Caravan Charging

[joner]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHARGING SYSTEM TO YOUR CARAVAN IS WORKING DOES GO OFF AND ON LIKE MINE IS THAT NORMAL :)

[?Bleeno?]

Joner ...... you will need to give a little more information. Is this charging from the mains or from the car via the white socket? On most caravan rectifier units there is a red light and this light not only tells you there is mains power to it but if a fault develops the light stays off. The other indication is the meter on the switch unit indicates the charge of the caravan battery. It is usual to see this cycle (up and down) and shows the battery charging. Not all caravan batteries charge from the car and only provide DC power via the white socket to keep the fridge cold while driving and the odd light, but beware though it doesn't take long to drain the car battery without the engine running. You will need to select Car on the Car / Caravan rocker switch to get the DC from the cars battery. Well thats how it works on mine. Hope his helps.

[RADIOTWO]

CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHARGING SYSTEM TO YOUR CARAVAN IS WORKING DOES GO OFF AND ON LIKE MINE IS THAT NORMAL :)

Hi Joiner

 

I assume you are refering to the car charging system!

 

You say yours goes off and on ! how do you know it is doing that?

 

As Bleeno says you need to tell us more, but the charging should not go off and on.

 

But when you tell us more, like what size cable, and how hare you charging ?

please there is no need to shout !!

 

Radiotwo

Edited February 12, 2008 by RADIOTWO

[joner]

hello its the white socket on car to the caravan, battery was flat and not enough power to any lights, started car up to charge battery and notice volt meter in caravan going up then to nothing up then to nothing and so on please help thanks

[joner]

hello its the white socket on car to the caravan, battery was flat and not enough power to any lights, started car up to charge battery and notice volt meter in caravan going up then to nothing up then to nothing and so on please help thanks

[Charlie]

Is your 12s socket wired with a "Voltage sensing relay"? if so is the relay wired direct from the battery or from a power sorce in the boot?

 

I've seen this problem when the elecrical items in the car are taking a large amount of load e.g. A/c, Heated windows etc...

 

Newer caravans are fitted with a relay that turns off all the caravans equipment apart from the fridge/battery charging, so your lights may not work anyway but only with the engine running!

 

 

 

Only just seen your post here, I posted a reply in the other section but not as much info to go on!

Edited February 12, 2008 by Charlie

[Tram]

The last time we returned from a tour, the fridge had defrosted and when I re-connected the car found that the red light on the fridge was flashing and a relay was clicking in time with it in the caravan consumer unit.

The