Battery charging issues

Bawwi
Bawwi Forum Participant Posts: 9
edited June 2022 in Caravans #1

Hello All,

Recently started caravanning with my young family and have learnt why my father used to get so irrate all those years ago ;)

Most recent problem is the battery is not charging even when connected to mains electric. I did leave the battery in and the caravan hooked up all winter without charging with a trickle charger but I've had the battery tested and it is fine.

So next step was to look at the internal charging unit, but trying to avoid spending any money at the moment. I have ordered a cheap multimeter so I can test the terminals to see what the output is. I'm going to change the fuse as well. But was wondering if anyone has spotted anything blatant that I might have missed?

Caravan is Bailey Senator Series 6 Arizona.

Thanks

B

 

 

 

Comments

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
    500 Comments
    edited June 2022 #2

    Firstly have you turned on the charger ours has  a little red push button on the box normally located under the seat 

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
    500 Comments
    edited June 2022 #3

    Sorry green button

  • Bawwi
    Bawwi Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited June 2022 #4

    Hi, there's no specific isolator for the charging unit. I've removed it and can't locate one. All the breakers are on and I have changed the fuse for the charger. But I'm currently charging the battery externally, so can't test yet.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited June 2022 #5

    If your various tests fail it is likely that you will need to replace the battery charger.  This is quite a straight forward task well within the capabilities of most.  Google is your friend, there are videos showing how to do it.  Happened to us last year!  Sadly the unit will cost in excess of £100surprised.

  • Bawwi
    Bawwi Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited June 2022 #6

    Update: I just tested the charger (I think). The EH was connected and I put a multi tester over the end of the charger terminals whilst connected to the battery. The tester read between 12.3 and 12.7v. So I guess that means it's charging?

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited June 2022 #7

    I wouldn't have thought so, a bog standard caravan charger when working will give an output of something like 13.6v - 13.8v to maintain the battery without chancing overcharging it. I believe your charger is not working and you are reading the battery voltage alone, seeing that you charged it previously using an external charger.

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
    500 Comments
    edited June 2022 #8

    If you are careful you can check your charger by switching your meter to 10 amp DC current setting unplug the live lead and plug into the 10 amp socket then remove the live lead from the battery and connect the meter in series as in the photo but remember to return the live lead back to the voltage socket when you have finished Do not put the probes across the battery terminals while the meter is set to current 

  • Bawwi
    Bawwi Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited June 2022 #9

    Thanks for all the advice guys. I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new charger unit. Learnt quite a bit during the troubleshooting process though, so all good.

  • FamilyVan
    FamilyVan Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited June 2022 #10

    Hi there,

    Just a quick note on this. I was having issues with my charger - volt meter jumping around, lights flickering and battery not holding charge. I was getting a reading of about 12.2v but obviously this wasn't enough.

    I did find online that there was an option to send it away to be fixed. After a bot of searching i found a caravan charger on a reputableauction site (new). I had studied the unit and realised it could be a fairly easy fix. I took the 240v feed from the charger on/off switch off of the faulty charger board and connected it the new charger. I then took the wires for the 12v system off of the faulty board and connected them to the new charger. The charger is still controlled by the same on off switch and sits nicely behind the original unit. 

    It really was a straight forward repair but I am electrically qualified. In the end it saved me about £80 but gave me something to fiddle around with - which was good 👍 

    All is working as it should - so back to trying to find a club site not fully occupied 😅

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