I am not sure anyone can help but does such a thing exist as an electrical schematic for my Bailey Senator Wyoming S5? I am trying to track down an electrical issue and I would love a schematic to study and consult whilst trying to track down the fault.
Well after a year off use I decided to recommission it. I connected up a charged and healthy leisure battery. When trying the systems from the 12v panel there was a bang and I lost 12v. 230v still works. Nothing (including voltage meter) works on the 12v panel apart from the awning light over the door. When I switch the 12v switch on and off I can hear a clicking from the main unit but nothing more. No fuses blown and no rcd tripped. Battery and charger working fine.
I just can't get any 12v, so no 12v lighting or water pump.
Wiring diagrams are in the manufacturers Owners User Manual/Service Record.
If you haven't got one, Bailey have an archive to download from, otherwise Google your model/year and there are usually archived versions to download for free in PDF format from at least a couple of sources.
Manuals are often common to a range, not specific to a particular van, and vary little from year to year, so if you cant find your specific van, try another model from same year, or a year or two either side.
Quote: Originally posted by Mr Lucky on 30/6/2024
Well after a year off use I decided to recommission it. I connected up a charged and healthy leisure battery. When trying the systems from the 12v panel there was a bang and I lost 12v. 230v still works. Nothing (including voltage meter) works on the 12v panel apart from the awning light over the door. When I switch the 12v switch on and off I can hear a clicking from the main unit but nothing more. No fuses blown and no rcd tripped. Battery and charger working fine.
I just can't get any 12v, so no 12v lighting or water pump.
all this is screaming at me, the issue is your battery. change that for a new one and i bet your issues all vanish
Thank you all for the responses. I do appreciate it.
A bit more info. My caravan had a replacement battery charger fitted by a previous owner before I bought it. It was one of these 12v charges from Amazon or ebay that was for5 car, motorcycle and caravan battery charging duties. It never caused any issues in the past.
I fitted my healthy and charged Yuasa leisure battery and the 230v supply from my house. Overnight the battery boiled and was ruined. This has never happened before, the charger supposedly to recognise the fully charged battery and stop charging. This time the charger didn't and it cooked my battery. Fortunately I have 2 more batteries in pretty good shape so another was put in. This time, as I operated the 12v panel near the main door, there was a loud 'crack'. The noise seemed to come from front right of the caravan, in the area of the water tank and water heater. I was in the doorway so my ears could have been deceiving me.
I sourced a new battery charger of a similar type to the one that came out and it works fine, charging as it should. I have connected it up to the 12v battery and it is powered from the 230v system as per the outgoing one.
So from this point the 12v panel which includes switches for 12v master, 12v lights, water pump, gas locker light and 12v battery dial charge state are no longer operative. But strangely the 12v awning light switch still works! This is the only switch on the whole 12v control panel that works. Everything else is dead on 12v. But when I switch the 12v master on and off I get a soft but distinct single click as I flick the switch from the main electrical box which is located under the seat next to the door.
I thought maybe one of the two RCD trip boxes was faulty so I swapped them over. No joy, still the same issue. At no time in any of this period did either of the RCD switches or the main RCD switch trip by the way.
The RCD and MCBs have nothing to do with the 12V side of your electrics (save controlling 240v supply to charger, but even that is in doubt if it's a non-standard replacement!), they are purely for 240v circuitry. Everything 12v is protected by good old fashioned fuses. And don't forget the usually 'in line' main battery fuse, which can be anywhere between battery and control box! It's worth checking that if you haven't already done so.
If the charger failed and 'boiled the battery', it may have gone way over voltage and cooked some of the 12v control circuits in either the control panel and/or the power control system!
Can only speculate, as not familiar with the systems on your van. The click on powering up may be a relay energising. If memory serves there's usually a changeover relay that switches between vehicle 12v supply and leisure battery/EHU supply, it may be that you hear.
When you say the awning light still works, is that SOLELY from leisure battery, or when the EHU connected? - it may be being powered via the 240-12v charger, rather than from the battery!
Sad to say, yours is problem with potentially a number of causes, and worse still, potentially multiple faults to find, very difficult to diagnose at a distance. Really a tedious task of methodically going through the system eliminating one thing at a time. If fault lies in the control panel and or control box, then you are into the realms of electronics which may mean seeking professional help if you are unfamiliar.
Well I have gone as far as my meagre skills allow so I am now looking for a decent caravan electrician in the Durham/Newcastle area. Any suggestions are most welcome.
Get in touch with your local / nearest caravan / motorhome dealer and ask if they can tell you who they use, as this is practically always sub conned out.
------------- 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.
It sounds as if the 12 volt master switch has a relay to switch the current to all the items except the awning light. It's common for the awning light to be separately switched to the master switch so you can leave it on when you leave the van and come home in the dark.
Found the issue. Second relay down on the main board had blown. I have ordered a new relay and shall solder it in when it arrives. Thank you all for the help and advice.
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