A caravan is a great investment as it provides you with a place to relax and sleep comfortably while traveling. It comes with beds, cooking equipment, and electrical appliances and feels like a home away from your home.
Most caravans have a 12V electrical system that provides them with the electric power for electrical appliances, such as microwave ovens, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc.
If you own a caravan, you’d know that the electrical 12V system stops working sometimes. This situation is pretty frustrating for a traveler, and if not fixed, this problem can put the entire trip down in flames.
A faulty electric system may be suffering from a number of failures. In this article, we will take you through some of the reasons the 12V electrical system may stop working sometimes. Let’s delve deeper without any further ado!
Caravan 12v System Not Working
Has the 12V electrical system in your caravan stopped working? Here are a few potential fixes!
1. Dead Batteries
Dead batteries are the most common reason for a failing 12V electrical system in caravans. The battery is the main source of power for the electric system.
Of course, this battery depletes over time, just like the battery of your mobile phone, and when they do, the 12V electrical system will stop working. If that’s the case, you will need to recharge or replace your battery to bring the electrical system back to life.
- Monitoring Battery Level
Most caravan batteries nowadays come with an indicator that tells you about the battery status. So, it would be a good idea to have a look at the indicator first. If it is green, it means that the battery is properly charged and working fine.
If you do not know where the battery is located, consider going through the operator manual of your vehicle. Depending on the model, your vehicle may have two batteries of 6V or one battery of 12V.
If your battery model does not have an inbuilt battery indicator, consider using a battery monitor. There are many caravan battery monitors available these days that show the current battery level accurately.
This way, you will be able to avoid hiccups and recharge your battery in time.
If the battery is adequately charged, visually inspect the battery and make sure it is in good health. If there are any loose connections, your battery won’t recharge properly, and as a result, it will die out quickly.
Furthermore, if you see any cracks or anything unusual on the battery, consider reaching out to a trained mechanic. They will check its condition and replace it if it has been damaged beyond repair.
You can check your battery using a multimeter. Before testing the battery, do not forget to disconnect the ground first. See which wire is connected to the ground side of your battery.
Once you have disconnected it, connect the multimeter to the terminals. If the rating is somewhere around 14, it means that the battery is charged.
- Â Battery Fluid
Apart from that, you will also need to check the fluid level of your battery. If the fluid level is low, the battery won’t be able to provide power to any electric appliance, and the 12V electrical system of your caravan will stop working.
Some batteries use a mixture of sulfuric acid and distilled water that generates the electricity that your battery needs.
The battery fluid evaporates as you use your caravan. Therefore, you must refill it from time to time to keep the electric appliances in your caravan up and running. Many travelers make a common mistake of using tap water for this purpose.
Bear in mind that tap water can damage the battery. So, make sure to fill the battery with distilled water. Overheating is a common symptom associated with low battery fluid levels.
So, if you notice that the battery has started overheating recently, consider checking its fluid.
- Maintenance Tips for Caravan Batteries
Many travelers replace the battery every year or two. However, it is seen that with proper maintenance and simple tips, you can significantly improve the lifespan of your battery and make it last for 5-7 years.
Firstly, keep in mind that both undercharging and overcharging are bad for the health of your battery. Therefore, monitor the battery level with a monitoring tool and recharge your battery as soon as it dies.
Not only will it help your battery, but it will also keep the 12V electrical system in your RV functioning.
Furthermore, experts recommend refilling the battery fluid ASAP if it is low. If you live in an area with a hot climate, be mindful that the fluid will evaporate faster. It would be better to refill the battery fluid right after charging it. Also, keep the battery clean, especially around its terminals.
And yes, since the battery fluid has acid, handling it without proper safety equipment can lead to unfortunate incidents. So, do not forget to wear gloves and glasses before starting the procedure.
2. Burnt or Loosened Fuse
If the problem is not with the battery of your caravan, there could be something wrong with the fuse of the converter. A fuse is an integral component of any electric device as it protects the device by blowing itself out in case excessive current flows through the circuit.
So, if the 12V electrical system of your caravan is not working, the chances are that you are dealing with a blown-out fuse.
Once you have located the fuse, take it out and test it with a voltmeter. Connect the leads of the multimeter to both ends of the fuse. If the voltmeter gives a beep sound, the fuse is working fine.
On the other hand, if it doesn’t, you will need to replace the fuse to resolve the issue. The process is fairly straightforward and will hardly take 15 minutes.
Apart from that, fuses tend to go loose over time, which can also lead to power loss. Check to see if that is the case.
2. Checking the Breaker
A tripped breaker can also cause the 12V electrical system of your caravan to stop working. If you are running too many electric appliances at the same time, the breaker trips to prevent the wiring from overheating.
Luckily, this problem has a simple fix. All you need to do is turn off the electric appliances in your caravan and reset the breaker. Hopefully, this will fix the problem, and the 12V electrical system will start working again.
The Bottom Line
Caravans use a 12V electrical system that provides power to electric appliances. However, it may stop working for some reason. Undercharged battery and a blown-out fuse are the common culprits.
Sometimes, the problem could be as simple as a tripped breaker. We have mentioned all the reasons and solutions for this problem in this article.
My caravan is a 2018 model so it only has a black power box no battery any more. After every loadshedding the 12 v lights does not work every other 220 V appliance work. I have to plug out the feeding cable wait for a second or 2 plug it in again and then the lights will wirk again. Is this normal? Can it be thst the earth thread is faulty? Any thoughts will help me here.