You've taken your van out of storage or woken up to find no lights, no fridge and nothing operating on 12v? Most of the time, it's relatively simple to get the lights back up and running and the fridge cold again. Several things can shut the 12v power down. By following the steps below to check each likely cause, you'll maximise your chances of finding the cause.
Check the battery Voltage.
Checking the voltage of the system is always the first step. Be sure to make a note of the voltage for reference.
If you find your battery voltage is below 12v, you have likely flattened the battery.
If your battery has gone flat, little can be done without recharging. Keeping a backup light source like a torch or a lantern is an excellent idea to bring when travelling.
Trek
The voltage is displayed clearly in the middle of the screen under "battery". Take note of your Battery level indicator on the right-hand side of the display.
Odyssey
The battery level indicator is shown clearly in orange on the left of the Odyssey screen. By swiping up from the bottom of the screen, you can bring up the voltage level, which is on the left of the slide up section.
RV View
The RV View displays the battery voltage clearly on the top right-hand side.
Voltage Display
If you do not have a battery monitoring display, the voltage is usually displayed on a separate display. This is the solar regulator most commonly, and it is typically located in your electrical cupboard.
Drifter
If you have a Drifter display, the voltage is shown on the right-hand side of the charger, in the middle.
Check your Load isolation switch.
Where this is and how it works varies based on the setup of your RV. Your isolation switch should be cycled off for a few seconds before turning it on again. It's common for these to accidentally get switched off when turning off lights at night or when preparing to travel. The most common types are:
Trek
The button on the top right-hand side of the Trek turns off your 12v power output, and momentarily pressing this turns the 12v power on or off.
Odyssey
The Odyssey system has two modes of load isolation. One is on the Odyssey Screen, and one is a switch near the BatteryPlus35 in your electrical cupboard.
Odyssey Screen:
The button labelled "Eco mode" on the Odyssey screen turns off the main 12v power and pressing this cycles the main 12v power on and off.
Master Isolation Switch:
This switch is near the BatteryPlus35. The isolation switch is the opposite colour of the other switches in the van, usually black on a white plate or white on a black plate. It is for long term storage where it is impossible to charge your RV for extended periods. This should not exceed 4 weeks, as it should never get left longer than this without checking.
Isolation Switch
If you have an RV View or are using your solar regulator for voltage display, you have an Isolation Switch in your RV to turn the main 12v power on or off. It is usually close to the entrance of the RV, with the master lighting switches. It is always the opposite colour of the light switches in your RV, most commonly black.
Drifter
If you have a Drifter display, the rocker switch on the top right-hand side of the Drifter turns the main 12v power on and off.
Check the main fuses.
All battery management systems have a fuse, rated between 30 and 40 amps, on the positive output side of the batteries. If this has blown or shaken loose, it is likely the cause of the problem.
Remove the fuse, hold it up to the light and check to see any breaks or marks in the internal metal.
Even if it doesn't appear to be faulty, it's not a terrible idea to try another fuse. It's always good to check the fuses' size and buy spares before leaving.
Still no luck?
Use the search bar to look up your setup to find in-depth checks for your system.
If you have not found the cause after these checks, take note of:
- The voltage
- The status lights of your battery management system, paying particular attention to the colour, quantity, and frequency of the flashes displayed. The status lights are on the bottom right of the BatteryPlus35 range and the top right of the Genius-II. If there are any error messages displayed on your monitor, make a note of these.
Contact us by calling on 03 9303 7033, emailing us at support@cespro.com.au or using the "help" button on the bottom-right of your screen.