12 volt issues

orlafer
orlafer Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited September 2017 in Caravans #1

hi. 

We have a 1996 hobby caravan which seems to originally not had a leisure battery installed. Some where along it's life there has been any issue with the distribution board and the 12v side of the electrics aren't working. Again along its life someone attached a battery to tap micro switch under the sink ( back to front) oops but failed to remove rest of connections to 12v systems.  

But enough with the history, I want / need to install lesuire battery I have new 95Ah battery so should be able to run water pump and fan for heating system while we are on site. 

Q1.  The supplementary electric cable to the van is 3core the currently connected to per. Live per. Earth and fridge ( switched live) not very useful I know, but can I change this to be fridge live, fridge earth and battery charge. And then connect all van 12v system and the battery charge line to the van battery. And connect the fridge 12v from its dedicate line from the car.  

Q2. Do I require any relays / fuses between car charge line and van battery?

 

cheers

 

andy

 

forgot to add, 

any other suggestions greatly appreciated 

we don't really want to be spending £100's on a new distribution board just yet 

Comments

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,671 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited September 2017 #2

    Hello orlafer,

    Please se attached photo where I have proposed a wiring which will work running your fridge and charging your caravan battery while driving, this assumes the car wiring is according to post 1998 wiring system.

    Regarding your Q1, the mains hookup (230V) you will need to wire correctly to the fridge mains cable, a 13A type socket plate with a 13A plug on the fridge cable.  The 12V side is covered by the sketch. Hope I understood Q1 correctly. 

    Re Q2, I have not proposed any additional relays, but the switch connecting "Caravan Consumers" should be in off position while towing.  "Caravan Consumers" include everything in the van running off 12V, lights, pump etec.

    It is very important that the fuses shown are included (the battery can deliver very high currents) to avoid fire risks.

    Please excuse the quality of the wiring diagram.

     

     

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