I have recently bought a 1988 VW camper and it has the usual 240v mains hook-up but no facility for 12v lighting/power.
Is there an 'easy' way to install a simple 12v system? Ideally I want a couple of lights and a power point installing, not so concerned about split charge relay, as I am quite happy to charge the battery up as and when needed.
Are there any kits available?
If I went down the route of having a system installed by an auto electrician what would i be looking at £££ ?
You need to install a split charge relay & 'leisure' battery ie a second battery that can be used while parked overnight leaving your van battery to start the engine, the leisure battery then recharges while driving. This is the normal way its done.
Normally the leisure battery will also recharge from the 240v mains hookup, it does seem odd that you have a 240v system but no 12v. Possibly you have but it aint working. is there a battery under each seat of your van? if so you already have a 12v system. If not your 240v system could just be summat bodged out of a tent EHU.
Is the camper a proper conversion from new like an Autosleepers or is it a conversion from van or bus? If a proper 'from new' conversion it will have a 12v system. Otherwise any caravan workshop will install a battery & split charge relay. If you want the battery out of the way under the seat you will have to use a normal car battery as the smallest 'leisure'ie caravan battery is to high to fit under a T25 seat. A car battery will do the job but won't last so long.
A proper caravan battery would be better, located elsewhere in the van, the cost of battery & split charge relay fitted by a workshop might be £150-£200 all up. Not a difficult job to do yourself.If you want the battery to charge from your mains hookup as well you will need a charger installed.
Split charge relay here & caravan 'leisure' battery here
My first motorhome was an Autosleeper - Ford Transit conversion - in which the 12v system ran off the vehicle battery, there was no second "leisure" battery.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
I suppose you could say that the '12v system' is just the interior lights & cigar lighter connected to the normal vehicle battery, you could connect up what you wanted, if you used it much overnight the van would not start in't morning.
The op could achieve what he wants with just a 12v battery in a box with connectors for lights, telly, etc & just recharge at the end of trip. If he wants to go to the trouble of a permanently installed system he might as well install a split charge relay.
a smart relay is easy to hook up, al lit needs is a 12V feed from the existing starter battery, this senses when the charging system is up to power, then clicks in, I have one on my 12S for towing, with a point in my boot for charging the second battery.
Hi there,just seen your post. Probably sorted by now but if not there is an ongoing thread in the Just Campers tech section. I was also having a problem getting a small enough battery for my '89 T25 but have found one.
Measured mine carefully, even made a 'cardboard battery'! The battery I took out was 170. Couldn't get one that small but found one at 175 which JUST works. Stuck heavy duty plastic to the top of the battery case to stop shorting. 3 year guarantee, free delivery, £59.99. Pity I couldn't get it from JK but theirs was over twice the price when I called this morning and too high anyway.
Found a great spotlight in Home Bargains this week 99p that plugs in to the ciggie lighter socket, brill for reading at night as the ordinary 12v strip lights in my Frisky aren't up to much. Good for map reading en route as well. It's magnetic.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.