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Subject Topic: towbar electrics Post Reply Post New Topic
Personmobylette
12/9/2012 at 2:02pm
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I am planning on adding a battery to run fridge and light in the caravan, I have the correct towbar connector what else do i need to run a cable from tow bar to battery/fridge / lighting?


PersonOpensauce
12/9/2012 at 3:33pm
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First point is that caravan battery does not run a 3way fridge as usually fitted to a caravan. When driving fridge will run on 12v from car only with engine running. On site fridge is run from either gas or 240v ehu. I take it you mean your car is already wired with twin electrics, 12n/12s sockets?

To wire the extra grey 12s lead to caravan it would depend on the electrical setup in caravan. If you have old French 'van mentioned in your previous thread it will probably be fitted with 12v transformer to run 12v such as interior lights/tap etc from ehu. This transformer will have insufficent output for charging battery & if you want battery charging from both car when driving & ehu you will need to fit a new transformer/charger, cost well over £100 just for parts.

Cheaper alternative will be to wire to charge caravan battery only while driving, the requirement here would just be for battery & fitting & wiring of extra grey 12s cable. The battery should be mounted securely & really should be vented to outside.


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Personmichael
12/9/2012 at 3:43pm
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you can fit a split relay charger BUT unless you know what you are doing you can do a lot of expensive damage to your cars electrics.the car may already have this or the like fitted.you still need a charger to take extra loads.

http://www.towsure.com/product/SelfSwitching_Combination_Relay



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


Personmobylette
12/9/2012 at 4:12pm
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If I have the wire from car tow bar to charge battery and run 12v fridge when running car, how do i connect to the battery and fridge? do I wire into the self switch combo then to battery? and fridge?


PersonOpensauce
12/9/2012 at 5:15pm
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It is impossible to give you step by step instructions without seeing existing wiring on caravan. The basic requirements for the cheaper option I suggested are installation of 12s lead, connection to fridge with possible relay required, & wiring of battery in parallel with car battery for charging, connection of other 12v items, lights & water pump & also secure fitting & ventilation of battery, this in itself can be a problem in an old caravan not designed to use a battery.

Do you have an understanding of electrics & the practical skills, ie use of hand tools to do the job yourself? Is your car already fitted with twin electrics, ie twin sockets on towbar?


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Personmobylette
12/9/2012 at 5:55pm
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Hi
yes have the required skills!! Car is wired ready to go, front box is vented ready for a battery, fridge has 2 bar wires labelled 12v


PersonOpensauce
12/9/2012 at 6:07pm
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The cheap way then would be to wire it like an 80s UK supplied Eriba when a battery was required. Fridge is wired to work through pin6 earthed pin7 & battery is wired to charge through pin4 earthed pin3 as marked on 12s plug, this is standard 12s wiring, you can google for plug wiring diagram. Original 12v transformer will have to disconnected & if you are on ehu, battery will not charge so if it runs down on site you will have no waterpump/12v lights but of course you can use 240v lights.

Or you can buy a new transformer/charger & wire it like a modern caravan.


PersonG7ACU
12/9/2012 at 8:09pm
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Quote: Originally posted by mobylette on 12/9/2012
... front box is vented ready for a battery ...

This isn't the same locker you keep your gas bottles in by any chance is it?


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Personmobylette
13/9/2012 at 12:20pm
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We haven't used it yet but it has a gas bootle and fridge in it


Personmobylette
13/9/2012 at 12:51pm
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Had good look at the Rapido today, there is what would seem to be 3 outlets: switch for light, exterior 2 pin female for power to awning and a 2 pin female plug for accessories .
There is no where input for ehu or 12v. I think its best to re wire the 12v system first. I can remove the french sockets and change for UK ones that way.
I have twin electrics on the tow bar so all I need is
1. The cable from towbar to caravan?
2. A Leisure battery
3. connectors for the battery, fridge
4. 3 Pin sockets for exterior and interior

Can anyone point me in the right direction?


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PersonG7ACU
13/9/2012 at 3:33pm
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Quote: Originally posted by mobylette on 13/9/2012
We haven't used it yet but it has a gas bootle and fridge in it

Only advice I'd offer is NOT to install the battery in the same locker as the gas; not a wise move especially as you plan to charge the battery too.

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Every day's a school day!


PersonOpensauce
13/9/2012 at 7:50pm
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Yes thats about it. You will need a 7pin grey 12s plug & a connector block of some sort for the other end of the grey lead & also enough cable to wire up the interior. Use reasonably thick automotive wiring for this.

I'm not sure what you mean about removing French sockets & replacing with UK type, these are for 240v use on ehu only & completely separate from the 12v circuit. Are you saying there is no 240v circuit in caravan. What happens when you trace the wiring back from the 240v sockets, has all the 240v wiring including RCD box been removed?


Personmobylette
13/9/2012 at 8:51pm
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Hi
Looking at the wiring in the van it looks like it does a loop, from exterior female around to light switch then to female socket then back??

When wiring the 12v, it goes from tow bar to? inverter? or a type of battery connector then to fridge?
kit

im unsure of how to wire to battery and fridge for charging when moving


PersonOpensauce
13/9/2012 at 9:13pm
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I gave you the basics in my earlier post, the 12s wiring in your car will have a relay to cut power to fridge engine off, the old Eriba method was just to wire caravan battery to car as I described.


Personmobylette
13/9/2012 at 9:29pm
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ok I think I get it.
the 12s grey goes to both battery and fridge, the from battery to lights and or water pump? It only works the fridge when driving so you switch to with mains or gas? the battery will power lights until it runs out of power?
So to wire the 12s, go into a connector block, then to battery and fridge using correct wires. are there leisure battery clips or connections? The lights are wired to battery + and - terminals? so what can I run from the french female outlet 12v?

You must be getting fed up with me ! thanks for all you help



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