Insurance Quotes
Insurance Discount Campsite Offers All offers
UK Sites French Sites European Sites Map Search Text Search Near your Location Popular Searches Leave a Review My Saved Sites Add a New Site
All Sections Caravanning Camping Tent Talk Motorhomes Trailer Tents Backpacking Equipment Statics UK Campsites Camping Abroad General Chat News More Sections Latest Posts
All Adverts Tents for Sale Caravans for Sale Motorhomes for Sale Equipment for Sale Post an Advert Campsite Jobs
All Categories Caravanning Advice Caravan Equipment Tents and Camping Motorhomes Towing and Towcars Equipment Furniture and Cooking Electrical / Gas Shows and Events General More Categories
Join for Free Log In

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register  Log In  Search  Latest Posts
 Reception - All Forums
   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email
Subject Topic: Problems when switch from 12v to 240
Post Reply
PersonGREEKZ
via mobile 22/11/2022 at 9:12pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered View GREEKZ's Profile View Profile   Reply to GREEKZ Reply   Quote GREEKZ Quote  
Joined: 22/11/2022

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   5
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Just bought a Lunar Astara 524 and all seemed OK. The battery test switch when pressed showed it was full and everything worked when I pitched and connected to mains. After about ha
lf an hour the water pump no longer works and the most ( all except two) lights are so dim you can't see anything. Even the battery test switch when pressed doesn't move the pin at all. When I then go and switch to 12v everything works properly again. Even the battery shows full straight away. If I turn it back over the same issues. After about half an hour I'll try again as I worried about leaving it on 12v but again the same problems.
I'm truly baffled with it!!!!!
HELP PLEASE.... I could do with some wisdom!!!!


PersonColin21
22/11/2022 at 10:07pm
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6596
Site Reviews Total: 20
Site Reviews 2026: 1 
Site Reviews 2025: 1 
Site Reviews 2024: 1 
Site Reviews 2023: 1 
Site Reviews 2022: 2 
Site Reviews 2021: 2 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 8
Site Nights 2025: 8
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 8
Site Nights 2022: 12
Site Nights 2021: 18
Site Nights 2020: 0
Sounds like you have a problem with the battery charger, it could be shorting out the 12 volt supply. The two brighter lights are probably running off the mains rather than the 12 volt circuit.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonGREEKZ
via mobile 23/11/2022 at 3:34am
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered View GREEKZ's Profile View Profile   Reply to GREEKZ Reply   Quote GREEKZ Quote  
Joined: 22/11/2022

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   5
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
The battery charger was my initial thought too but if it was though wouldn't I have seen some drop in the level of charge in the battery when I press the test? It's always full? I'm not very savvy with electrics.... can the battery charger short the 12v supply when I switch to 240v?
I thought about a smart charger on ebay but when I saw the battery is always about 14v with the multimeter and not changing I thought it might be something else


PersonColin21
23/11/2022 at 9:07am
 Location: East Herts
 Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail View Colin21's Profile View Profile   Reply to Colin21 Reply   Quote Colin21 Quote  
Joined: 05/11/2013

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   6596
Site Reviews Total: 20
Site Reviews 2026: 1 
Site Reviews 2025: 1 
Site Reviews 2024: 1 
Site Reviews 2023: 1 
Site Reviews 2022: 2 
Site Reviews 2021: 2 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 8
Site Nights 2025: 8
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 8
Site Nights 2022: 12
Site Nights 2021: 18
Site Nights 2020: 0
My thoughts are that the charger is the only common point where you have mains and 12volt in the same place. If the diodes in the charger were faulty it could possibly put a load across the battery causing the voltage drop. Have you tried switching the mains on with the battery charger switched off, if that's possible with your set-up? I don't know your caravan specifically.


