Hello All, Now here's a question for those who have been around caravans a while. My van [1989 Coromal Aussie Tourer] like many other vans has a 12V globe within each of the usual overhead light fittings [shared with 240V globes] operated by a separate [brown] switch mounted on each of the lights. Is it usual for these to get their power direct from the connector to the car ? I ask because I cannot find any trace of the 12V wiring going anywhere else - without pulling the ceiling and walls apart [!] - I was expecting a fused switch or something similar - just like teh 240V supply has. What I am keen to do is to wire the 12V lights so that I can use them from my stand alone deep-cycle battery rather than 'risking' my car battery. All I have to do of course is 'intercept' the 12V supply and connect to my stand alone battery - through an isolator and a fuse naturally - but so far I have no idea where to look. Coromal dont seem to offer any manuals or wiring diagrams which rather surprises me. Or is that 'normal' with caravan manufacturers ? Thanks.
mike and Judy said
07:01 AM Jan 17, 2009
Had an old Windsor that had no power of its own, installed a deep cell 100amp hr into a VENTED cupboard near the front and wired a female connection to the front of the van connected to the battery, when the car was elsewhere we just put the van plug into it , simple as ,
mike and Judy said
07:07 AM Jan 17, 2009
I'm on the last leg , we are going home , leaving the s******city behind the shopping centre here on the Tweed is almost finished, and its bloody enormous ,and NOISY, Why cannot the archeitect install some sound deadening somewhere, all hard surfaces and shiny tiles, A thing of beauty to some ??????
dave06 said
09:43 AM Jan 17, 2009
the older vans and a lot of new ones "draw" the power from the vehicle inlet through a "live" wire the van is then earthed throught the main earth wire of the lights
it would be a simple matter of disengaging the "live" or even biting in to it and placing a battery and an on board charger in a box, preferably vented to outside or at least vented
as a hint for where to start the power wire is normally orange, grab a power tester, turn the vehicle on ( whisper sweet nothings into her rear veiw mirror normally does it) probe the power wire and see if that is it
as Mike states it really is that simple, but be sure and fuse the feed line and bring all earths back to the battery earth block
mikeody said
05:55 PM Jan 17, 2009
Thanks Dave thats what I thought woul;d be the case. The deep cycle battery is already in place with all the various safety issues addressed. I have set up a female cig lighter plug for the Waeco plus a 12V power outlet for whatever. All that was left to do was to locate the live feed to the existing 12V lights, connect up and hey presto. Its just a matter of finding it !!
dave06 said
06:08 PM Jan 17, 2009
too easy Mike!! keep it simple and enjoy the benefits, you could expand the setup anytime with a solar panel and a 12 volt twin pronged plug
dave06 said
09:43 AM Jan 18, 2009
Mike just one other thing, be sure and disconnect the power wire from your tow vehicle before attaching the second battery
to connect the second battery in to the same line will create a live 24 volt situation and a possible fire or at least a blown fuse if you are very lucky
be sure and isolate the vans electrics from the cars until you install a battery isolater
Now here's a question for those who have been around caravans a while.
My van [1989 Coromal Aussie Tourer] like many other vans has a 12V globe within each of the usual overhead light fittings [shared with 240V globes] operated by a separate [brown] switch mounted on each of the lights.
Is it usual for these to get their power direct from the connector to the car ?
I ask because I cannot find any trace of the 12V wiring going anywhere else - without pulling the ceiling and walls apart [!] - I was expecting a fused switch or something similar - just like teh 240V supply has.
What I am keen to do is to wire the 12V lights so that I can use them from my stand alone deep-cycle battery rather than 'risking' my car battery. All I have to do of course is 'intercept' the 12V supply and connect to my stand alone battery - through an isolator and a fuse naturally - but so far I have no idea where to look.
Coromal dont seem to offer any manuals or wiring diagrams which rather surprises me. Or is that 'normal' with caravan manufacturers ?
Thanks.
the shopping centre here on the Tweed is almost finished, and its bloody enormous ,and NOISY,
Why cannot the archeitect install some sound deadening somewhere, all hard surfaces and shiny tiles, A thing of beauty to some ??????
The deep cycle battery is already in place with all the various safety issues addressed. I have set up a female cig lighter plug for the Waeco plus a 12V power outlet for whatever. All that was left to do was to locate the live feed to the existing 12V lights, connect up and hey presto. Its just a matter of finding it !!