Electrics & Water Pump

We have a 1990 Avondale Perle caravan. We are new to caravanning and have little knowledge of how they work! We have recently just plugged the main hookup to test the electrics and it seems like only the electric sockets are working, none of the fitted lights are working. Also the foot pump for the water was working last year but there is no activity at all now. Could it be something to do with the battery or a fuse somewhere but we're not sure it has a fuse board? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks, Lou

I should imagine that the lights and pump are operated via your 12v system. You should have a switch on your control panel to operate the 12v sytem and this will need to be switched on for it to work.

Electric Mains

by Mark
(Wakefield)

Please can you advise on how you go about switching from battery power to mains power on a Coachman Amara caravan? Any help would be much appreciated.


Before connecting any leads, you must make sure that the caravan's main control unit is switch off. Next uncoil your cable and insert the female end into the socket on your caravan (usually located in your battery compartment). Then couple the other end into the site supply box. Now all you have to do is to switch back on the main control unit in your caravan. At this point it might be worth testing the trip button to confirm that the residual current device is working by switch off instantly. Reset the safety switch and you should be ready to go.

Plug Sockets

I have just acquired a 1990 ABI Globetrotter caravan and the plug sockets don't seem to work but the lights and water pump do. Please could you help in any way !!!


The fuse may have blown. Locate the fuse box and check to see if the socket fuse has blown and change if necessary.

Electrics Problem on 2000 Coachman Amara 450/2

by Brian
(Lampeter)

Suddenly, although mains power is still there (the sockets all work), there is no power to the pump/lights/aux switches and the meter registers nothing. All the fuses are OK so I'm stumped as to what may be the problem. All was working well yesterday!!

Grateful for any pointers. Brian


It sounds to me that you have a completely dead battery. It is obiviously not holding a charge and might need replacing. However, before going out and buying one, see if you could borrow one just to test out if this is the problem.

Electrics - help please

by Pam
(Dundee)

We have bought an Elddis Wisp 400/4 (1991?) van. We are new to touring and are a bit confused over the electrics. When plugged into the mains only two small wall lights, the fridge and the wall sockets work. The water pump, roof lights and outdoor lights don't. Do they work off a separate system ie battery. There is a panel on the wall that has switches marked car battery and caravan battery - when we switched it to caravan it did not work. There were also switches for pump, lights and auxilliary - we tried them in both positions but no joy. The lights on the panel (green and red) did not light up either. There is a battery in the caravan but it could be that this is flat. While we can charge this, how does it maintain its charge - is it charged when the caravan is plugged into the mains? Is it the case that there are two different systemts ie one lot of stuff will work off the mains and the other off the battery? Sorry to sound stupid!!!

There are 2 different circuits on most caravans, 230v and 12v. The 12v will operate most of your lights and pump, while the 230v will operate your sockets and certain main lights. Try charging your battery and then try the 12v system again. If the battery is old, I would consider buying a new leisure battery. The battery itself should charge itself (via the on board charger in your caravan) when your are hooked up to electric.

Plug Sockets Don't Work

by Genna Poole
(UK)

On my caravan the plug sockets have just suddenly stopped working. I have checked if it's tripped out but they are all ok. I don't know why this has happened bcause it was working fine in the morning.


The most likely cause to the problem is a faulty fuse. Check the fuses in your box and replace if necessary.

Faulty Electrics ? 2009 Fleetwood Heritage

by Wayne
(Widnes)

We recently left our caravan in storage for 3 weeks and when we came back to it the leisure battery had discharged completely, but also the alarm and metis tracker system had ceased to work. Our dealer says that this is because the leisure battery had discharged and the tracker system only works for a day and a half after it becomes discharged (apparently after speaking to Metis - I have e-mailed them separately).Has anyone else had this worrying problem or a solution?

In storage you should really if possible keep your caravan hooked up to the electric supply so that your battery will not be discharged and therefore the Tracker will keep working. We keep our caravan at home and always keep it plugged in and the Tracker on.

Does anyone else keep their caravan in storage and, if so, do you plug into the electrics. If not, what happens to your caravan Tracker if you have one?

Please let us know if you can help Wayne.

ABI Tristar Control Panel

by BA
(Staffordshire)

I have a 1997 ABI Award Tristar four berth and I don't know what the top left and left middle switches are for, as shown in the attached picture. Any ideas? Thanks.

I may be wrong, but by the looks of them, one could be for your hot water heater and the other could be for your heating. However, if you are still unsure why not try contacting the ABI Owners Club and I am sure someone there will be able to help. Their website address is www.abiandfriends.org.

Sockets

Could you please give me any advice as the plug sockets on my Bailey caravan are not working. Many thanks for any help you could give me regarding this.


