Completely Green to touring caravanning, i would say starting with zero knowledge of the workings of electrics in touring caravans.
We have a 2006 Compass Corona 540, which we bought less than a week ago, its currently im storage but we are taking it off next week.
We installed a new leisure battery but I am unsure how this operates with the caravan, I was able to make the roof lights work with this and the motor mover but nothing else, no sockets or none of the interior side lights.
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 somewhat depends on the age of the caravan to some extent exactly what is 12v powered and what is mains (EHU) powered, in as much as older vans often had at least some mains only lighting with limited 12v lights, whilst modern vans tend to be totally 12v powered lights.
The 13A domestic style power sockets ONLY work from the EHU mains. You may also have 12v power sockets either of the car cigarette lighter type or a two pin style, they are leisure battery powered.
Pumps (fresh water and toilet flush) are 12v.
Fridge (3-way 240v/12v/gas type) will be either mains or gas powered when pitched, the 12v refrigeration is ONLY when hitched to the tow car and powered ONLY when the engine is running! That said, it does need 12v from leisure battery to power the controls (and often the gas ignition) for ANY power source.
Heating controls AND blower fans are 12v powered, BUT the actual heating is from mains (EHU) or gas. Water heater again needs 12v power for controls, BUT is heated ONLY from mains (EHU) or gas. Again, without the 12v supply for controls, nothing will work.
Microwave is mains only.
Cooker may require 12v for gas ignition, and of course if it has an electric hob, that's mains (EHU) only.
When hooked up to the mains (EHU), the battery is charged by an onboard charger which also subsidises (or stands in for an absent) leisure battery to provide 12v.
You will need to turn on the 12v system on the main control box AND panel before very much works at all.
Hope that's sufficient as a bare bones introduction.
No two van brands, of for that matter vans of different years are quite the same or universal in how things are controlled, and user manuals (if you didn't get the user manual with the van, worth downloading off the internet) often have sparse info, things like which switch operates which light fitting can be trial and error search on your own!
Good luck, don't be shy to ask what may seem a daft question if you need more help - we all started from scratch at one point, and many things were far from obvious for most of us.
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 14/6/2026
It somewhat depends on the age of the caravan to some extent exactly what is 12v powered and what is mains (EHU) powered, in as much as older vans often had at least some mains only lighting with limited 12v lights, whilst modern vans tend to be totally 12v powered lights.
The 13A domestic style power sockets ONLY work from the EHU mains. You may also have 12v power sockets either of the car cigarette lighter type or a two pin style, they are leisure battery powered.
Pumps (fresh water and toilet flush) are 12v.
Fridge (3-way 240v/12v/gas type) will be either mains or gas powered when pitched, the 12v refrigeration is ONLY when hitched to the tow car and powered ONLY when the engine is running! That said, it does need 12v from leisure battery to power the controls (and often the gas ignition) for ANY power source.
Heating controls AND blower fans are 12v powered, BUT the actual heating is from mains (EHU) or gas. Water heater again needs 12v power for controls, BUT is heated ONLY from mains (EHU) or gas. Again, without the 12v supply for controls, nothing will work.
Microwave is mains only.
Cooker may require 12v for gas ignition, and of course if it has an electric hob, that's mains (EHU) only.
When hooked up to the mains (EHU), the battery is charged by an onboard charger which also subsidises (or stands in for an absent) leisure battery to provide 12v.
You will need to turn on the 12v system on the main control box AND panel before very much works at all.
Hope that's sufficient as a bare bones introduction.
No two van brands, of for that matter vans of different years are quite the same or universal in how things are controlled, and user manuals (if you didn't get the user manual with the van, worth downloading off the internet) often have sparse info, things like which switch operates which light fitting can be trial and error search on your own!
Good luck, don't be shy to ask what may seem a daft question if you need more help - we all started from scratch at one point, and many things were far from obvious for most of us.
They had it then and were then going away in it.
So they’re quite possibly still away.
Uat
------------- 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.
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
Topic: Leisure Battery Operations
via mobile 14/6/2026 at 2:09pm
