Hi after some advice if possible. Staying in my caravan for a bit, the 12v system is slightly adapted, has been since we got it. The main junction box has been by passed and the hook up feed splits to the mains stuff, and the 12v system is supplied by a normal basic battery charger, to battery, to the 12v system. Always worked fine. But, I noticed a dip in the lights and the battery gauge (caravan display) was showing 10 volts. Had a look at the charger and it was displaying 0. Started trying things, everything I turned on, everything went dimmer. Until I did the toilet flush (electric thetford) then everything brightened a bit. Caravan battery gauge started showing 13/14 volts. Normally it only shows 13 if all lights etc are off. With most lights on it shows around 11. The toilet flush and the water pump are clearly causing more drain on the system, as does each light I put on. Mains electrics working fine. Charger now showing about 1.5 (I'm assuming it's amps but I'm not electrically minded lol). I was thinking a duff charger, but then I thought it could be the battery. I've also noticed, I've got 2 oil radiators plugged in (one is on pretty much 24/7), whenever they click on and off (ie with their built in thermostat) the 12v lighting dims, but not much, only just noticeable. It's hooked up to a plug in the house, not sited on a site or anything so no real limits on power. Anyone any ideas please?
If you're plugged in at home you will have LESS power as a socket is only 13amps not the 16amps normal on campsites.
2 oil radiators plugged in ????? That's probably about 4000watts if they are both plugged in and on. You are certainly overloading the system and probably your house wiring.
Hmmm. Shows by electrical know how there lol. OK I take your point and stand corrected on the less power thing and probably sapping a fair amount of power (just looked and one says 2000w, the other 1500w), but I don't understand why that would affect the 12v system?
If it makes a difference the heaters aren't on full pelt. The 2000w is on half, the 1500w is on 2/3. Got 2 because big caravan, one only heated one half. Other end was freezing
You are absolutely right about overloading the mains supply, freeatlast, but I'm curious about why flushing the toilet should have apparently taken the load off the 12 volt system.
The radiators cutting in would cause a slight mains voltage drop to the charger, but this wouldn't result in that much of a voltage drop at the charger output. They usually have quite a tolerance to variations in mains voltage anyway.
I would definitely suspect a problem with the toilet flush system. If the lights brightened when it was flushed, that would suggest it was drawing more current when it was NOT flushing, which seems rather strange.
It's a central heating boiler system (alde comfort) which was unfortunately condemned 6 months ago. Has a water leak from the boiler system. I've been advised not use it because of a common fault where the gear exchangers corrode and then the heating system water mixes with the fresh. Officially he's recommended not using any water in the caravan system, but has unofficially told me it's OK for now, don't attempt to use the boiler and the rest will last longer, but to regularly test the cold water from the taps. So plug in heaters it is. Shame because it's a damn good heating system when it works
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 15/2/2015
You are absolutely right about overloading the mains supply, freeatlast, but I'm curious about why flushing the toilet should have apparently taken the load off the 12 volt system.
The radiators cutting in would cause a slight mains voltage drop to the charger, but this wouldn't result in that much of a voltage drop at the charger output. They usually have quite a tolerance to variations in mains voltage anyway.
I would definitely suspect a problem with the toilet flush system. If the lights brightened when it was flushed, that would suggest it was drawing more current when it was NOT flushing, which seems rather strange.
Sorry might be a bad explanation on my part. Toilet is not the only thing that causes a dip. Just putting another light on does too. But obviously toilet and water pump draw more than a florescent light so cause a more dramatic effect
Charger showing 1.5 amps as normal. The odd thing is free battery monitor (original caravan one) is showing 14v with 1 light on, normally just over 13v with nothing on, but with everything on, shows 10v whereas normally shows 11v
Sounds like the battery is on its way out. 10 volts is effectively completely flat.
I'm curious. You say; "Until I did the toilet flush (electric thetford) then everything brightened a bit. Caravan battery gauge started showing 13/14 volts."
If things brighten up when you flush the toilet, that sounds like it is drawing less current when it is flushing than when it's not, unless I misunderstand what you are saying.
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Topic: iffy 12v system
That's probably about 4000watts if they are both plugged in and on. You are certainly overloading the system and probably your house wiring.
