Electrical problems.

[Hacksawbob]

If you need to replace the relay this is the one I got.
http://www.thetoolboxshop.com/0-727-10- ... 2128-p.asp
Quite a bit of over head with a 100amp relay but should be the last time you need to look at it

[binka]

Right will have a hunt for this relay, will probably have to wait till the weekend now. Thanks.

[binka]

Ok, have been playing with the volt meter thingy. found a cable coming from the starter battery to the leisure battery - the fuse on this wire had gone so replaced this. Was then getting 12.5v at this point instead of the 0 volts before. Was hoping this would solve it, but no.

Checked the relay in the leisure battery and there is 12v at some points on the relay but not all of it. There is a blue wire coming out of the relay that seems to be the one that should turn the relay on and this is getting no voltage. This blue wire goes to the ignition and there is no voltage measurement here at this end either. Looking at the fuses in the leisure battery there is a fuse for the split circuit and fridge - this isn't getting voltage. All the fuses in the glove box are fine.

Am stuck now, where do I go from here? Thanks.

[andisnewsyncro]

Sounds like the relay's had it.

If no one else comes up with anything, you can have a look at my set up to compare and try swapping relays when I drop the gas bottle over in the week. I'm thinking Tuesday day time is still probably best for me, but will confirm on Monday if that's OK

Andi

[binka]

Just spoke to hubby about it (electrical engineer person but knows nowt about campers), he says he thinks the relay is fine, but there is no voltage in the control wire to the relay. So why is there no power coming into this wire?

[andisnewsyncro]

If the relay is good, then check that the alternator is charging your starter battery. Measure the voltage of the battery and then start the engine and measure again with it running. It should be significantly higher.

The trigger for the relay usually comes from the alternator wire that feeds the red light on the dash (it's blue IIRC on petrols, but not sure on a diesel). Again it should only go live with the engine running. Check the connection between that source and your relay. Quite possibly a scotch lock type connector which could do with replacing with either a decent crimp or soldering. Also check your relay's earth point, often its a wire just looped to the mounting screw, depending on who's fitted it.

Good luck with tracing it

[binka]

Thanks, will try that tomorrow. I had to call it a day and go to work this afternoon, just got back.

Tuesday day would be fine for coming over, I have to do school runs and also need to go out at 4:30pm but apart from that am about. Thanks.

[Nicola&Tony]

Just spoke to hubby about it (electrical engineer person but knows nowt about campers) . . .

There's a wiring diagram for the spilt charger in the wiki which might help:
https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/Ca ... it_charger

Tony

[binka]

Thanks for all the help, is all sorted now.


Turns out it was the fuse just after the main starter battery. So we'd fixed it but didn't think we had as the volt meter was still reading low voltage off the relay points.

Hubby said this morning he thought the alternator wasn't charging the starter battery properly as the low battery light on the dash was on for 10minutes with the engine running yesterday. I had a look this morning and realised that the light doesn't come off until you rev the engine. So I revved the engine, light went off, checked the voltage on the relay then and was fine, lights, fridge, etc all working. We were testing everything yesterday with the engine running but hadn't revved the engine, didn't realise it would make a difference.

I'm happy now as I was beginning to think I'd have to pay someone ££££££ to sort it out.