We've just bought a Geist (LMC) Activ 495. Love it, but I have a query... We'll be mostly on EHU when we're away, but the times there isn't any (eg, festivals or some CLs), can the 12V electrics kit, ie lights, water pump, loo flush(!) be run just off the caravan battery? The 12V system only seems to work when there's EHU also attached. Am I missing something, or is this the way they're built (and is there a work-around)? I'm new to the ways of 'proper' caravans!
If you have a battery fitted and it is in good condition then the 12 volt system should work without any problem. You may want to change the lights to LED bulbs to save power and if you are off hook up for more than a couple of days you may need a solar panel to top up the battery.
many continental vans are manufactured with out a battery or charger so if yours is one of these you will need a charger for the battery fitted also many continental vans do not have the facility to operate the fridge when being towed
There is a battery, and it's in good nick. Teresa, on the 12V control panel the middle battery charge indicator lights up when selected whether on EHU or not, and the 12V system switches on ok, as does the water pump switch on the right. All a pretty green, no problem! However, when EHU's switched off the only one that lights up is the middle battery indicator when pressed. The others are 'lifeless'. How do yours behave when not on EHU? Many thanks
No probs when I owned same van I had 110amh Numax battery for mover, after parking up I allowed car to tick over for to top up battery and keep fridge cool then set up folding solar panel to take over and put fridge and hot water heating on gas
I replaced reading lights for leds as they only use a tenth of the power of halogens. And never got to hot to touch like halogens
I also changed halogens in awing light for LEDs
I left bulbs in circular light as I could not get LEDs to fit at time for right price..
I fitted 240 volt led strip lights opposite end of settee/bed under overhead lockers taking supply from 13amp sockets either side of van for use when on EHU.
I also changed two 7pin plugs to one 13 pln plug. To suit new tow car and when on test the Amber reflectors along sides of van lit up which did not work on two 7 plns. Have you got key fob for putting on and off main light and awning lights when in bed
Hi Martin, when we are on 12V we have the 12v switch lit up and there is another button with like a tap on which we switch up or down (can't remember which!) for the pump I believe and this is also lit up. Sorry, I'm not very technically minded!
Thanks all. I found the problem; a sneaky little 'extra' fuse-block attached to the main one by a wire. I had to do a head-stand to see if there were fuses in there. There was, the 20A one had blown, all good when I replaced it.
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Topic: Can a Geist run on 12V only?
