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Subject Topic: caravan electrics for dummies! Post Reply Post New Topic
16/9/2011 at 8:57am
 Location: St Helens
 Outfit: swift
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Sorry gang its me again with what might seem like another silly question.1st time caravaner-just got 1989 Swift Challenger.Plugged in mains between house and caravan inlet,but only couple of spotlights in van will come on.Original ceiling lights,fridge,radio,carver control box etc not working.Have not got a leisure battery yet,will that make a difference.Also do they do a Caravanning For Idiots book-think I am in dire need of one.Good job I am not planning any trips till next year,its all very confusing compared to my tent!


16/9/2011 at 9:20am
 Location: Tyne & Wear
 Outfit: Geist LV 555 tugged by X Trail
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Tracy, i believe you need a battery for the 12v items you list, the spot lights must be just 240v

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I Started with nothing and have most of it left!


16/9/2011 at 9:49am
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The fridge should work on mains without a battery but water taps & lights sometimes need a battery & a caravan of that age may not have a charger anyway. As I said in yer other thread, try a battery but with a caravan of that age you need to assume the electrics could need some attention.


16/9/2011 at 10:34am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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I find it strange that only the spotlights work as all the caravans I have known these have operated off 12 volt supply only and as you haven't got a battery this can't be the case. Regarding the 240 volt supply there should be an MCB (isolation box) very similar to what you have in your home. Have a look to see if this has tripped at all because if it has then you won't achieve any mains power until it has been switched back on. If you find that it has tripped and you reset it only to find it trips again then you obviously have a fault which will need urgent attention. Hope you sort the problem anyway.


16/9/2011 at 10:36am
 Location: Vendee France
 Outfit: ABI Northstar
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Quote: Originally posted by tracy7 on 16/9/2011
Sorry gang its me again with what might seem like another silly question.1st time caravaner-just got 1989 Swift Challenger.Plugged in mains between house and caravan inlet,but only couple of spotlights in van will come on.Original ceiling lights,fridge,radio,carver control box etc not working.Have not got a leisure battery yet,will that make a difference.Also do they do a Caravanning For Idiots book-think I am in dire need of one.Good job I am not planning any trips till next year,its all very confusing compared to my tent!
Hi
Haynes Caravan Manual by John Wickersham a must for anyone looking for information on caravans


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16/9/2011 at 2:24pm
 Location: Northampton
 Outfit: '98 Swift Challenger 490 SEL
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Our van has 2 lights that work off mains only, the rest work off the battery only.

Fit a leisure battery and see what happens.


16/9/2011 at 2:39pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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you need to fit a new battery before any more investigation on what works.as a rule only the two front lights work on 240volt.the other lights work off the battery.possible your carver water heater will not light on gas without a battery fitted if you have one.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


16/9/2011 at 9:39pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: abi jubilee envoy
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Mine worked without a battery, It could be as said earlier a tripped switch, check this . Also there could be a metal unit next to the electric box it has vents in it to keep it cool this will be the charger for the battery you should see two wires which go into the battery box  mine has a switch which lights up when its tuned on( if mine is set to off the 12v does not come on), Also on this unit there is a fuse mine has blown once when I had a fault with the electric toilet see if you have one and check it .also in the van there will be a controll panel somewhere each is different but again mine has a option to switch between car or caravan for power options if this is set to the wrong one it stops things working as well.

Under the seat where my electric box is there is 2 banks of fuses like the one on the battery charger unit(they are like the ones you get in your car the spade type) they may be in a different place in your search around see what you find take off panels which are screwed on there might be some hidden fuses as I found in mine.



17/9/2011 at 8:46am
 Location: Halifax West Yorkshire
 Outfit: VW Amarok Crewcab Pickup Truck
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Hi Tracy7 before you buy a new battery from a caravan shop I would get a quote from Alpha batteries at Rochdale you can get a quote on line or visit there shop in Rochdale which I did and saved a fortune and they will deliver next day also most batteries have five year warranty.Ian



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