Electrical conundrum.

[Janine]

Something strange is happening with the electrics on my 2006 (old shape) Nuevo.

I am currently on hook-up and the switch on the panel is set to charge vehicle battery. (According to the original handbook, this is how this works)

Earlier this evening, when I turned a tap on and the water pump cut in, the interior lights dimmed as if the hab battery was low.

Checking the panel, it said that it was the vehicle battery that had only half power. Switching to hab battery to check that, the interior lights brightened and it was reading fully charged.

Would this suggest that my 12v system is depleting the vehicle battery instead of the hab battery? (The radio is off so that’s not draining the vehicle battery)

Now, a few hours later and having had the lights switched off while I try to sleep, the vehicle battery is showing as almost fully charged again.

I have had the van nearly 5 years and not had this issue before.

Obviously I am not going to try starting the van until morning

Any ideas?

 

[Janine]

Is the 12v system struggling to charge a maybe flat vehicle battery? It is at least 5 years old.

 

[Gromett]

Sorry I have no suggestions as I don't know your system. But staying up all night worrying about it won't achieve anything?

I would suggest putting it to charge the vehicle so you can at least start the van in the morning? Just my thought.

 

[Janine]

You are right, of course!

I am at the beginning of a little adventure, currently on a rally surrounded by friendly people and only 12 miles from home so not a huge problem.

Moving on to Oxford tomorrow so just googling garages that are open on a Sunday that can fit a new battery

 

[Carol]

A very early good morning Janine, is Bill still there if he is ask him, he is so good on knowing what is what, might be something simple.
Sounds as if you have had a nice few days enjoy your trip to Oxford but hopefully get sorted first. x

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[Gromett]

You are right, of course!

I am at the beginning of a little adventure, currently on a rally surrounded by friendly people and only 12 miles from home so not a huge problem.

Moving on to Oxford tomorrow so just googling garages that are open on a Sunday that can fit a new battery

Good luck with it. Hope it doesn't spoil your trip

 

[Janine]

Gromett Thank you! I am pretty resourceful.

Hope you aren’t working too hard

 

[Janine]

A very early good morning Janine, is Bill still there if he is ask him, he is so good on knowing what is what, might be something simple.
Sounds as if you have had a nice few days enjoy your trip to Oxford but hopefully get sorted first. x

Good morning! Yes, Bill is here so will pick his brains later

It’s been a lovely few days catching up on all the gossip Hope you are both well xx

 

[Reallyretired]

When I had an early kontiki that had that switch arrangement, it not only switched the charging but also the source for the hab electrics, in which case the effect you are getting would be normal.

 

[Revolvor]

When I had an early kontiki that had that switch arrangement, it not only switched the charging but also the source for the hab electrics, in which case the effect you are getting would be normal.

Our Autotrail is the same. The panel over the door defaults to the Hab batteries, but if I select the Cab battery, then EHU will charge it, but all loads are also coming off the Cab battery.

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[Janine]

Thanks for all your kind replies - it doesn’t take much to rob me of a good nights sleep!

I asked the same question on the Nuevo Facebook page. There is now a 50/50 split in opinions as to whether that switch determines which battery the 12v power is drawn from rather than just charging it.

Why would you ever need to configure it to draw from the vehicle battery?

One theory is that the hab battery is goosed so the draw has to come from somewhere else. The meter is showing it as fully charged so who knows?

The vehicle battery is now also showing as fully charged so I risked trying to start it whilst there are still people here who could help if necessary and it started first time!

 

[pappajohn]

Forget the onboard meters/gauges and use a multimeter directly on the battery terminals.