Sorry gang its me again with what might seem like another silly question.1st time caravaner-just got 1989 Swift Challenger.Plugged in mains between house and caravan inlet,but only couple of spotlights in van will come on.Original ceiling lights,fridge,radio,carver control box etc not working.Have not got a leisure battery yet,will that make a difference.Also do they do a Caravanning For Idiots book-think I am in dire need of one.Good job I am not planning any trips till next year,its all very confusing compared to my tent!
There's probably a switch inside a cupboard or wardrobe which puts the electric on. There could also be other on/off switches for the fridge, etc.
The one in my van is a consumer unit with RCD, you have to open the see thru door to get inside and throw the main switch on to use the EHU. It's at the back of my wardrobe, on the inside of the wall which has the hook up on the outside.
A leisure battery powers 12v things, usually the lights.
There is a manual for the 2000 year onwards models, which is probably the same in PDF, so click here to get the download.
checked in cupboards there is a box which looks like a mains fuse box with 2 trip switches all the buttons are in the on position but still no joy . wondering now if i have been ripped off (need help thats not going to cost a fortune)
you will most likly find that without the battery the radio, carver, most lights,toilet, these wont work, as for fridge is it switched to mains as these dont run from 12v unless attached to the car,
this is the way my 1989 compass runs
mike
The caravan is 21 yrs old. The only simple answer to your question is to go thru the electrics & fault find. The electrics could well have been bodged several times in the caravans' life anyway.
Are there connections for a leisure battery? To see if connecting a battery makes any difference just temporarily connect any fully charged 12v car battery, it don't have to be a leisure battery.
At commercial labour rates it may or may not cost as much to fix the things that ain't working as you paid for the caravan. I don't bother in my 1980s caravan as long as the cooker works. Its just a place to sleep that don't blow away like a tent. More important is to service wheels & brakes & fit new tyres if you are uncertain of the age of those currently fitted.
Plenty of books on caravanning, but advice on these forums is free. Ask as many questions as you want for as long as you want.
personally i would agree with other postees , connect a 12v battery up first and then re-check your electric's , before calling in a ' trician.
we've got an aging avondale, the electrics on board are almost all 12v, light's, water heater etc and as such won't work with out a battery , she is wired for 'ordinary' hook up leccy, but this only operates things like the fridge or telly
------------- no tin tent outings booked as yet ,just another cruise in Sept' booked so far
all the 12volt stuff was powered by either the caravans battery or if connected up to the mains from a transformer/control unit (think it was called a zig zag?)
This unit is used to charge up the battery when the EHU is connected, it will also run the 12volt lights if the battery is not there (if connected to the mains)
Have a look in your van for one of these units, you may find it is set to the wrong function.
This is one -
PS the spot lights are maybe 240v ones fitted afterwards, which is why they work.
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------------- As I've told my psychiatrist, you can't have too many tents.
if your 'van has a zig unit fitted, it will mostly likely have a switch on it that says, car, caravan ,off ,make sure this is switched to caravan for the electrics while your caravan isn't hooked up to the car
------------- no tin tent outings booked as yet ,just another cruise in Sept' booked so far
Thanks everyone for advice.Have tried car battery in van and front ceiling lights come one but nothing in rear of van.Have got a mobile caravan electrician coming out next week to give everything a check over just to be on safe side.As long as i get my fridge working in time for first trip away after xmas i will be happy-will drink my wine in the dark if i have to.
You may have a main trip switch and a seperate fuse box. We have. If you find a fuse box, check all fuses. Have you hooked up the van to the car yet? It's important that you check to make sure the road lights are working on the van - side lights, indicators, brake light, fog etc. If they aren't working, get the electrician to take a look at these too. It would be a pity to get the inside stuff working only to find that road lights don't work, just as you're hitching up ready to go.
Why not take the battery out of your car and stick it in the van to check if everything works. Theres a good chance that a number of things run on 12v and need a battery which will be kept topped up by the EHU when connected.
Cheers
Richard
------------- If you Don't ask, you Don't get..............
Easter - Alton Towers
May - Aveniemore
Summer - South West London (theme parks all Around)
September - Not Sure
October - Blackpool (Yet more Theme parks and attractions
Life is a Roller coaster and we will be on loads this year...
Would offer to look, but st helens is a bit far from leeds!
I think yours is the same model as mine, check under the front bunks, the consumer unit is under one of these (on mine the right hand side as you look to the front of the van.
Next to this is the charger, orange/red switch on it to turn it on/off next to this is the 12V fuse panel.
On the wall at eye level on the same side (practically above this) is the 12V main switch, no markings on mine, but pressed towards the front is power from the car, centre is off, to the rear is power from the van battery.
on my van one breaker is the sockets, the other is the lights, fridge and water heater (I think, off the top of my head)
Fridge, if its the same model as mine had 3 dials and 3 switches, from left to right is a red one with a pic of a battery, thats to turn the 12V on to power from the car whislt on the move (NOT from the van battery) next is a larger green one, mains power to fridge. the first dial is the thermostat for the mains operation.
On the other side, from the left is the gas on/off dial. next is the gas temperature LEVEL, not thermostat, and the next is the gas ignition switch.
you can test the 12V electrics without a battery, but you will need one, the charger isn't up to the job of running the 12V in my van just make sure the battery terminals (in the box) are no where near each other, personally to be on the safe side put them each in a seperate plastic bag.
I had a similar problem to yours, with the rear lights, in my case the fuse had gone, but the cause was the lamps in the awing light had got water inside and shorted out, so it still blew after replacing the fuse, took a while to track that one!!
Last one, promise, the fuses for the road lights are under the same bunk as the other control stuff, but at the very front of the van
Sorry if its a bit wordy, just trying to get the info in there!!
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Topic: caravan electrics for dummies!
via mobile 06/8/2023 at 4:29pm
