't remember this happening last year or previously. 230v sockets and microwave all function. What am I missing?
Alan

 

[Hutch]

This happened to me at one time, the PSU, power supply unit, had two 12 volt supplys, 1, to the caravan and one to the Battery for charging. The 12 volt power supply to the caravan had burnt out and the battery was supplying all 12 volt power, but was being charged.

 

[Alanbrooke]

Thanks for that, Hutch. I'll check out the PSU - caravan is jacked up and covered so no trip to my local servicing workshop possible until March. We used to go to Spain every winter but stopped last year.

 

[Hutch]

Alan, you could remove the PSU, and plug it in at home, the 240 volt connector is normally like a kettle 3 pin, to check the 12 volt output with a multi meter. Good luck.

 

[Alanbrooke]

Removed the PSU and tested - 230Vin, 0V out.
Replacement at Prima Leisure with CAMC discount £122, delivery November. That will do!

 

[Alanbrooke]

Found a repairer for my unit on ebay. Sent off 13 October and returned to me 20 October - now installed back in the van and all working correctly. Cost £60 plus postage one way £5.05. Saves buying a new unit - happy bunny!

 

[borderbilly]

Result 👌

 

[Dustydog]

Can you share the repairers identity?

 

[Alanbrooke]

Of course! It's britfix-repairs. They are based in Thornton Heath, London.

 

[Ukdave2002]

£60 sounds expensive for a 12v psu with charging & switchover, 120w units retail for about £30.

Pardon our interruption...

 

[Alanbrooke]

£60 sounds expensive for a 12v psu with charging & switchover, 120w units retail for about £30.

Pardon our interruption...

The best price I could find was £122 - they were all around £135. Mine's a BCA make as fitted OE.

 

[ProfJohnL]

£60 sounds expensive for a 12v psu with charging & switchover, 120w units retail for about £30.

Pardon our interruption...

What you have identified is not necessarily direct replacement for the OP's system. As a generic SMPS your correct yours is cheaper, but for a direct replacement or repair costs for bespoke products often are more expensive.

Some peopel prefer to have the bespoke model for simplicity of replacement, or they may not be confident in trying to fit a non specific system.

 

[Alanbrooke]

What you have identified is not necessarily direct replacement for the OP's system. As a generic SMPS your correct yours is cheaper, but for a direct replacement or repair costs for bespoke products often are more expensive.

Some peopel prefer to have the bespoke model for simplicity of replacement, or they may not be confident in trying to fit a non specific system.

I noticed the cheaper versions but would they a) do the job b) fit in the custom electrical mains power unit c) have a cooling fan that the OE has d) require rewiring of the feed and output?
I think the solution I chose is sound and half the price of the cheapest new PSU.

 

[IanB1485]

£60 is a good price, I charge a similar amount for repairs to caravan charger/PSU's and also give the client the option of replacing with an upgraded unit such as the NPB-360-12-TB from Farnell which can deliver 20A or the Victron Blue smart charger , both are 2/3 stage chargers.

 

[Alanbrooke]

£60 is a good price, I charge a similar amount for repairs to caravan charger/PSU's and also give the client the option of replacing with an upgraded unit such as the NPB-360-12-TB from Farnell which can deliver 20A or the Victron Blue smart charger , both are 2/3 stage chargers.

Maybe you could have come to my rescue when I first posted my problem almost a month ago!

 

[borderbilly]

Maybe you could have come to my rescue when I first posted my problem almost a month ago!

Maybe he didn't see it 🤔

 

[IanB1485]

I did , but he seemed to be able to sort it himself , having first diagnosed the fault and then found an expensive replacement on Baileys official spare part supplier(I just bought a dometic door release knob from them for a princely £12 ( about 2p of plastic!)) and then he found a repairer who didn't charge an arm and a leg for the repair-sorted! He should get many happy years use out of the repaired unit. The lack of PM on this forum stopped me from contacting him directly offering my services- other caravan forums still allow PM's- I only advertise my services in a local magazine distributed around the five villages. As an aside Someone found me on google and asked if I repaired windscreen wipers on cars! another asked if I sold spares for cars