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Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:24 pm
by john_l
Hi
We have an AVA conversion with lesiure battery & control panel which displays voltage for both batteries, water level etc. At some point recently we've managed to kick the wires under the passenger dash, which I think has pulled a connection as the contol panel is no longer picking up a reading for the main battery voltage, nor does it seem to be charging the leisure battery. When we're hooked up though everything seems fine.
I think I've worked out where the connection had pulled from - see photo below - black into white connectors. Does this look right? Still have issues with reading voltage from main battery though & I'm not sure that it's charging the leisure battery.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:17 pm
by missfixit70
Check to see if there are any fuses under the bonnet or hidden away anywhere & make sure the connectors are actually making good contact.
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:33 pm
by john_l
Thanks - will check that. Do the connections in the pic look like they are correct?
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:35 pm
by missfixit70
Hard to say, logical assumption if that's the only two spare connections & they happen to fit together, but without knowing what AVA do with their wiring, or what's wired to where

Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:48 pm
by g8dhe
I can't see how a single connection, especially one from the existing wiring harness, would stop both the voltage reading of the Starter battery and the charging of the L/B from the hookup. There has to be more wrong than just that.
The single Red/Black wire appears to be coming from the wiring harness of the vehicle and it looks suspiciously like the radio connectors harness but is difficult to be certain without a wider angle on the picture.
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:35 pm
by john_l
Geoff - I think you're right. The 30a fuse had blown on the cabling at the starter battery end - replaced it with the one from the fridge & am now getting a reading from both batteries. Not sure if it's charging from the starter battery yet (will have to test) - it's charging from the hook up no problem though.
Can't see anything for that red/black wire to plug into on the radio so I guess it's redundant.
One thing that I have just noticed though is that the it all goes off when the engine's running. Maybe it always did that though.
Thanks guys.
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 9:50 pm
by Biobongo
I have a AVA Van purchased at the beginning of the year. A fuse at the car battery linking back to the split charger was fitted as 5A. Blew repeatedly when replace with same rating. Looked up details, should be 50A. However y largest I had at time was 30A fitted thart & been OK since. But will get a 50A sometime.
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:08 am
by g8dhe
john_l wrote:One thing that I have just noticed though is that the it all goes off when the engine's running. Maybe it always did that though.
When you say it all goes off when the engine is running, what exactly goes OFF? I would have expected that the volt meter would stay working and likewise anything powered from the L/B, in fact I can't think what wouldn't stay working. About the only I can think that they might have done is arrange for the Hook-up mains charger to be disconnected when the VSR operates so that the two power sources (Alternator and mains Charger) don't interfere with each other.
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:32 am
by john_l
If I have interior lights on, or the water running - both of which are powered from either he LB or the hookup. When the engine's running these go off.
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 11:39 am
by Biobongo
john_l wrote:If I have interior lights on, or the water running - both of which are powered from either he LB or the hookup. When the engine's running these go off.
It is meant to. You should have a booklet about it from AVA
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:20 pm
by john_l
Yeah, was trying to find that booklet yesterday! Good, sounds like all is good then, just need to check that the main battery is charging the LB. Is there any easy way to do this, other than driving around & seeing if the voltage showing on the control panel goes up at the end?
Re: Leisure Battery/electrics problem
Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:32 pm
by missfixit70
In theory the voltage at the LB should go up when it's charging, should be somewhere between 13.something - 14.something.