westy black box charger not working

Post by **California Dreamin** » 07 Mar 2012, 23:24

Even more common is the small glass fuse blowing.....users often don't realise that they have one and all it takes is to remove the 4 top screws and cover to access.

Martin

Post by **mioba** » 16 Mar 2012, 19:06

Hi All,
Just to add to my earlier post in this thread and the post in general.
Happy dance.
For the first time my BBB works for the sake of a 1 euro thermal fuse.
A really useful thread to me and I wanted to share the fact that replacing this therma fuse is straight forward if you can use a soldering iron!
Thanks again all.
Best
Rehan

Post by **Mr Soft** » 16 Mar 2012, 19:48

Where is this black box located in a Westy?

Post by **AdrianC** » 16 Mar 2012, 19:55

Mr Soft wrote:Where is this black box located in a Westy?

Lift the back seat (bed base). Look at the sliding door side. It's that big black box there.

As for the thermal fuse... Who on earth at Westfailure decided that it needed SOLDERING in? Thermal fuse? Solder? Hot? Hello...? Is it just me can see problems with that?

Post by **mioba** » 17 Mar 2012, 13:00

Hahah
Yes I thought the same 130 degree fuse needing soldering. I actually wrapped some wet tissue near the ends just incase the soldering process was to pop the fuse.
Westfailure - don't swear

)

Post by **Mr Soft** » 19 Mar 2012, 20:19

Black box is not under the seat! It's a California, so is it likely to be anywhere else?

Post by **mioba** » 22 Mar 2012, 11:35

I guess it has been removed.

Aee there signs that it was there, i.e. wires?

Post by **California Dreamin** » 22 Mar 2012, 12:50

Mr Soft....proping the rear seatbase up, the black box should be right up against the left side as you are knelt infont of the seat. Unfortunately they do get taken out and scrapped for simple things like a blown fuse or themo trip.
If yours had one (pretty sure all California's had them fitted) then the wiring should still be sat there?

If it definately is missing then it's time for an upgraded replacement...
There has been alot written on this subject but in simple terms.....the original BBB unit charged BOTH batteries (starter as well as leisure) and most modern replacement units will have only ONE output. So....As long as you carry out the interior light/radio mod (well documented on here) there should be absolutely no reason to need to charge the starter battery whilst on camp as no power is being drawn from it.

So look for an Amperor/Sterling/Numax/Ctek unit....choose one that has a minimum power output of 8 amps although 10amps would be better but.....make sure that it has 'multi staged' charging and 'float stage' charging feature (TBH nearly all have nowadays) this is so that it can potentially be left plugged in permanently without worry that the battery will boil dry.

Martin

Post by **Mr Soft** » 22 Mar 2012, 22:23

Thanks for the replys! There is just a 'euro socket' extension cable that appears to run from the sliding door side to the cabinets, I haven't looked for the other end, but I have tried to power stuff off it, but no output. The leisure battery seems to charge whilst driving, but not when hooked up to the mains. Any ideas?

Rob

Post by **California Dreamin** » 23 Mar 2012, 08:55

Mr Soft wrote:Thanks for the replys! The leisure battery seems to charge whilst driving, but not when hooked up to the mains. Any ideas?

Rob

Your California has two quite seperate means to charge the batteries....the first is the vehicles alternator, charging both batteries but the leisure one is kept disconnected from the starter battery with the engine turned off via a (split charge relay) so the starter battery isn't flattened whilst camping. This circuit sounds like it is still working fine.

The second means of charging the batteries is whilst plugged into mains which powers a charging unit....this appears to have been removed on yours.
Now I've never seen the BBB charger positioned anywhere else on a California other than under the rock n roll seat, sliding door side.

Martin

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