The most likely problem is a blown fuse. Check the fuses on your caravan consumer unit and replace if required. If this does resolve the problem, I would seek advice from your local dealer. It would be advisable to book your caravan in with them and have it looked at by a qualified mechanic.

7 Pin Socket

by Richard Genocchio
(Aberdeen Scotland)

I have only one 7 pin socket on my car but my caravan has two. Can I plug the caravan 7 pin socket in while I am parked and change it over to the 7 pin lights socket while driving?


The answer is a definite NO. The socket on your car is should have a black cover and should only be hooked up to the black plug on your caravan. This is a 12N socket and operates the road lights on your caravan. To use the grey plug on your caravan, you must have the supplementary GREY 12S socket wired to your car. The 12S socket operates the refridgerator, auxilliary battery charging and reversing light.

Abbey GT212 Details of Plumbing and Wiring

by Julian Liddiard
(Newtown, Powys)

I have an Abbey GT 212, which I bought 2nd hand in Oct 2005. It has had a water heater plus a fridge, gas, 12v/240volt added, both of which I do have the wiring and installation notes for.

What I do need though is the original caravan's specs and details, especially its wiring and plumbing details, so as to trace faults within it.



Try contacting the Abbey Owners Club. I am sure someone there will be able to point you in the right direction. Their contact details can be found on our website under 'Caravan Owners Club'.

Currently I have a water leak in the vicinity of the fridge and am also trying to reinstate the 240 mains voltage supply. The previous owner removed his charger and wiring, including cutting the mains supply cable at some location not yet discovered, so as to make it "Safe".

Lunar 415 2001 model 12v electrics

I have just brought a second hand caravan but I cannot get the electrics to work on 12 volt. The battery is full and the switch for the battery is on but the volt meter reads empty ???? and all the fuses are good.


Although your fuse are all good, I think you will find that there is a 15A in line fuse between your caravan battery and distribution panel that might be faulty. Try locating that and then change it to see if that works.

RCD FAILED TO TRIP OUT

by Chris
(Norwich)

Just tested the RCD unit in my van ( Elddis ex300 typhoon 96 )and it wont trip out - could this be a reason why some of the electrics are working on the van and some aren`t ? - the fridge ,fan heater all the powerpoints and the 2 uplighter lamps to the front ,do not work - the Carver fanmaster fan ,the water pump (taps ) work ok as well as all the other lights

the 2 red lights on the Carver Fanmaster do not come on ( circled ) ,I have checked the 2 removeable fuses in these units and they are ok - and the screw out glass fusewires are all ok

any help appreciatted !!


The best advice would be either have a qualified electrician to have a look at it or ask your local caravan dealer to take a look.

Caravan electrics

by Keith Jones
(wales)

I have a 1999 bailey pagent which whenever I attach to my car it blows a fuse on the car and my lights on the right side of both car and caravan don't (Indicators are fine just the lights)work. They did previously work fine but haven't been right since I had a blowout on the righthand side of my van.


Check the plugs and sockets on both the car and the caravan. Make sure that there are no loose wires and that they are clean and dry. If the plugs need replacing then do so. Also check the in-line fuse on your car

No mains power

by John Schofield
(Leeds)

Hi there, I am hoping you can help as I am baffled to what is wrong with my caravan electrics. I have an Abi Manhattan 490/5 2001 model, which we took away last weekend. Before setting off I plugged the fridge in to our household electric supply to cool it down. When we arrived at the site I hooked up to the electrics but it did not work. I tried using a different hook up point that somebody else was using and also a different cable, but still no joy. We did have some power from the 12v battery but not the mains. I have since checked all the fuses and these seem fine. I tried the test button on the RDC but this did nothing - probably because power is not getting there in the first place. Do you think it could be a faulty RDC or MCB? If so how can I be sure that is the problem? Any advice on this would be much appreciated. Many thanks, John.



The only way of being certain is to have it looked at by the experts. I would book your caravan in at your local dealer and ask them to sort it out. As with all gas or electrical problems, it is always best to have it looked at by the experts.

Swift motorhome- Poor Wiring

by JOHN P
(SHROPSHIRE. UK)

Purchased an ACE NOVELLA (SWIFT manufacture) from new in 2004. Loads of problems caused by poor/cracked wiring- short circuits causing engine fire, lights failing, flat batteries, non-functioning electrics, engine cut-outs etc. etc. Is it me or has anyone else had similar probs with SWIFT?

How Do You Change a Fuse

On reading through all the answers it seems to me a fuse has blown and that is why my plug sockets aren't working, but how do i change the fuse. Sorry, I am extremely new to this!!!!!!!!!


Firstly you need to locate your fuse box. On the fuse box it should tell you the location of the fuse for your sockets. Simply remove the fuse and change it like for like.

