Message Forums

We have been given a very old caravan, approximately 30 years old I think.  When I have looked to see where the battery should sit there are no connectors.  there is a box that appears to relate to the 240v connection and this seems to be wired into another box that has four two pin plugs plugged into the top.  Two are wired to two lights and the other two are not (they can be unplugged).  A wire goes from this box under one of the beds and is then connected via a connector to another wire that seems to go to the outside of the van through the floor towards the back end (not the tow bar end).  Also on the top of the box is an on off switch.   My question is 'What on earth is it'.  How can i wire to the battery?  I am not an experienced caravanner, two nights this last weekend and that is it.

Can anyone help?  It is a mystery and the man at the caravan place had no idea whatsoever.

I look forward to hundreds of replies and a swift resolution

JAEL

Names, Numbers, photographs ?

Without the above its too much of a shot in the dark even with it may prove to tricky to diagnose online.

Remember its mains voltage going in so is potentially lethal.

You are the expert George but it sounds to me like some sort of home made cobbled up rig that deserves to go in the skip!

Mr Ulti-Mate

Jael,

Are these boxes "homemade", or manufactured items??

If at least one of them is a manufactured item, it sounds as if it could be a Labcraft TP2 unit, which was a 12volt charging/distribution unit.  It was also designed to be disconnected from the caravan and put into the car boot where it could be re-charged while the car was being driven, the relevant wiring and connections having been previously installed.

I'm afraid I don't know what George is talking about regarding mains input;  did you mention anything about mains??

Hello Supa,

Both boxes are manufactured, I had thought that perhaps it was charged whilst driving and no need for a battery, am I niaive?  If that is so then we are in trouble because van will now never come off the site. 

one of the cables going off to a light has a junction with a shoot off to a cigarette lighter so obviously 12v in there somewhere. 

We disconnected the wire that appears to be going out of the van and connected to a battery and then the cig lighter worked.  I realise it is a process of elimination.  I will just have to buy lots of double A's until we get it sorted.

Jael

Hi Dave

Quote

there is a box that appears to relate to the 240v connection and this seems to be wired into another box that has four two pin plugs plugged into the top. 

Yep he mentioned mains

Its not a labcraft TP2 unless its been added later, in fact I am almost certain anything like this as been added later as at this age it would probably have gas lights.

If all its runnng is lights there may be an easy safe and cheap solution, strip out the whole caboodle, get a leisure battery some terminal clamps and an inline fuse, charge it up at home then take to caravan for each trip!.

Hello George

Yes it does have gas lights, and I get the impression that these boxes have been added later.  I think your suggestion makes the most sense then at least we know what we are playing with and how to deal with it if it goes wrong.  I have been browsing the web looking for pictures of Labcraft Tp2 to see if I could identify the box but no luck, any ideas?

Jael (girl)

Hi

I would go for a full battery bypass then, safe and you know what it all does.

I have an old Perle caravan to tow as a granny flat behind my motorhome (soon be pretty pointless as divorce looming ! and I will have way to much room)

Be careful with "added stuff" on my perle I did a complete rewire it was put in by a pratt who ran a couple of sockets direct from the Input before it add gone through the RCD the MCB was RATED at 100 AMPS absolute madness.

Hi George

I would be so proud if I understood every thing you just said.  I will not pretend, apparently there is a man on our site who is a godsend when it comes to batteries and wiring so I think I may have to wait until we see him and then sweet talk him into taking a look.  I may get back to you when I have some pictures for you and then you can see for yourself.  Jael

Hi  Jael, Sorry about addressing you in Masculine before

Basically Just a warning about added bits, I had a similar bodge on mine.

Rip the other rubbish out, add a battery and fuse.

Have fun