Battery problems

mellykelly · Member

Battery problems

Phil C · Guru

Good morning and welcome to the forum.

OK, let's go to basic, have you checked the circuit breakers? Thsee will be in a cupboard or box near the mains inlet. If these are on (switched up) then check the cable and power point you have it pluged into. Being a new camper I would guess these are off, has the inlet receptical got a very large earth pin?

BTW from what I can understand, the fridge will only keep cool on 12 volts.

-- Edited by Phil C on Sunday 5th of April 2015 10:32:31 AM

-- Edited by Phil C on Sunday 5th of April 2015 10:35:11 AM

-- Edited by Phil C on Sunday 5th of April 2015 10:39:18 AM

madaboutled · Guru

I'm clutch at straws here, but do you know where the charger is located? And if it is switched on from there? Also check it the connections are tight and if the fuse is ok.

Also the pic doesn't really show the labels that clear and I don't think your reflection was smiling, be happy I'm sure others will jump on this with some suggestions too.

madaboutled · Guru

Morning Phil, have to say you type faster than me, but that's not hard!

Regards Steve.

mellykelly · Member

Thanks Phil. No we haven't checked the circuit breakers - will do that. Didn't even know there were switches there. Yes we bought a large earth pin plug and attached it. I sorta figured if the appropriate lights were on things were happening which clearly is not the case :(

Phil C · Guru

Cheers Steve, been doing it since I was 16, looked like a. Goose with me being the only boy in typing classes. But great skill to learn.

This one has me stumped a bit, there must be a RCD or a breaker in this camper, or the mains supply is bungo

KFT · Guru

I would like to ask what is the make and model of the fridge?

If you are hooked up to mains power the fridge should be operating on that and not the batteries.

looking at your "panel" are the buttons above the switches circuit breakers? have you pressed them in to be sure they are reset?

frank

mellykelly · Member

Im not smiling cos this thing is DOING MY HEAD IN!! Will check to see if there's an on switch at the charger - yes we're idiots for not looking but we don't know what we don't know!! disbelief

Phil C · Guru

mellykelly wrote:
Im not smiling cos this thing is DOING MY HEAD IN!! Will check to see if there's an on switch at the charger - yes we're idiots for not looking but we don't know what we don't know!!

Hi Melly, please don't let it do your head in. It's mechanical and can be fixed. I have sent you a private message.

mellykelly · Member

The fridge is a Waeco - brand new also. We have it plugged into the 12 v socket. I was told that it still run off the battery when plugged in this way. We do not have an inverter or anderson plug yet.

I don't know if they're circuit breakers. All I know is you switch them on, they light up... From left to right is Batter charger - on, DC outlet - on, Light - off, Refrigerator - on, Water Pump - off. The red knob has a pic of a batter and says 'house', which is on.

Phil C · Guru

Melly are there other positions on the big switch? House means the camper battery not your house.

mellykelly · Member

Oh - hang on I'll go look.

mellykelly · Member

Okay more pics - one of the battery switch in on and one in off - they are the only positions. I turned it off at the power point then turned it back on. The battery charger switch was not lit when I turned it back on so pressed the button above it and then it came on. The fridge worked for a couple of minutes but went back to showing not enough power in battery (flashing orange). I am totally clueless with this furious A manual would have been a fine thing:(

Phil C · Guru

mellykelly wrote:
Okay more pics - one of the battery switch in on and one in off - they are the only positions. I turned it off at the power point then turned it back on. The battery charger switch was not lit when I turned it back on so pressed the button above it and then it came on. The fridge worked for a couple of minutes but went back to showing not enough power in battery (flashing orange). I am totally clueless with this A manual would have been a fine thing:(

Ok, sounds like the charger isn't doing the right thing, may be a fuse or not plugged in properly or not switched on. Locate the charger, check the fuse, check it's plugged in and switched on. After that I would ring the dealer and get some answers.

Also check the battery box, some of these have integrated chargers etc in the actual box, maybe a fuse or switch in there.

Just had a thought, may be the battery terminals need tightening.

-- Edited by Phil C on Sunday 5th of April 2015 11:24:34 AM

mellykelly · Member

Okay thanks Phil. Should the battery button be switched on?

Phil C · Guru

Yes

Footprints · Senior Member

I know very little about electronics however could it be possible that while the van was plugged into the Mains the fridge was switched to DC which may explain battery power loss?

mellykelly · Member

I'll go check - thanks

Phil C · Guru

Footprints wrote:
I know very little about electronics however could it be possible that while the van was plugged into the Mains the fridge was switched to DC which may explain battery power loss?

Hi footprints and welcome to you as well. From what I can understand the fridge is 12 volts only, so the mains should only be charging the battery.

May be that all the services in the camper are 12 volts as well. I still have a niggle that there has to be a RCD someplace.

Cheers

Phil C · Guru

Melly Melly Melly (to quote Sheldon)

Is there in fact a charger on board? When we had our camper we needed an external battery charger, just a thought

mellykelly · Member

Bugger got excited there for a minute but alas, after consulting the fridge manual, it tells me that it has an integrated multi-voltage power supply for connecting to an AV voltage source and the priority circuit automatically switches the cool to mains operation if the device is connected to AC mains, even if the 12v cable is still attached (which it is). confuse

mellykelly · Member

Well there's this big black thing next to the battery, so I'm assuming so (although one should never assume).

mellykelly · Member

This is off the MDC website but what we have

Phil C · Guru

mellykelly wrote:
Well there's this big black thing next to the battery, so I'm assuming so (although one should never assume).

Melly, sorry to give you the run around, but if you can post a few pics of the box and take a look behind where the power comes into the camper may give me a clue or two.

mellykelly · Member

Can't get into it until my husband gets up cos I have to open the camper and I can't do that by myself. But I will this arvo. Did you get pic I posted off MDC website?

Phil C · Guru

No didn't get that pic

mellykelly · Member

That's odd. Here it is

Phil C · Guru

Thanks Melly, im surfing around trying to find an answer for you.

mellykelly · Member

I've been trying to find a manual with no luck. Thanks again Phil.

Phil C · Guru

Im not getting much from the website, OK by the look of your last pic it looks like all the gear is in the front tool box. I would suggest disconnecting the charger (the silver box on top) and plugging it into the extension lead, thus avoiding anything on board the camper.

That way at least your battery will get a charge and 12 volt electrics on board will start to work. This will also test the charger to make sure it is working correctly. You may have to do this during your holiday as well until hubby finds the problem or it goes back to the dealer to get fixed.

Please try this and let me know what the outcome is.

Cheers