batteries......again!

Post by **finbahr** » 02 Aug 2006, 20:25

There is a small unit at my MB with the aux connection going to my LB.
There is also a connection marked fridge......should my fridge not be connected to this. I take it my fridge has been wired straight to my MB.

Should my interior lighting not be wired to my LB?
as far as I can see there are no outgoing wires from my LB........so what is the point of it being there?

I probably sound stupid but it's my first camper

Website · Post by **dbroada** » 02 Aug 2006, 20:40

as I said in the other post - these vans are all individual!

I have no idea what your extra box is. There are many possibilites but a photo will reduce them. It is possibly a current sensing relay which will join your fridge & LB to the alternator when the alternator output gets above (about) 13,5volts.

Ideally the fridge should be run via a relay so that you don't run it from 12v UNLESS the van engine is running. They take about 10 Amps so will flatten a battery pretty quickly.

I have some interior lights from the main battery and some from the leisure one. That way if one goes flat I can stil see. Just about everything else is just off the LB. I thinky your sparky skills may come in handy here. Its probably easier to rip it all out and start again than trying to decode what has gone before.

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 02 Aug 2006, 21:11

personally I have nothing running from the Main battery when ignitionis off that way I know I can always drive away, get a voltmeter and get testing....

Post by **Mocki** » 03 Aug 2006, 09:06

the feed to my distribution panel is switched with a two way relay switch that enables the feed to come from either battery, when the engine is running everything* feeds from the main battery, when the engine is not running everything* comes from the Leisure battery, that way the leisure batt gets full charge when driving and the main battery gets no discharge when not.

* everything except the fridge which ONLY works from the main battery (when the engine is running.)

Post by **Horza** » 03 Aug 2006, 09:56

Actually the small unit with wires to LB and MB and a connection for the fridge is probably the relay type device from a caravan equiped tow bar kit.

It senses that the engine is running (proabably full to the brim with Magic Volkswagen Elves!) and allows the LB to charge, it would also then run the fridge if it were connected. There was some stuff in the Wiki about them, probably still there. It's a very simple, cheap and nearly foolproof way of getting the charging relay right first time.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 03 Aug 2006, 10:35

Horza, you've got the Elves too? Pesky little things. Theres no mention of these in the handbook or any solutions as to how to deal with them either. Not only that they don't even speak in English. Most annoying.

Post by **Mocki** » 03 Aug 2006, 11:08

CovKid wrote:Horza, you've got the Elves too? Pesky little things. Theres no mention of these in the handbook or any solutions as to how to deal with them either. Not only that they don't even speak in English. Most annoying.

ahem... if they not speaka da englishy then they is sprites or gremlins...not elves......
elves have a lancaster accent, more apparent if there is a pur of em

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 03 Aug 2006, 13:40

Ah found it! Between 'Electrical' and 'Emmission Control Systems' in the index at back - Elves (Please note some print runs ommitted this section altogether).

Theres a diagram of the engine with the elves squashed inside oh and yes you're right Steve, this section is in raw Lancastrian so that would explain my not understanding a word. Apparently some later models had self-adjusting Elves but earlier ones could be difficult. Theres also a picture of one being beaten by a lump hammer.

I must say its a GLARING ommision not mentioning the Elves in the WIKI. Heads should roll for this. Some unsuspecting DIY mechanic could easily undo their service plate and have Elves all over the place. I hope this situation is addressed and for those without this chapter in the Haynes manual - be warned!

Post by **Horza** » 03 Aug 2006, 13:53

[mutter]I told them I did, flippin elves, no one ever listens to me and all that volksagon magic glue everywhere and no one ever knows where to buy it but they all have some in a little pot secreted in the garage and they bring it out when your not looking and stick the bits back on the volkswagen and think I wont notice but I cant get it off even with a hub puller and a drift and as much crusing as I can muster bloody thing's stuck fast and they say I'm not doing it right, volksagen magic glue and elves I tells ya........... [/mutter]

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 03 Aug 2006, 13:58

There is a manual specific to T25's with Elves. Its £27.99 from Amazon.

It does cover the bit about the Elves service plate - its under the rear seat. Its a round access hole with self tappers and heavy mastic. DO NOT remove this under any circumstances or you''l have elves leaping about all over the shop. Took my mate three weeks to get all his back in - they move damned fast - rugby tackle is best.

Oh and according to page 90 (below), you can't mix and match em either. If you lose one and try to make do with odd Elves lying about, you'll have no end of trouble. They have to be sorted according to temperament, age and height. Its similar to ball bearings in bicycle wheels only much much nastier.......

Post by **OLD ONE** » 03 Aug 2006, 14:17

OOOO CovKid, how do you come up with these

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 03 Aug 2006, 14:19

You may jest Old One, but during the second world war when Beetles were given over to Military use with armoured bodies etc, Elves were pretty thin on the ground what with all the bombing. It was a case of shoving in whatever was to hand then. The experimental 'granny wagon' was not a success. It takes quite a bit of levering to get the Grannies to go in that little hole and the racket they make is unbelievable!!!

Post by **kiwirob** » 09 Aug 2006, 18:41

Talk about crack a man up!
Even Mrs Kiwirob is laughing.
KR