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We've been keeping our caravan on the drive because we're having our bathroom replaced and needed to use it for showering. It has therefore been hooked up to the house electrics for a week or so. 

We were due to go away on Friday night and hitched the caravan up to the car (WV Passat TDI) for a couple of hours whilst we packed.  When we started the car we had an immediate battery warning light and siren and after doing a lap of the village decided we didn't want to risk it.  During the unpacking of the caravan that evening we noticed that the electrics were still on and also the fridge was set to 240v (from when it was on the drive).

The car had been used that day with no issues.  The next morning my husband started the car and drove (without the caravan) again around the village - this time, no warning light? 

Has anyone ever experienced anything similar.  Would leaving the electrics on and leaving it hitched to the car for a couple of hours before moving have an effect on the car battery or alternator??

Any advice would be much appreciated.

The mains was probably charging the van battery at 13.8volts, it may have been charging the car battery whilst the engine was stopped, but I'm not sure on that.

When you hitched the car and started the engine, you were charging the van battery at 14.4volts, whilst the mains wass charging it at 13.8volts. No wonder a warning light came on.

More frightening again is that you may have driven off with the mains connected.

Hopefully if everything works in the car and in the van, all should be well.