Pump Problem?

[Tony_374582039]

Hi All

finally got round to preparing our 1993 abi jubilee viceroy after being in storage only to find a problem with the pump.

for some reason when I switch the pump on the dash the light flashes on and off on the dashboard above the sink, this also causes the rest of the lighing to flicker through out the caravan? the pump also is not working as the toilet won't flush aswel as No water from the taps.

when a caravan has been standing in storage is there anything perhaps that needs bleeding? or anying I may have missed?

I have also removed the charger/PSU as this was clicking at the same time as the lights was flashing! problem is this is a sealed unit held together with Rivets. I also charged the Battery and refitted it only to find when I switched the pump on again it Instantly blew a 10 Amp fuse fitted in the dash when on Battery mode?

Any help would be gladly apreciated as we are hopeing to get away during the school holidays...

Many Thanks

Tony

 

[Damian]

I strongly suggest you get a mobile engineer to sort it out for you.

12v may not seem a lot in voltage terms, but it can, and has, caused fires.

You appear to have not one but at least two problems, and by removing items have exacerbated the whole situation to the point that no sensible help can be given as the installation is now compromised and to give any "help" would put the author of that information in a situation in which any suggestions may actually cause more problems than it cures.

 

[Tony_374582039]

I strongly suggest you get a mobile engineer to sort it out for you.

12v may not seem a lot in voltage terms, but it can, and has, caused fires.

You appear to have not one but at least two problems, and by removing items have exacerbated the whole situation to the point that no sensible help can be given as the installation is now compromised and to give any "help" would put the author of that information in a situation in which any suggestions may actually cause more problems than it cures.

Hello Damian

I'm not a total novice to electics and have since replaced the charger to its original conections after testing the unit on a friends van this evening, this thankfully seems to be ok....

The fuse blew for a reason which could well be a short. the good thing is the Fuse did its job, I checked through the wireing visualy and can't see a problem but obviously there is somewhere which is why I'm asking for advice...

I would also like to point out that the caravan is totaly disconected from the Battery and mains, I'm hopeing to get some advice or Information from people who may well have also suffered the same problems?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Tony,

I'm sorry to be hard, but I have to be honest and agree with Damain.

No competent electrician needs to ask for help on basic circuits. they know how to fault find, and in reality there are no over complex electrical systems in a caravan, mains or 12V.

 

[xtrailman]

I had the 10amp fuse blow for my pump, replaced the pump and all was well.

 

[Tony_374582039]

Hello All

Thankyou all for the comments which I appreciate

I tested the Battery after a good charge and it was reading around 13.8V, its not a old Battery and was only brought last year so I am assuming all is well. if I connect the 240v supply and flick the pump switch on the dash I can hear the PSU/charger clicking! if the Interior lights are also on at this time thay also flash on and off aswel as the small red light to Indicate the Pump is on, the main problem is the pump doesn't work or the electric flush for the toilet...

If I now flick the switch across on the dash to activate the Battery's 12v supply it blows a 10 Amp fuse located behind the dash, I have even tried disconnecting the 240v plug after fitting a new 10 amp fuse and just trying the the pump on 12v battery only, as soon as I flick the pump switch on it blows the fuse again. basically it still doesn't work even when on 12v only....

I spend a good day going through the wireing today and probably went through a good five 10 amp fuses in the process, I must admit I'm at my wits end with it but would like to desperatly get the caravan up and running for the school holidays! I still can't beleive it worked perfect when it was stored and now somthing has gone a miss...

any help would be much apreciated

Many Thanks

Tony

 

[Dustydog]

Tony

You said

"as soon as I flick the pump switch on it blows the fuse again. basically it still doesn't work even when on 12v only....

Ray has told you he fixed a similar problem with a new pump.

Save your time and fuses, install a new pump.

Dodgy electrical appliances, even 12 volt , may cause fires!

