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Subject Topic: No 12v lights Post Reply Post New Topic
Personenigmas mum
23/10/2015 at 3:29pm
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Hi, I have a 1991 Kontiki Swift that is straining my brain. When I try to switch to 12v leisure batteries I get a brief moment of light, then all power is lost. If I leave it an hour it will do it again. . Electrics is a whole new world to me and I really want to understand my vehicle and not feel like a victim to it's foibles, if you know what I mean. Any advice or sugestions on where the problem may be would be very much apreciated.


PersonCapt Lightning
23/10/2015 at 5:02pm
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
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Sounds like a dead leisure battery and / or not charging.

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PersonFiona W
23/10/2015 at 10:13pm
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We don't actually "switch" to 12v as such - park up, hook up, and the 12v lights are working off the battery, which in turn is being charged up from the EHU. Lights take little juice - is the water pump working? That's what drains the battery, when the pump stutters we know we need a new leisure battery.

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Personenigmas mum
23/10/2015 at 10:21pm
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The leisure batteries show charge, nothing works from them. It all used to work till a while ago. It's a mystery.


Personiggycamper
23/10/2015 at 10:38pm
 Location: Devon
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mum of enigma!

Few thoughts:
How long do the lights stay on before suddenly going out?
Check the actual voltage of the leisure battery - to be 'useable' should read between 12.2 and 12.6 depending on state of charge.

Some van's electrical systems actually *switch off' the leisure battery supply if volts are too low (e.g. say below 12.0 volts.) This is to protect the battery being fully drained ... which ain't a good idea!

If this is the *case with your Kontiki it would explain the lights suddenly going out. Note that even with a fairly flat battery the lights would still 'work' - if only at reduced brightness.

Do you get the same symptoms when the van is plugged into the mains supply/EHU?

Have you got the original Kontiki manual?

Kindly suggest you may need a MH or auto electrician to help you?

Sorry can't be more specific without more details of the problem.

Note : Guess there may be others with a similar age Kontiki on the forum who can help further. So hang in there!


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PersonCapt Lightning
24/10/2015 at 9:09am
 Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
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Have you checked all the obvious things like fuses?

Are only the lights affected? Does the pump etc. work or not?

I think you need to check the battery voltage. A battery might show a reasonable voltage until you draw current from it.

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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.


Personenigmas mum
24/10/2015 at 12:49pm
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Thanks for the advice. I think it could be the cut out. The lights stay on about half a second, nothing else works. We have borrowed a battery charger and it says they are low. The engine can't be charging them. Fingers crossed.


PersonCapt Lightning
24/10/2015 at 7:59pm
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If the leisure batteries aren't charging, but the starter battery is OK, then you might check....


1. the split charge relay. This is usually driven from the ignition light and effectively connects the starter and leisure batteries when the engine is running.
2. bad connections in the wiring.

Sorry I don't know the wiring layout and I could only find a 2004 Kontiki diagram on-line. Have a look at -
Wiring diagram

Using this as a guide only, the split charge relay is controlled by a blue wire which should be 12V. with the engine running. This should switch the split charge relay and connect the blue/brown wire to the starter battery. This blue/brown wire goes to the +ve of the liesure battery via a 20A fuse.

Post last edited on 24/10/2015 20:06:05

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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.


Personenigmas mum
24/10/2015 at 8:08pm
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Wow thanks for your help. We'll have a look.


PersonThe Geologist
23/11/2015 at 3:59pm
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Hi, I had a similar problem last year and the result was that 4 things needed replacing or repairing. The 2 leisure batteries charged up during the day via the solar panel, but would not hold their charge. The fault turned out to be a damaged wire between the PSU and the control panel. Both had to be returned to Sargent's fore their attention. They supplied a small - 1 metre cable to connect the PSU and control panel - and along with the loan of a fully charged leisure battery proved that the system was working. Two replacement leisure batteries, the PSU repaired,control panel repaired and a new connecting cable. was the final result. If your leisure battery (s) is not holding its charge then the cause may be something else and you may need a sparky to coem and have a butchers.



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