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Subject Topic: Electrics from Car (Grey cable) not worki Post Reply Post New Topic
PersontheKingCat
19/4/2015 at 3:40pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 2007 View theKingCat's Profile View Profile   Reply to theKingCat Reply   Quote theKingCat Quote  
Joined: 09/10/2013

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Hi again all,

We have never bothered plugging in the grey cable before to the car when towing as we never bothered to load the fridge before travelling or needed to charge the caravan battery, but later this year I will be taking the caravan down to Devon for just over a week and would like to have a cold cider on arrival lol

The electrics on the car are brand new and I have to assume they are working, they were fitted as twin electrics along with the tow bar last year. The caravan is a 1997 Lunar Carina, so I suspect it is more to do with the caravan electrics.

The black cable works fine for lights, breaks, etc works fine.

Does anyone have ideas? is there a gadget you can buy to plug between the car socket and the grey cable to see if/where the faults lie?

Cheers all

-------------
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Feel nostalgic (probably the wrong word) for the trailer tent, but love the caravan. "Camping" all year round is fantastic.


Personcamperman50
19/4/2015 at 4:18pm
 Location: aberdeen
 Outfit: vango icarus 500 tent swift challenger View camperman50's Profile View Profile   Reply to camperman50 Reply   Quote camperman50 Quote  
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King cat check the 12v fuses inside the caravan may just be a blown fuse they sometimes under the front seat or near the electric control panel


Personbilly
19/4/2015 at 4:59pm
 Location: North Essex
 Outfit: Caravelair Alba 400 View billy's Profile View Profile   Reply to billy Reply   Quote billy Quote  
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The grey cable charges caravan battery & runs fridge while driving, do you mean it is doing neither? To check leisure battery is being charged check voltage with caravan hooked up to car running at fast tickover should be over 13volts.

You may find fridge on 12v is not that good. to check its working drive for half hour then feel pipes in ice making compartment, should feel distinctly cold. Before you leave you need to transfer cold stuff into fridge or have had it plugged in overnight. Do not expect it to cool drinks from ambient on 12v that well.


PersonOliverDay
19/4/2015 at 6:45pm
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As Billy states you have to check it with the engine running as there will be a relay in the car that will disconnect the power when the car voltage drops below about 12.5 volts.

-------------
Ollie

2016
Monplaisir - Provence
Camping Les Gorges du Loup


PersontheKingCat
19/4/2015 at 7:54pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 2007 View theKingCat's Profile View Profile   Reply to theKingCat Reply   Quote theKingCat Quote  
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Ok I will check all that, my assumption that it is not working is based on plugging in the grey cable to to car and going into the van and switching the switch from the middle point to car. Trying the battery charge switch which doesn't light up, and neither does the power light on the fridge.

I will try plugging it in and seeing what it is like after a little journey.

-------------
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Feel nostalgic (probably the wrong word) for the trailer tent, but love the caravan. "Camping" all year round is fantastic.


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Personnavver
19/4/2015 at 8:10pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
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Caravan is 1997. 12S socket wiring changed in 1999. I think you need to get either the caravan or car wiring changed so it is compatible. If you had told the towbar fitter he would have wired it correctly for your van.


Personkazo2014
19/4/2015 at 8:16pm
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no need to take the caravan anywhere, you just need someone to sit in the car and rev it above 1200 revs, then it should show the lights on the fridge on 12v also the 12s works your reverse lights.

if the caravan is in storage if anyone else is around ask them if you can plug into their caravan and check if its the car at fault or not. if its at home then get hold of a trailer board you can then position that so you can check things yourself sat in the car


PersontheKingCat
19/4/2015 at 9:29pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Swift Charisma 2007 View theKingCat's Profile View Profile   Reply to theKingCat Reply   Quote theKingCat Quote  
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thanks navver I will check that out. do you know if adapters are available? unfortunately the tow bar was fitted by the company as its a company car so I had no say in the matter unfortunately.

-------------
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Feel nostalgic (probably the wrong word) for the trailer tent, but love the caravan. "Camping" all year round is fantastic.



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