Caravan Electrics Humming

by John Berry
(Derbyshire)

I have a static ABI Weekender on a site with no mains electricity. All the electrics work fine off a gennie or battery via an inverter. Howevere there is humming/buzzing noise emanating from both lights and ring main circuits. The fuses are not tripping out. Any ideas what the problem might be? I have tried different gennies and inverters but the problem is the same. Thanks.


Having never had this problem, I am going to need some help. Has anyone out there had a similar problem and would able to shed any light on this. If so, please advise and will will forward your comments.

Where is the Fuse Box for a Hobby 650 2006 UMFE Caravan?

by Caroline
(UK)

A fuse has gone in our caravan and we have tried in vain to find the fuse box. Does anyone know where it might be???? Any help would be much appreciated!



Does anyone own a caravan similar to Caroline's and might be able to help?

If so, please contact us and we will pass on the information.

Mains Electricity

by Len

Hi, just new to caravaning have bought a 1992 abi monza 400d mark2. Can anyone tell me if my caravan has mains electric and if so how to link it up?

Thank You


On the side of your caravan, there should be a socket where you insert your mains hook up cable. I think it is on the none door side just below the front side window. To hook up, simple plug in your cable (none cap end) into the socket on the caravan and the the other end into the site power box. Next make sure that the control panel is switched to 240v.

Using Hair Straightners in a Caravan

Hi, Silly question I know but im going away for the weekend in a caravan for the first time and I'm wondering how I can use my hair straighteners? My partner says the electrics are only 12v and the straighteners take 240.
How can I get round this?

Not a silly question at all. My wife and daughter always take their straighteners and hair dryer with them whenever we go (not forgetting the kitchen sink). Providing that you have an electric hook up and you don't have everything plugged in and going at the same time there should not be a problem and don't forget to turn them off!

Caravan Wiring Diagram

by Bernard H
(Preston, Lancs UK)

I have just purchassed a Fleetwood Colchester 1989 (as I am unable to fund a newer van) and I am having trouble with the interior electrics (water and lighting). I will be able to sort it but it would be easier if I had a wiring diagramme,does anyone have one?.



Your best bet would be to contact the Fleetwood Owners Club to see if someone there can assist you. Their website address is www.fleetwood-owners-club.co.uk.

Power in Caravan and Awning.

Hi, I am new to caravaning and would like to know if there is a way of having power in my caravan and the awning at the same time with out having to have the window or door open to run an extension lead, do they do a double headed hookup so I can attach one to the van another end into the awning.

As I have kids I would like to keep the door and window closed at night to keep the noise out so they can sleep well.



The only way of doing this is to have an external power point fitted to your caravan. I would suggest that you take your caravan to your local dealer and ask them to fit one for you. It is a relatively simple job, but showed be done by a professional. However, always agree a price with dealer before they carry out the work.

ABI Award Tristar Caravan Wiring Diagram

by Dave Creagh
(New Zealand)

Hi Guys. Do you happen to have a 12 volt wiring diagram for this caravan model? It's around 1995 year. I want to set up the 12 volt supply from a car to the auxillary battery. Cheers.


Your best bet would be to contact the ABI Owners Club direct. I am sure someone there will be able to supply you with the information you need. Their contact details are detailed below.

www.abiandfriends.org

The Caravan Socket is not working

by Norma
(Sunderland)

I have only one socket working on the caravan. What can I do to get the other sockets working. Also I cannot get the caravan lights working they just flicker. I am new to caravaning. My caravan is a touring caravan. It is a Marauder caravan. Have I got it on the wrong voltage.
Norma.


Because of the age of the caravan, I would suggest that you book your caravan in for a service at your local dealer. Explain to them the problems that you have and they should be able to fix them at the same time.

ABI Ambassador - 240v Wiring Diagram

by Windsor
(Cardiff Wales UK)

I have an ABI caravan and would like a copy of the 240v circuit so that if I get a problem I will be able to find the fault and repair it. Many thanks for your help.


Your best bet would be to contact the ABI owners club direct. Their website address is www.abiandfriends.org.

Mains Electrics - Nothing Working

by Viki
(Derbyshire)

Hi, we have an ABI Airstream 97 we have used it with a gennie and everything works ok, also we had electric hook up until this morning when I pluged in a hoover and now nothing works on it! i have checked the trip switches and every thing is ok and fuses look ok. The lead from the barn is a 25 meter normal extension then the caravan cable plugs in the extention which goes in the van...its been working ok untill I pluged the hoover in!....help please as I am soo in the dog house with hubby!!


When you say you have checked the trip switches, is that just on the caravan? Check the fuse box for your mains electric for the barn. It is more than likely that one of the switches has tripped on that.

Electical Safety

by Neil
(Kent)

Will using a range of electrical items cause my electrics to trip out?


