We are long time members, but we have been MIA for a long time. But my husband and I are back and we have another van its a Jayco Starcraft 1999 pop top. We bought it about 6 months ago, and it was very neglected So we have been slowly going through it, and sorting out what what it needs. It is looking great now. Then we changed the tow vehicle we had, and we now have a 2003 Landcruiser Prado Grande, and again not looked after, but we are slowly giving it TLC. We just have electric brakes fitted to it too.
Anyway, back to why I am here...
The van comes with a 3000 Centurion Power Converter. No paper work of course. we know what it does, but we have no idea how to get it to work. It has a + on it and an arrow pointing up for ON and down for OFF....but no switch or anything in which to move up or down. Ive seen pictures exactly like this one, but they dont have switches either. So how do you switch it on and off?
Plus does it need a battery with it?
It doesnt have anything to connect to a battery that we can see, but we have heard some need them, some dont.
Thanks, I have seen these links before, but they dont explain what the up and down, off and on arrows refer to...I just need to know how you switch it on and off.
Do you have to have an Anderson Plug fitted to get this to work?
Grams
BW said
01:50 PM Nov 19, 2019
Hi Grams. Have you unscrewed that panel next to the on - off sign ? Looks like someone has blanked it out with that grey bit of cardboard that is left on an angle . Could be live wires behind there , make sure the power is off.
-- Edited by BW on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 01:52:26 PM
Grams said
02:50 PM Nov 19, 2019
BW, its a metal plate. No we havent unscrewed that yet. It looks like the + is supposed to have something in there, I dont know what. All the pictures of these converters look exactly the same.
Edited: just removed the plate, there is nothing behind it. It just covers the square hole. The is nothing behind the + either.
-- Edited by Grams on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 03:04:19 PM
Rod Mac said
04:03 PM Nov 19, 2019
Hi I do not know the Centurion at all, but to me that looks like a sign indicating the position of the 240v AC circuit breakers, which I would think are located within the convertor somewhere i.e. not a On/Off switch as such.
Grams said
04:36 PM Nov 19, 2019
Rod Mac
Thank you, that makes sense
The Travelling Dillberries said
07:29 PM Nov 19, 2019
Hi Grams,
To answer your questions.
There is no switch, you should have at least one 240Volt Circuit Breaker mounted somewhere, this will be protection for the 240 volt side(power points). It May supply 240V to the 3000 as well or there may be a second CB for that.
When you plug 240Volt power into your van plug, you should have power to the 3000, this then provides 12Volt Dc power to lights, pump/s etc in the van.
Your question re the + and on/off written on the 3000, the + is a screwdriver hole to remove the blank cover so a Circuit Breaker (or 2) cann be mounted there, the on/Off relates to these future circuit breakers.
You can connect a Battery/ies to the 3000 for power when free camping.
On the right side of the 300 near the top (not shown in your picture) are your 12Volt DC Circuits Fuses.
See this picture:-
Have you powered up and tried lights etc??
-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 07:32:06 PM
-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 07:57:01 PM
Yes it has the fuses to the top right hand side like your picture, just not the circuit breaker/ switches like yours. In fact there are no circuit breakers in the van that we can see. It has 12v and 240w lights etc, but none work on 12v.
the Inverter has a wooden box cover and is under the dinning table seat in the kitchen. We have never opened it, but we might see what is in there tomorrow. There is an electrical plug under this seat as well, but Im not sure if there is an electrical cord from the wooden box. I thought there was, but my husband said there isnt. So we will check that out too.
Will having an Anderson Plug fitted help with any of this?
thank you
Grams
The Travelling Dillberries said
08:27 PM Nov 19, 2019
Grams you will have to get it all checked out for you by an Automotive Eleco and a Licensed Electrician. Not really any point in talking Anderson plugs till you (they) know what you have. People do some strange things in their own caravans, sometimes dangerous.
I think you will find the lights are 12volt DC, they should be powered as I mentioned from the 240Volt Converter 3000, and originate from the 12VoltDc fuses as mentioned before.
Play it safe and get all checked out.
Cheers.
Grams said
08:41 PM Nov 19, 2019
Hi Chris,
Yes we are definitely taking it to a local Auto Electrician. I agree some people have left us with our jaws on the floor a lot of times. This van included. We are slowly getting it put back to rights. Its a great van, but was never looked after, which is such a shame. But we are happy we will get the benefits from it...eventually.
Thanks
Grams
The Travelling Dillberries said
09:39 PM Nov 19, 2019
Grams wrote:
Hi Chris,
Yes we are definitely taking it to a local Auto Electrician. I agree some people have left us with our jaws on the floor a lot of times. This van included. We are slowly getting it put back to rights. Its a great van, but was never looked after, which is such a shame. But we are happy we will get the benefits from it...eventually.
Thanks Grams
I think its a great choice, very easy to work on and improve. It will deliver plenty of great times for you.
We have the Jayco Destiny pop top, great van and very easy to maintain as well.
Happy vanning!
Grams said
10:18 PM Nov 19, 2019
Thank you
RK said
08:02 AM Sep 24, 2020
Hi Grams and Poppy
I have exactlys the same van, when we connect ot 240v the converter powers up. if it is not powereing up there may be a problem with the unit.
