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Quote: Originally posted by michael on 24/6/2007

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sounds like a fuse or fuses have gone on the 12v system,may be due to loose connectors on the battery.look for a 10 amp fuse near the charger first. check also for a main 12v switch on the controls.

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Not a solution, just an observation............If you want to power the 12v electrics from the car it should only do it if you connect to car, WITHOUT engine running and select "car" position on your 3 way switch (if you have one).  This is for emergency purposes only, say if your van battery is flat.   When you start the engine there is a habitation relay that cuts the 12v power to the van and then only your battery charging and fridge should be powered by the car.

To use the van battery you need to select "van" position.  And if you are on 240v and turn on the charger it will charge the battery.

Once you put the battery back in and connected it up did you still get 13v?  If so then there must be an in-line fuse somewhere that is blown, or a switch that is not in the correct position.

If the 12v system is working when you are on Mains Hook Up then the fault must lie between the battery and where the charger wiring feeds into the main loom. IE possibly an inline fuse between the battery and the loom.

agree there,most modern caravans do not need a battery if using mains only as 12v is also there.so the fuse must be from the battery side.

Our van had exactly the same problem, and it turned out to be a fuse

We have 2 boxes, one in the wardrobe & one under the bed which has the majority of the fuses fitted.

There was a spur out of the main fusebox, not part of the bank of fuses,and that had blown

Both being German, you may have a similar setup.

Almost certainly a fuse-good luck in finding it

Arriving back home with our one year old van, the fridge would not work on 240 volts, so we had to empty it quickly.  The next day, I decided to trace  the fault.  The fridge has a switched spur fuse, which is located in the recess behind the convector heater.  The blown air pipe was resting against this spur and, during travelling, it had vibrated and knocked the switch to the OFF position.

The point I am making is that, when there is an electrical failure, you have to patiently trace through the whole circuit. The cause of a problem can be so unexpected and bizarre.

bertie.