Electric Problems On Motorhome

[AL1969]

Just wondering if anyone has any idea what I can try I have a Peugeot Boxer 2002 Avantgarde 400RL just bought it the interior electrics only work on hook up. I have a brand new battery under the bonnet and the leisure battery has 13.6volts on display and rises to 14.8volts on hook up. The inline fuse looks good and I’ve turned all trip fuses off and back on. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[bartman]

We have a 2002 Avantgarde. I assume you are referring to the 12v habitation electrics, i.e. lights etc.
Two possibilities occur to me.
First, if you have the same 12v distribution/fuse box under the seat, there is an on/off switch at the end, it may be in the "off" position.
Second, there is a master switch as you come in the hab door, it's low down almost at floor level on the right. I think it's designed to enable you to leave the light switch in the "on" position, and switch off as you exit. Then when you return from the pub in the dark, you can switch on the lights as you enter.
The trip fuses are only going to be for the 230v mains electrics, so only apply to the hook-up

 

[merl]

Ignoring the fact that 13.6v / 14.8v are unusually high so assuming for now this is simply inaccuracies in the panel readout.
The leisure battery is obviously being charged because it's voltage is rising when on EHU but I can't imagine how the vans 12v system becomes disconnected from the battery when the EHU is removed which must happen IF you've only got 12v while on EHU AND there's a good voltage in the leisure battery.

Sounds like the interior electrics that you're experiencing are 240v powered electrics only and there's an issue with the 12v side? Some older vans used to have a couple of 240v lights (often near the front of the van) and the rest off of the 12v side.If the TV only works on EHU then again it could simply be a 240v TV.

 

[Canalsman]

Just wondering if anyone has any idea what I can try I have a Peugeot Boxer 2002 Avantgarde 400RL just bought it the interior electrics only work on hook up. I have a brand new battery under the bonnet and the leisure battery has 13.6volts on display and rises to 14.8volts on hook up. The inline fuse looks good and I’ve turned all trip fuses off and back on. Any help would be appreciated.

Which electrics?

Only the 12 volt electrics work when not on hook up...

 

[Bigshug]

Put a meter on your leisure battery. It seems to me that when on hook up your 240volts is acting like a psu. You could try using jump leads from either your starter battery, or a spare battery to the leisure battery to see if anything works then.

 

[bartman]

Put a meter on your leisure battery. It seems to me that when on hook up your 240volts is acting like a psu. You could try using jump leads from either your starter battery, or a spare battery to the leisure battery to see if anything works then.

I think in those years the type of chargers fitted as standard were in no sense "smart", they were no more than a psu supplying a constant voltage. They did the batteries no good at all. I certainly got rid of the one fitted in ours.

 

[AL1969]

We have a 2002 Avantgarde. I assume you are referring to the 12v habitation electrics, i.e. lights etc.
Two possibilities occur to me.
First, if you have the same 12v distribution/fuse box under the seat, there is an on/off switch at the end, it may be in the "off" position.
Second, there is a master switch as you come in the hab door, it's low down almost at floor level on the right. I think it's designed to enable you to leave the light switch in the "on" position, and switch off as you exit. Then when you return from the pub in the dark, you can switch on the lights as you enter.
The trip fuses are only going to be for the 230v mains electrics, so only apply to the hook-up

Yes I have two switches on right hand side of habitation door one is the electric step and one more tried flipping that but still no electric work. Everything works on mains hook up. I’m new to all this as bought motorhome just before Christmas then had operation so only just getting back to it.

 

[colinm]

Which electrics?

Only the 12 volt electrics work when not on hook up...

Wouldn't be the first time some one had thought that.

 

[AL1969]

Yes I have two switches on right hand side of habitation door one is the electric step and one more tried flipping that but still no electric work. Everything works on mains hook up. I’m new to all this as bought motorhome just before Christmas then had operation so only just getting back to it.

Wouldn't be the first time some one had thought that.

I bought a brand new battery for under the bonnet as had problems starting it. New to everything vehicle is just sat on the drive at the moment I start it up every day but the habitation electrics lights and sockets don’t work unless I connect the hook up to the house electrics. I have a cupboard inside behind the leisure battery with a fuse box one for lights and one for sockets and one main switch all are on. The inline fuse from leisure battery seems ok and there is a digital display inside that gives a reading room around 13volts then when engine running this rises to 14.8volts.

 

[r4dent]

I suggest that you upgrade to full membership.
That way you will have access to lots more information.
This includes a document aimed at newbies that explains the basics of MoHo electricity.
Starting with which electrical items work off the leisure battery and which work on EHU.

It also explains that when the EHU is connected the 12v devices will run from the 12v output from the built in battery charger.
If your 12v devices don't work unless the EHU is connected the most likely issue is
a) There is a blown in line fuse between the leisure battery and the PDU
b) There is no connection between the leisure battery and the MoHo chassis
c) There is no connection between the leisure battery and the PDU

 

[merl]

I suggest that you upgrade to full membership.
That way you will have access to lots more information.
This includes a document aimed at newbies that explains the basics of MoHo electricity.
Starting with which electrical items work off the leisure battery and which work on EHU.

