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Subject Topic: No 12v to fridge while towing? Post Reply Post New Topic
Persongasmansteve
03/8/2017 at 11:05pm
 Location: North Yorks
 Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545 View gasmansteve's Profile View Profile   Reply to gasmansteve Reply   Quote gasmansteve Quote  
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Hi guys
Just changed my car to a new model Mazda CX-5 with factory fitted towbar. Connected my 2015 Coachman VIP van last week and Thetford fridge flashing fault 6 (no 12v). Google tells me I should have 12v on pin 10 (13pin sockets) I didn't .Took car back to dealers as my last CX5 worked fine with the van. They had forgotten to fit a split charger for the fridge supply and so had one fitted but plugged van today first time since charger fitted and again flashing fault 6 on fridge no 12v. Checked 12v fridge fuse on van OK,bit stuck what to try next, car back to dealers but I now have 12v to pin 10 or van back to dealers??. Everything else works fine with towbar ATS,winkers etc. Any ideas please?.
Cheers
Steve

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Steve


PersonGrampian91
03/8/2017 at 11:50pm
 Location: Midlands
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Was the engine running at least a fast idle when testing for 12v power?

Do you have power on pin 10 now?

Does the van have a car/van/off switch or is it an automatic relay?

If the fridge is not getting 12v where is the power coming from to show the warnings?


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Persongasmansteve
04/8/2017 at 8:36am
 Location: North Yorks
 Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545 View gasmansteve's Profile View Profile   Reply to gasmansteve Reply   Quote gasmansteve Quote  
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Engine was running ok and had 12v to pin 10
No on/off switch I know of think it's automatic, van is 2yrs old!
Where power coming from for warnings? Good question, no idea but warnings were there when no 12v to pin 10.
Cheers
Steve

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Steve


PersonGrampian91
04/8/2017 at 9:11am
 Location: Midlands
 Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram View Grampian91's Profile View Profile   Reply to Grampian91 Reply   Quote Grampian91 Quote  
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If the car was idling maybe the voltage was too low for the fridge?

It should only provide 12v to the fridge when the voltage increases, this is why i mentioned a fast idle at least on the car when testing.


Personbirdman101
04/8/2017 at 9:57am
 Location: Milton Keynes
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You need to put your meter on pins 10&11 and check voltage.If they have not connected pin 11 to earth fridge will still not work. If they are ok you may find that is your car has a Smart Alternator as lots are nowadays and that the alternator has not kicked in.Put head lights on to draw a load on battery ,this will make it kick in.You should have 14 volts on pin 10&11 then.This will signal fridge to cut in.You can then switch headlights off.But each time you stop and switch engine off,go through this procedure when starting again.The fridge has a separate input which tells it that alternator is charging this then switches fridge on. I have been doing this for last three years with my present motor.Once fridge is running it will keep drawing enough power to keep Alternator charging.


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Persongasmansteve
04/8/2017 at 4:18pm
 Location: North Yorks
 Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545 View gasmansteve's Profile View Profile   Reply to gasmansteve Reply   Quote gasmansteve Quote  
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Hi guys
Many thanks for the helpful replies. Yes I had 14 v across pins 10 & 11 so that part ok both before and after turning headlights on, new battery not sure if alternator kicked in ? but not connected to van while on site at the moment so will try the headlights when we hitch up to move off. Bit awkward to connect car and van while on site as room a bit tight but will report back .
Thanks again
Steve

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Steve


PersonJohn4703
05/8/2017 at 1:17pm
 Location: Glasgow
 Outfit: Elddis Avante 454 View John4703's Profile View Profile   Reply to John4703 Reply   Quote John4703 Quote  
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I have a VW that cuts off the alternator when the battery is fully charged and the fridge no longer gets power.
I'm thinking of putting the wire for the fridge onto pin 9 instead of 10 as pin 9 is a permanent live. I can't see a problem, as on any journey the longest it will be connected without the engine running is 10 to 15 minutes while I go the the toilet in a service station.

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We camped for years. In 2019 we bought an Elddis Avante 454. We like it as it is short (6.9m) and fits in our driveway and has a fixed bed.
We had 127 nights away in the caravan in 2023.


Persongasmansteve
05/8/2017 at 1:26pm
 Location: North Yorks
 Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545 View gasmansteve's Profile View Profile   Reply to gasmansteve Reply   Quote gasmansteve Quote  
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Seems quite complex this wiring for the fridge as I gather it has to get a signal from the alternator to tell the fridge it can now work?. One concern I had was that I would have thought the alternator would have kicked in on our journey from York to the Peaks about 100 miles unless the fridge switches off some how if it doesn't get an initial power source??
Steve

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Steve


PersonGrampian91
05/8/2017 at 11:07pm
 Location: Midlands
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Depends on the wiring. Dedicated loom should supply 12v to the fridge connector on the 13 pin plug as long as the cars battery is above a set voltage and the alternator is charging.

This gets added complication with modern cars which may have ECU control of the alternator which may cut its output to help lower emissions and those cars that need an ECU update when adding the 12v output.

Alternators do need a fair bit of power to supply a current. I ran an alternator off a 400W electric drill. No issues off load. Added a single 55w bulb so less than 5amps and the drill just stalled dead.

If not a plug in system it maybe a smart charge relay, which is a simple system. When the charge voltage exceeds a preset level it switches a relay and powers the fridge. This could be in the car or in the caravan, maybe even both.
That adds one or 2 relays which can fail.


Persongasmansteve
14/8/2017 at 10:15am
 Location: North Yorks
 Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545 View gasmansteve's Profile View Profile   Reply to gasmansteve Reply   Quote gasmansteve Quote  
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Hi guys
Just an update, finished our stint away and tried the fridge after getting the headlamps etc going like you advised and voila... a working fridge so me and er indoors pleased as Punch now so much appreciated for all the help and advice. Ukcampsites comes up trumps again
thanks
again
Steve

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Steve


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Personblueexpo97
14/8/2017 at 10:45am
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Result.

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XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


Personnavver
15/8/2017 at 8:07pm
 Location: West country
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I wonder if the solar panel on the van is causing some problem. It charges the caravan battery right up and I wonder if this voltage gets back into the car system fooling the alternator into thinking it's not needed. The car battery will have been discharged a little when starting the engine.

There are so many parallel connections going on and so many clever relays.


Persongasmansteve
15/8/2017 at 10:28pm
 Location: North Yorks
 Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545 View gasmansteve's Profile View Profile   Reply to gasmansteve Reply   Quote gasmansteve Quote  
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Hi navver
No idea really, we store the van about 10mins drive from home so the car battery voltage would have dropped and the alternator would have kicked in at some point on our way to pick the van up. Solar panel is working fine but I get your point and will see what happens in a couple of weeks when we pick van up again!
Cheers
Steve

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Steve


Personbirdman101
16/8/2017 at 7:27am
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For the last 3 years I have been putting headlights on each time starting engine with caravan on,to get alternator to kick in. Even when having a stop on a200 mile plus journey. After about half a minute switch them off as the fridge is then working and drawing enough load to keep alternator running. Most fridges draw current for around 140 watts which is equivalent to headlights.


PersonCrypto
16/8/2017 at 8:04am
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Good tip birdman, hadn't thought of switching the lights off after a while.
I don't need to on my new Seat Ateca factory fit towbar. It senses a trailer attached and disables the smart alternator function :)



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