It will depend on how many Amps are available from the hook up point and also how full the site is. Try only running one appliance at a time. So, if someone wants to use the hairdrier, switch off other aplliances before using it. The same would go for the microwave etc. You can buy low wattage appliance specially made for caravaning/camping which will cut the loading down.

12v wiring diagram for ABI Monza 400D

by Lindy
(Arbroath)

Even though its a 1992 caravan, I was wondering if anyone out there had a copy of the 12v wiring diagram for an ABI Monza 400D or could point me in the right derection

Thanks


Your best bet would be to contact the ABI Owners Club. Perhaps someone there can either supply you with what you need or point you in the right direction. Their website address is www.abiandfriends.org

230V electrical system not working off leisure battery on Romahome Camper

by Adam Kline
(London UK)

Not quite a caravan question but very similar. We have a Romahome camper - the cabin electrics of which can be run off either a leisure battery or mains hookup.

Internal lights and the water pump run off a 12V system which is working fine on either hookup or leisure battery alone.

A plug socket and electric fridge run off the 230V system which works fine on hookup, but not off the leisure battery. The consumer unit has RCD fuses, all of which are on and I assume (if everything runs off hookup) OK. Any suggestions?

Caravan Circuit Wiring

by Ian Lindsay
(Norwich)

I have just bought a ABI Marauder 450CT Gold, 1993 model. It has a circuit breaker fuse box with a 10A and 5A fuse. The 5A keeps tripping. It is the one that runs the lights and fridge.
Does anyone have a diagram of the circuit layout for the van? Also does anyone know where I could get a manual?
Thanks


If you contact The ABI Owners Club, they should be able to point you in the right direction. Their website address is www.abiandfriends.org.

Caravan Electrics

by Mike O'sullivan
(Southern Ireland)

I have recently purchased a smashing Lunar Jupiter SE caravan but when mains plugged in only one small interior light works. All the sockets and fridge work there is no battery connected.


The majority of interior run off 12v. You will find that if you fit a leisure battery to your caravan, the rest of your interior lights should work.

Caravan electrical sockets

by Caroline
(Huntingdon, UK)

Just bought my first ever caravan and discovered that although the internal lights all seem to work, all the electrical sockets are dead. Any advice would be appreciated.


The majority of caravans are wired so that the lights will work of the 12v system and that the sockets run off the 230v system. I think you will find that once you are hooked up to the electrical supply either at home (using a mains convertor lead) or on site, your sockets should work.

Zig x70 wiring

by Alan
(Cheshire)

I am changing a faulty zig x70 charging unit on my 1999 Avondale Rialto 550-4, the old one was wired as follows,

terminal 1 on x70 to blue wire with red trace
terminal 2 on x70 to red positive from battery with inline fuse
terminal 3 on x70 to black negative from battery
terminal 4 on x70 to white wire with red trace

The new x70 manual states the wiring should be as follows,
aux battery connections
terminal 1 on x70 to positive battery terminal via inline fuse
terminal 4 on x70 to negative battery terminal

12S connections
terminal 2 on x70 to pin 2 on 12S plug
terminal 3 on x70 to pin 3 on 12S plug

control panel connections
terminal 1 on x70 to aux battery connection on control panel
terminal 4 on x70 to negative on control panel

can you tell me which is correct ?


To be perfectly honest, I am not really certain. To be on the safe side, I would suggest that you ask your local dealer to fit it for you. By doing it this way, if there are any problems with it, they will be liable and not you.

Wiring colour code for Elddis caravan 2000-on uk

(UK)

I am wiring a bathroom tap. one wire brown the other brown with blue stripe. Which is +ve and which -ve
please help


Going by what is the standard electrical coding, BROWN is normally LIVE and BLUE is normally NEGATIVE. Unless anyone knows any different.

Lighting Wiring Advice

by Michael
(watton ,norfolk)

In the Clubman Lunar 390 2 there are lighting connections and we are thinking of adding a Car stereo - would the 12V cable be able to cope with that and which wires are what?

Thanks Mike


Yes, the red and yellow wires on your radio to positive and the black to negative. When fitting a radio in a car one of them would be switched via the ignition, the other a permanent live for keeping the radio's memory. In the caravan joining them both (red and yellow) together should be fine. If you are still uncertain, ask your loacal caravan dealer to fit one for you.

Hobby Caravan Electric Problem

by Sammyjo
(Norfolk)

I have a 2009 VIP Hobby caravan but the lighting, ariel and water pump are no longer working. I have been told it could be the dometic electric box. Could you tell me were I could get one from please. Thank you please get back asap.


You could try contacting Hobby Caravans direct (www.hobbycaravansuk.co.uk) or you could try www.thecaravanspecialists.co.uk. They might have what you are looking for.