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Topic: Campervan electrics

Jam123

via mobile 10/6/2024 at 10:44am
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We’ve just purchased a Peugeot boxer Campervan conversion. We had the van on hookup overnight to charge the fridge & leisure batteries before we set off Saturday morning. When we went to leave the van battery was dead. We jump started it, left it running & went to the campsite with no hookup. We had the fridge running (dometic CRX0050) we used the diesel heater, Truma boiler for 20 minutes, thermostat for the diesel heater and the water pump briefly. We have solar panels on the roof we ran the van several times throughout the evening to check the battery. The victron app showed us that the batteries had 13.8v throughout the evening. When we got up in the morning the van battery was completely dead again! Could this be the fridge?! If so what are we doing wrong or has it been set up wrong? In the pic attached we also have 2 plugs going to the inverter that no one knows what they’re for!! The previous owner hardly used the van & is now in Australia so of no use. Please help if you can….

Fiona W

via mobile 10/6/2024 at 1:32pm
Location: Ayrshire
Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs

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You have 2 batteries, as far as I know: the vehicle one, and the leisure one. The vehicle one is only involved with the MH by charging the leisure battery when the engine is running. The fridge only runs on 12v off the leisure battery when the engine is running, it needs gas or EHU when you’re parked up. If you couldn’t start the engine but you could pump water, then the leisure battery is probably goosed (our Peugeot Boxter one lasted about 6 years). If you couldn’t pump water either, the leisure battery might be shot too - if it’s allowed to drain too low, it never recovers properly. If the previous owner rarely used the van, that’s possible.
Can’t help with plugs & numbers on dials, only have past experience of dead vehicle & leisure batteries.
I’d advise getting a Habitation Service done as there may be other problems you’re not aware of yet, like perished gas pipes or a blocked flue.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.

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Capt Lightning

10/6/2024 at 2:07pm
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens

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As Fiona says, the Vehicle battery is only used to start the engine and supply the vehicle electrics - lights, wipers etc.. When the engine is running, the alternator should be charging the leisure batteries. Note that EHU does not normally charge the vehicle battery.

Sounds like the starter battery is duff or you have something draining it eg it might be running the fridge instead of the leisure battery. It should be easy enough to find out which battery supplies what.

If the starter battery is duff, I recommend getting a Yuasa battery.

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Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.

Jam123

via mobile 10/6/2024 at 2:52pm
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Thank you so much for this. We’re hoping it’s not the case that the fridge is somehow running off the vehicle battery but something is draining it, or like you say it’s the vehicle battery that’s duff.

Is there a quick way we can test which battery is being used for the fridge? We’ve been in touch with an auto electrician but he can’t look at it until the end of the month. It’s just strange that we had it on EHU with the fridge on before we left and the vehicle battery died which is making us think it could be that the fridge is linked to that somehow & not the leisure battery or maybe the alternator is not doing its job on both batteries?!

We do have solar panels & we were checking the voltage which said 13.8v and a full battery on float… sorry so many questions!! We just want to get out & enjoy the van without worrying

Capt Lightning

10/6/2024 at 4:25pm
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens

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You could disconnect the earth strap to the starter battery and see if the fridge works. Also see if the battery loses charge.

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Two drifters off to see the world.

I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.

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