-------------
Best Regards,
Colin


PersonGREEKZ
via mobile 23/11/2022 at 1:07pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered View GREEKZ's Profile View Profile   Reply to GREEKZ Reply   Quote GREEKZ Quote  
Joined: 22/11/2022

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   5
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
I'm not sure that's possible Colin. I'll check. My thought was that the switch is wrong and where it says 12v it really 240 and vice versa but that doesn't explain the dimming and pump stopping after maybe 15 minutes. Also, that the battery when I switch back is immediately full all the way!!!
Baffled!!! I'll have a look at the charger and see if I can switch it off and let you know.
Appreciate your help though anyway.
Thanks,
Anthony


Advertisement



Persontrog100
23/11/2022 at 2:25pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View trog100's Profile View Profile   Reply to trog100 Reply   Quote trog100 Quote  
Joined: 27/6/2014

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1755
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
i think you have a flat or worn out battery.. it holds enough current to run for 15 minutes and then goes flat.. when you switch back to mains you are running of the charger not the battery..

trog


Persontango55
23/11/2022 at 6:26pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Vision 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9593
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 3 
Site Reviews 2021: 1 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
To check the volts on the onboard battery charger, all you need to do is disconnect and remove the battery then switch on the mains power. Touch the voltmeter prongs onto the charger terminals and you should get a reading of around 13.8 to 14 volts. If it's dramatically less then it proves that the charger is defective. If it proves okay then the battery is suspect so you need to re-charge the battery via the onboard charger first, disconnect it and check the battery voltage which should be around 12.9 volts. Leave it for 24 hours then do another check to see what the voltage is. If it's anything less than the previous test then it proves that the battery is failing to hold the charge which a replacement battery is required.


Personsaxo1
23/11/2022 at 6:42pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View saxo1's Profile View Profile   Reply to saxo1 Reply   Quote saxo1 Quote  
Joined: 29/10/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4490
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
A lot of chargers won't register an output voltage unless a battery is connected and has sufficient power to start the charger.
saxo1


Persontango55
24/11/2022 at 10:03am
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Vision 450 View tango55's Profile View Profile   Reply to tango55 Reply   Quote tango55 Quote  
Joined: 15/5/2008

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   9593
Site Reviews Total: 23
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 3 
Site Reviews 2021: 1 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 23/11/2022
A lot of chargers won't register an output voltage unless a battery is connected and has sufficient power to start the charger.
saxo1


That's probably a fact on later model caravans that incorporate modern electrical technology so it really depends on the year of the caravan. I can check my charger output directly with a voltmeter but my caravan is a 2004 model so the electrics are most likely vintage compared to today's standards. I suppose it's based on the same principal as modern cars with sophisticated electronics built in. They may be more reliable but can be somewhat difficult to trace an underlying fault in some circumstances.



Personsaxo1
24/11/2022 at 11:21am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View saxo1's Profile View Profile   Reply to saxo1 Reply   Quote saxo1 Quote  
Joined: 29/10/2005

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   4490
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Smart chargers are mostly the ones, they are designed designed to avoid reverse polarity and accidental contact between the leads if the charger is switched on while disconnected from the battery and to determine the state of charge of the battery to determine the rate of charge required.
saxo1


Advertisement

Wolfbox


PersonGREEKZ
via mobile 27/11/2022 at 5:37pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered View GREEKZ's Profile View Profile   Reply to GREEKZ Reply   Quote GREEKZ Quote  
Joined: 22/11/2022

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   5
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Checked the voltage already mate. Its not that unfortunately


PersonGREEKZ
via mobile 27/11/2022 at 5:42pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: None Entered View GREEKZ's Profile View Profile   Reply to GREEKZ Reply   Quote GREEKZ Quote  
Joined: 22/11/2022

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   5
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2026: 0 
Site Reviews 2025: 0 
Site Reviews 2024: 0 
Site Reviews 2023: 0 
Site Reviews 2022: 0 
Site Reviews 2021: 0 
Site Reviews 2020: 0 
Site Nights 2026: 0
Site Nights 2025: 0
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
I was thinking of going with a smart charger. To be honest it's starting to really frustrate me and I haven't got much free time lately to fiddle.
Now the pump isn't making any noise at all when I open the tap and the pump light is continuously on. Could it be just a case if changing the whale pump? It's a bit battered anyway. If I pull out the whale pump and put the multimeter in the electric point's where it connects?
What would I be looking for? Any sort of voltage I guess right?



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Repairs, Servicing and Maintenance - Top of Page

     Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...












    Upcoming Event

UKCS Meet Motorhome and Campervan Show Exeter 20/11 to 22/11

A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets


5709 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Special Offers]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Tent Reviews] 

[Contact Us] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2026


Advertisement
Advertisement

Advertisement