I am currently fitting a house battery to the van with a DC-DC charger unit, not sure if an anderson plug will not help unless you have 12v wired into the unit. Have you tried the unit on 240v power source, the unit convert's to 12v to make lights operate.
I am also scratching my head on where to connect the house battery to the unit, They are a somewhat mysterious unit as not too many people can give a definitive answer. the User Manual is wothless as is the wiring diagram supplied with the unit
Hi,
We are long time members, but we have been MIA for a long time. But my husband and I are back and we have another van its a Jayco Starcraft 1999 pop top. We bought it about 6 months ago, and it was very neglected So we have been slowly going through it, and sorting out what what it needs. It is looking great now. Then we changed the tow vehicle we had, and we now have a 2003 Landcruiser Prado Grande, and again not looked after, but we are slowly giving it TLC. We just have electric brakes fitted to it too.
Anyway, back to why I am here...
The van comes with a 3000 Centurion Power Converter. No paper work of course. we know what it does, but we have no idea how to get it to work. It has a + on it and an arrow pointing up for ON and down for OFF....but no switch or anything in which to move up or down. Ive seen pictures exactly like this one, but they dont have switches either. So how do you switch it on and off?
Plus does it need a battery with it?
It doesnt have anything to connect to a battery that we can see, but we have heard some need them, some dont.
please help!
regards
Grams
There is some info here
https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t49542703/centurion-thingy/
Cheers
Found some more stuff
Do you have to have an Anderson Plug fitted to get this to work?
Grams
Hi Grams. Have you unscrewed that panel next to the on - off sign ? Looks like someone has blanked it out with that grey bit of cardboard that is left on an angle . Could be live wires behind there , make sure the power is off.
-- Edited by BW on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 01:52:26 PM
BW, its a metal plate. No we havent unscrewed that yet. It looks like the + is supposed to have something in there, I dont know what. All the pictures of these converters look exactly the same.
Edited: just removed the plate, there is nothing behind it. It just covers the square hole. The is nothing behind the + either.
-- Edited by Grams on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 03:04:19 PM
Hi I do not know the Centurion at all, but to me that looks like a sign indicating the position of the 240v AC circuit breakers, which I would think are located within the convertor somewhere i.e. not a On/Off switch as such.
Thank you, that makes sense
Hi Grams,
To answer your questions.
There is no switch, you should have at least one 240Volt Circuit Breaker mounted somewhere, this will be protection for the 240 volt side(power points). It May supply 240V to the 3000 as well or there may be a second CB for that.
When you plug 240Volt power into your van plug, you should have power to the 3000, this then provides 12Volt Dc power to lights, pump/s etc in the van.
Your question re the + and on/off written on the 3000, the + is a screwdriver hole to remove the blank cover so a Circuit Breaker (or 2) cann be mounted there, the on/Off relates to these future circuit breakers.
You can connect a Battery/ies to the 3000 for power when free camping.
On the right side of the 300 near the top (not shown in your picture) are your 12Volt DC Circuits Fuses.
See this picture:-
Have you powered up and tried lights etc??
-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 07:32:06 PM
-- Edited by The Travelling Dillberries on Tuesday 19th of November 2019 07:57:01 PM
Thank you for your reply.
Yes it has the fuses to the top right hand side like your picture, just not the circuit breaker/ switches like yours. In fact there are no circuit breakers in the van that we can see. It has 12v and 240w lights etc, but none work on 12v.
the Inverter has a wooden box cover and is under the dinning table seat in the kitchen. We have never opened it, but we might see what is in there tomorrow. There is an electrical plug under this seat as well, but Im not sure if there is an electrical cord from the wooden box. I thought there was, but my husband said there isnt. So we will check that out too.
Will having an Anderson Plug fitted help with any of this?
thank you
Grams
Grams you will have to get it all checked out for you by an Automotive Eleco and a Licensed Electrician. Not really any point in talking Anderson plugs till you (they) know what you have. People do some strange things in their own caravans, sometimes dangerous.
I think you will find the lights are 12volt DC, they should be powered as I mentioned from the 240Volt Converter 3000, and originate from the 12VoltDc fuses as mentioned before.
Play it safe and get all checked out.
Cheers.
Yes we are definitely taking it to a local Auto Electrician. I agree some people have left us with our jaws on the floor a lot of times. This van included. We are slowly getting it put back to rights. Its a great van, but was never looked after, which is such a shame. But we are happy we will get the benefits from it...eventually.
Thanks
Grams
I think its a great choice, very easy to work on and improve. It will deliver plenty of great times for you.
We have the Jayco Destiny pop top, great van and very easy to maintain as well.
Happy vanning!
Hi Grams and Poppy
I have exactlys the same van, when we connect ot 240v the converter powers up. if it is not powereing up there may be a problem with the unit.
I am currently fitting a house battery to the van with a DC-DC charger unit, not sure if an anderson plug will not help unless you have 12v wired into the unit. Have you tried the unit on 240v power source, the unit convert's to 12v to make lights operate.
I am also scratching my head on where to connect the house battery to the unit, They are a somewhat mysterious unit as not too many people can give a definitive answer. the User Manual is wothless as is the wiring diagram supplied with the unit
Good Luck with it