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Charging system gone wrong????

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#31

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:58 pm
by hob (deleted)

Quote: Aaron Calder wrote in post #26
This is all very confusing.

So far as I understand it (and I'm wide-open to correction here) the Continentals tend to use their vans almost exclusively on EHU so normally they would not have a leisure battery fitted. If they wanted to stop overnight, at an aire for example, leaving their car and caravan connected, they would flick the second switch on the BIP up and be able to run lights, taps etc. from their car battery. I assume there would have been some system to prevent them discharging the battery to the extent that they would be unable to start the car?

I know nothing about electrics but if its any help here's whats under the seat in a 2006 import. The switch on the left is all one bit and what looks like 2 switches is in fact some sort of trip switch.

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Vauxhall Insignia Sri towing 2006 Triton 430 import

#32

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:00 pm
by Peter Glaze (deleted)

Just like you Graham, I'm a get-a-man-in fan, especially when it comes to eye tests... Do you think that we've got enough critical mass on the forum now to negotiate a discount with Specsavers?

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#33

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sat Jul 12, 2014 9:51 pm
by Agger (deleted)

Definately

#34

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:08 pm
by Peter Glaze (deleted)

Just to be clear - I'm not making light of the travails of 4ndy who is obviously up against it in getting to the bottom of his electrical fault before his big trip. Good luck to you mucker. I hope that all ends well before embarkation, but my pathetic contribution begins and ends with "have you tried switching it off and then on again?".

On the other hand, four dogs in a Triton... you're on your own - literally :-)

#35

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sat Jul 12, 2014 10:16 pm
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

Quote: Peter Glaze wrote in post #34
"have you tried switching it off and then on again?".

Sadly with this ancient technology such high-tech solutions don't work.

Believe me, I've tried!

Forum Administrator
2003 Triton 420 and Audi A4 2.0Tfsi S-line SE Cabriolet

#36

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sun Jul 13, 2014 10:55 pm
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

Andy,

Pepé le Pew and I have been doing some joint research into how the Schaudt booster should be connected using the Eriba Instruction Manual (a bit difficult to follow) and the much clearer schematic diagram that John England produced for me when he repaired my BIP in November 2011 (see below).

If you look at the very bottom of John's diagram, you will see that the wire with the 2amp fuse (which we think possibly operates a relay in the booster to turn it on) is powered from the switched 12v supply from the towing vehicle so that it only operates when the caravan is being towed (i.e. ignition on, engine running and alternator charging the car battery), the same as the 12v heater on the fridge.

The wire in question should therefore be connected to the live side of the fridge relay (the blue component to the right of the two BIP switches). This way, when the tow car is started, the booster will switch on and charge the leisure battery and there will be a 12v supply to the fridge. The booster will switch off when the car ignition is turned off.

On my 2003 Triton, the wire with the 2amp fuse is black and enters the rear of the BIP in a white sheath with two other wires from the booster. From memory, that black wire loops through to the front of the BIP and attaches to the bottom contact of the fridge relay (this would need checking but it is easily accessible with the front cover of the BIP removed.)

What appears to have happened is that your booster 2amp feed has been connected to one of the terminals on BIP switch #2 so it is on whenever that switch is on (up position) but cannot work when the switch is off (down position - where it should be in all normal circumstances.)

We don't know what damage (if any) could be done to the booster if it is left powered up whenever the van is on EHU but yours is clearly not wired up correctly and should be sorted out as soon as possible by a competent person.

Usual disclaimers as neither Pete nor I are qualified electricians. Perhaps the electrician who is rewiring your towing socket could have a look at it for you?

Please keep us posted on progress.

BIP.jpg - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

Forum Administrator
2003 Triton 420 and Audi A4 2.0Tfsi S-line SE Cabriolet

#37

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Thu Jul 17, 2014 9:17 am
by 4ndy (deleted)

Thanks very much for the help guys.

When the chap comes to do the tow bar electrics, I will first make him a brew and offer him some cake and then show him the print off of whats been mentioned on this topic.

I will of course let you know what happens

Thanks again

Andy

Aaron Calder likes this post!

#38

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:19 pm
by Aaron Calder •

| 3.834 Posts

I shall look forward to hearing how you get on, Andy.

Let's hope you get everything sorted out as a temperamental BIP is a recipe for disaster. Been there, got the T-shirt!

Forum Administrator
2003 Triton 420 and Audi A4 2.0Tfsi S-line SE Cabriolet

#39

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sun Jun 30, 2019 4:24 pm
by Doonhamer •

| 82 Posts

Quote: A guest wrote in post #8
I just unhooked the mains took the battery off and checked the fuses. The bottom 15a fuse was blown, it has been replaced and the battery put back on and the lights worked just fine. I reconnected the mains and the green light is on and the battery is now showing 13.54 volts.

Well I had the same fault, no pump or lights working with ehu disconnected & a voltage across the battery of 12.7V.

After replacing the bottom 15A fuse, lights & pump working without ehu & charging voltage up to 13.6V

.

Green light on booster is not on when ehu connected, but is on when connected to 12 pin plug on car.

All good then, I was just wondering what the individual isolator switch in the centre of Andy's BIP is for as I have one.

I have a 2001 Puck L which has a Lechlade stamp on it.

#40

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Sun Jun 30, 2019 4:25 pm
by Doonhamer •

| 82 Posts

Wow, I've just done a "quote" & a "picture" .

Last edited Sun Jun 30, 2019 4:26 pm | Scroll up

#41

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Mon Jul 01, 2019 6:23 pm
by Ray Lawrence •

| 671 Posts

The individual switch in the middle is to switch the tow vehicle's 12Vdc permanent supply to the BIP to power up the 12V circuits.

2007 Triton 430GT - Seat Ateca 1.4TSI petrol manual

Doonhamer likes this post!

#42

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Wed Jul 03, 2019 8:34 pm
by Doonhamer •

| 82 Posts

Quote: Ray Lawrence wrote in post #41
The individual switch in the middle is to switch the tow vehicle's 12Vdc permanent supply to the BIP to power up the 12V circuits.

Thanks Ray.

#43

RE: Charging system gone wrong????

in Improving your pride and joy and how to fix things Fri Jul 05, 2019 7:35 pm
by Doonhamer •

| 82 Posts

Quote: Ray Lawrence wrote in post #41
The individual switch in the middle is to switch the tow vehicle's 12Vdc permanent supply to the BIP to power up the 12V circuits.

Coming back to this, does this mean that for the fridge to be powered by my vehicle when towing this switch should be "On" in the up position?