Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by JTQU on 24/3/2014

---

With these relatively "small" consumers of electrical power getting a bigger battery will not necessarily help. It might be the battery is not well charged or too degenerated to hold a decent charge.
Things like the pump being switched on, are likely to have an effect on things a bit sensitive to receiving a good voltage.
First action needed is to ensure the battery is well charged.
Batteries with the best of care degenerate in their ability to accept a quantity of "charge", and with abuse quickly degenerate in this way. If your problem is pronounced and getting more so even when apparently fully charged, then it hints strongly the battery is nearing the end of its practical life ie. it's failing to actually take much charge.

---

Is this a fairly new factory wired van or has the electrics been added by a DIYer. If it's newish and factory wired then its less likely to be a wiring fault.

At 12 volts, the current is high and this causes volt drop in the cable, much more so and much more significantly than in 230/240.volt circuits.

If the light and TV are on the same circuit (the same wire loops from the socket feeding the TV to the light) then there will be quite a considerable volt drop by the time it reaches the light.

A cheap voltmeter will help. See if you can measure the voltage at the battery with nothing switched on and see how much it falls when things are switched on.

Then measure the voltage at the light or TV socket and compare that with the voltage at the battery. The difference is the volt drop in the wiring.

This can help yoiu decide whether it is the battery or the wiring which is at fault.

Quote: Originally posted by navver on 24/3/2014

---

Is this a fairly new factory wired van or has the electrics been added by a DIYer. If it's newish and factory wired then its less likely to be a wiring fault.

At 12 volts, the current is high and this causes volt drop in the cable, much more so and much more significantly than in 230/240.volt circuits.

If the light and TV are on the same circuit (the same wire loops from the socket feeding the TV to the light) then there will be quite a considerable volt drop by the time it reaches the light.

A cheap voltmeter will help. See if you can measure the voltage at the battery with nothing switched on and see how much it falls when things are switched on.

Then measure the voltage at the light or TV socket and compare that with the voltage at the battery. The difference is the volt drop in the wiring.

This can help yoiu decide whether it is the battery or the wiring which is at fault.

---

Quote: Originally posted by Chalkie56 on 26/3/2014

---

Your Tv may not be a true 12volt - that is to say that on 230v it uses a transformer and this gives a smooth voltage to the TV through the Tranny. If you get a propriety lead and use 12v frfom a battery if ot is fully charged it may work ok. But if the voltage drops it it may spike and can damage the TV. I believe it can cut off the sound or picture or both this can be a big give away. Newer TVs have the trickery built in and will save the tv.

---