It also explains that when the EHU is connected the 12v devices will run from the 12v output from the built in battery charger.
If your 12v devices don't work unless the EHU is connected the most likely issue is
a) There is a blown in line fuse between the leisure battery and the PDU
b) There is no connection between the leisure battery and the MoHo chassis
c) There is no connection between the leisure battery and the PDU

Can't see how it could be any of a,B or c because the display is showing around 13v in the leisure battery with that increasing when on EHU.
That means the battery is decent and must be connected to the PDU.
Draw it out and you'll see what I mean.
I suspect the OP actually has NO 12v system output whatsoever whether on EHU or not ( 12v fuse/ fuses/ main isolator issue?? ) and the equipment he sees working on EHU is all 240v.
There's only one way the OP can have a12v system that works on EHU only is to have no leisure battery connected to the system (so the battery charger works as a power supply) but in this case the OP wouldn't see 13v at the panel rising to 14v+ when on EHU.
Wonder if it could be a very high resistance connection between battery and PDU? The battery would still 'show' on the PDU but wouldn't actually power anything .
Suggest the OP unplug the EHU and watches the battery voltage indicator as he turns on 12v equipment.
Oh, those 240v sockets will ONLY work when on EHU BTW.

 

[Nabsim]

Does the electric step work when you are NOT on EHU?

 

[AL1969]

Does the electric step work when you are NOT on EHU?

Yes that works plus one light for the outside but nothing else.

 

[AL1969]

Can't see how it could be any of a,B or c because the display is showing around 13v in the leisure battery with that increasing when on EHU.
That means the battery is decent and must be connected to the PDU.
Draw it out and you'll see what I mean.
I suspect the OP actually has NO 12v system output whatsoever whether on EHU or not ( 12v fuse/ fuses/ main isolator issue?? ) and the equipment he sees working on EHU is all 240v.
There's only one way the OP can have a12v system that works on EHU only is to have no leisure battery connected to the system (so the battery charger works as a power supply) but in this case the OP wouldn't see 13v at the panel rising to 14v+ when on EHU.
Wonder if it could be a very high resistance connection between battery and PDU? The battery would still 'show' on the PDU but wouldn't actually power anything .
Suggest the OP unplug the EHU and watches the battery voltage indicator as he turns on 12v equipment.
Oh, those 240v sockets will ONLY work when on EHU BTW.

Thanks for your reply but I’m completely new to this and don’t understand all of abbreviations I’ve worked out EHU means electric hook up but I’ve driven it around once not stayed out in it yet. Somebody suggested that there should be a switch low down as the habitation door is opened there is one that works the step plus one more but nothing happens when flipped.

 

[r4dent]

Can't see how it could be any of a,B or c because the display is showing around 13v in the leisure battery with that increasing when on EHU.
That means the battery is decent and must be connected to the PDU.
Draw it out and you'll see what I mean.
I suspect the OP actually has NO 12v system output whatsoever whether on EHU or not ( 12v fuse/ fuses/ main isolator issue?? ) and the equipment he sees working on EHU is all 240v.
There's only one way the OP can have a12v system that works on EHU only is to have no leisure battery connected to the system (so the battery charger works as a power supply) but in this case the OP wouldn't see 13v at the panel rising to 14v+ when on EHU.
Wonder if it could be a very high resistance connection between battery and PDU? The battery would still 'show' on the PDU but wouldn't actually power anything .
Suggest the OP unplug the EHU and watches the battery voltage indicator as he turns on 12v equipment.
Oh, those 240v sockets will ONLY work when on EHU BTW.

 

[Nabsim]

Yes that works plus one light for the outside but nothing else.

Is there a switch/button on the control panel to turn 12V on? My (different van) has a switch that turns 12V on and off. Originally it would be 12V off travelling then turn on when parked up. Step and pain (outside above the tab door) work with 12V on or off on mine

 

[merl]

Yes that works plus one light for the outside but nothing else.

Sounds like you've got a fuse/ fuses out on the 12v side. And as I mentioned previously the lights that DO work when you're on EHU are actually 240v anyway. Have you located the 12v fuse panel? Or an isolation switch?
Switch may look like this? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40461628...3BE9lElS6i&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

The fuse panel something like this but you may not see the wires like you can in the image, you're looking for a row, possibly 2 of coloured plastic strips,

 

[merl]

Is there a switch/button on the control panel to turn 12V on? My (different van) has a switch that turns 12V on and off. Originally it would be 12V off travelling then turn on when parked up. Step and pain (outside above the tab door) work with 12V on or off on mine

Nice one Neil, hadn't thought of the blatantly obvious

 

[mistericeman]

Does your control panel look like this ?

 

[r4dent]

Yes that works plus one light for the outside but nothing else.

From all that you have posted so far I am infering that
If the EHU (well done on Electrical Hook Up) is connected.
all the 230v devices and three pin sockets work
all the habitation12v devices (internal lights; water pump, and habitation cigar lighter sockets work

If the EHU (well done on Electrical Hook Up) is NOT connected.
No 230v devices including three pin sockets work
No 12v devices including cigar lighter sockets work
the only 12v devices that do work are the electric step and an external 12v light. It is quite possible that these two items are powered by the starter battery.

This supports my previous lists of possible faults.

I note that you say "The inline fuse looks good " . Have you checked it with a test meter.
What amperage is this Fuse?
Where is it inline between?
Any chance of a photo.