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mikeody


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An caravan electrical question
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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.



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mike and Judy


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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 ,

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Mike and Judy


enjoy your sunrises,we only have a limited number
mike and Judy


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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 ??????

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Mike and Judy


enjoy your sunrises,we only have a limited number
dave06


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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

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 me, the dragon, & little blue,  never stop playing, live long,  laugh lots, travel far, give a stranger a smile, might just be your next best freind.  try to commit a random act of kindness everyday

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mikeody


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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 !!

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dave06


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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

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 me, the dragon, & little blue,  never stop playing, live long,  laugh lots, travel far, give a stranger a smile, might just be your next best freind.  try to commit a random act of kindness everyday

 http://daventhedragon.blogspot.com
dave06


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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

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 me, the dragon, & little blue,  never stop playing, live long,  laugh lots, travel far, give a stranger a smile, might just be your next best freind.  try to commit a random act of kindness everyday

 http://daventhedragon.blogspot.com
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