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Tony_374582039]

Many thanks to you and ray for the reply Dustydog

I tested the submersibal pump seperatly straight to the battery and all was ok. it only fails to work when plugged into the caravan as does the electric flush in the toilet? everything else works fine. trust me I do undertand electics can cause fires as I said before I'm not a total novice here and quite capable with most DIY chores includeing electics, this on the other hand has totaly miffed me as all the wireing seems ok on the van with no shorts found?...

I'm still thinking perhaps its the charger at fault and tempted to invest in a new one but don't want to waste my money if its not the case..........

thanks again

Tony

 

[Soozeeg]

Why don't you do as Damian suggested and get a mobile engineer to have a look at it, especially since you've indicated you're now at a bit of a loss as to what to do next?

 

[Dustydog]

Tony

Try hot wiring the pump again to a battery but this time with a 10 amp fuse in line.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Tony_374582039]

Why don't you do as Damian suggested and get a mobile engineer to have a look at it, especially since you've indicated you're now at a bit of a loss as to what to do next?

Thats fair comment but I don't give up that easy! one of the reason I started this post was for some help to rectify this problem? ok I can bring in a electrical engineer who may well find the problem within 5 mins because its somthing minor! this could also be of great uneeded cost to me. I like to problem solve and DIY as much as I can with perhaps advice from others, when I have exhausted myself completely I will then take the advice and bring in a electrical engineer.....

If a problem is solvable surely its better to gleam information from others to use as experience for future reference.....

 

[Soozeeg]

Why don't you do as Damian suggested and get a mobile engineer to have a look at it, especially since you've indicated you're now at a bit of a loss as to what to do next?

True, Tony. It was only a suggestion.....just my way of trying to be helpful seeing as I'm a blonde female who knows nothing about techie stuff! lol ;o)

 

[Tony_374582039]

Hello Dustydog

Finally fitted a inline fuse and gave it a try and the pump is working ok. while the pump was unplugged from the caravan I plugged in the 240v connection and flicked on the pump switch. the lights still flash and the clicking noise still comes from the PSU/Charger? I also checked to see if there was a live supply reaching the pump housing but it was dead...

No wonder the pump isn't working due to no supply, I'm also thinking this is the reason the electric flush doesn't work in the toilet due to no supply? the supply seems to get as far as the charger hence the clicking noise but not any further....

everything else in the van works fine includeing the lights and water heater...

Thanks again

Tony

 

[colin_374579144]

hi all

ive got a elddis odyssey 544 with noise water pump, any ideas how to stop making noise

 

[Tony_374582039]

I think its time to give up due to finding Mouse dropping all over the place in the Cuboards and under the sink! they look like they have been everywhere while the caravan was in storage....

I'm thinking the mice have been nibbling the wires and probably created a short. I spent the best of the day working on the caravan and even completly by passed the charger/Transformer with the 12v Battery supply while the 240v was disconnected.

Basically the Battery was running straight through the main fusebox to the dash where the Pump switch is placed, I switched the Pump on and it still blew the 10 amp fuse behind the dash yet again, its now looking painfully obviouse there is a short been created somehwere and I'm getting the feeling its going to be a nightmare to fine without a qualified electrician......

Well I tried and tried hard but its looking like a expensive overhall

cheers

Tony

 

[Gafferbill]

.... sounds to me you are halfway there.

There is likely to be a short in the wiring to the pump hence the fuse blowing.

The power supply does not like this and is cutting in and out, hence the clicking noise.

I would check the wiring to the pump paying particular attention to any gnawing by mice.

In fact I would check all the wiring for damage!

Check the fuse to the toilet pump.

Remove cassette......fuse is in roof of chamber.

If OK try spraying holder with WD40.

Connections here can suffer from oxidation

 

[Tony_374582039]

Very much apreciated gafferbill.

I'll take a look in the Cassette department tomorrow and check over the fuse. I checked through a fair bit of the wireing at ground level today dismatling just about everything along the way to get to it, I finally got to the wireing leading into the roof near the bulk head which is about as far as I can go! thankfully all the wireing at the main fusebox looks fine as does the wireing behind the dash...

just out of Interest is this a regular occurance with caravan owners and problems with Rodents?

Thanks again

Tony