Air Con

Boss Croker

Hi ALL

can you help with this electrical problem? I'm no expert but I think this problem would confuse anyone. Basically my leisure battery fails after after a day or two of use or after several days being laid up. I already replaced it with a new one and I am afraid to go back to the people who installed it as I think the they are likely to argue that I have neglected the battery again. I have'nt. I charge it regularly as in fact I did with the first one. And when I reconnect to 240 or charge it up it powers up again

As i say I am no expert but I traced what was happening from switching on the electric step on entry and then monitoring the power. It seems to me that the air-con seems to be taking power even from the 12v system. I presume that is a no-no but if its true as I think it is it would explain why the battery runs down so quickly. the van is compact but i need air con for travelling abroad with the kids (at least I did before the recession!)

Anyway, I'd be grateful for your view on this. It may well be an intermittent fault so maybe it will require someone to keep it on battery and check what is happening over a period of time?

Sorry for going on a such length but this problem has me growling at the van everytime I pass it and I need help

thanks

al2009

Does the a/c work ok when you're running on power? if not maybe thermostat is faulty and keeping the unit on all the time? Some units have a heater on the compressor and this would be on 24/7 but i can't imagine a campervan having this.

Can you pull the fuse for the air con and confirm this is what is causing the problem?

alec

Aidan_M_M

what sort of A/C is it? dometic? Does it have a digital display? Is it a mains only unit? or can it run from 12v through an inverter?

Boss Croker

al2009 wrote: »

Does the a/c work ok when you're running on power? if not maybe thermostat is faulty and keeping the unit on all the time? Some units have a heater on the compressor and this would be on 24/7 but i can't imagine a campervan having this.

Can you pull the fuse for the air con and confirm this is what is causing the problem?

alec

Thanks Al2009

yes it does work when on 240 power

Boss Croker

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

what sort of A/C is it? dometic? Does it have a digital display? Is it a mains only unit? or can it run from 12v through an inverter?

Thanks, Aidan

it is a Dometic, runs only on 240, no inverter, it does not have a digital display - just a light to indicate on/off and a remote control which show hot/cold/fan etc.

Aidan_M_M

Then I doubt that the AC is running your battery down . Is it even connected to the 12v circuit?

spaceHopper

My money is on
a TV or sat system that could be on standby
a solar cell without a blocking diode fitted.
a stuck split charge relay connecting the engine battery which is drawing down the leisure battery.
or the fridge but that should run off the engine battery.

You could get a kill switchfitted and charge the battery the day before you go.

What type of zig / power unit do you have, any solar cells connected.

Boss Croker

Aidan_M_M wrote: »

Then I doubt that the AC is running your battery down . Is it even connected to the 12v circuit?

Hi, was away for last weekend and checked again as much as I can. Its not connected to the 12 volt. But I disconnected from the 240 on the campsite and after a few hours the kids announced " the step doesn't work"

I think i feel an expensive investigation and repair job coming on. Any recommendation on a good electrical guy?

Boss

Buford T Justice

***Cough***


Ahem....

Where are thou based? (sorry, been watchin the borgias)

Aidan_M_M

Boss Croker wrote: »

Hi, was away for last weekend and checked again as much as I can. Its not connected to the 12 volt. But I disconnected from the 240 on the campsite and after a few hours the kids announced " the step doesn't work"

I think i feel an expensive investigation and repair job coming on. Any recommendation on a good electrical guy?

Boss

not neccessarily expensive , I do stuff like that all the time . It sounds like a fecked battery tbh. Can you try another one , even an ordinary car battery , just for a short time , to test it?

Tippman 1

There is a small heater tape on the bottom of the compressor that will be on when the compressor on the a/c is off , this will run down the battery

Aidan_M_M

but it shouldn't be connected to 12v , surely? Most of the A/Cs I've installed are solely mains.