You've woken up to find that there are 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 one by one, you'll maximise your chances of finding the cause and getting on with enjoying your trip.
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.
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 as well.
If you find your battery voltage is below 12v, you have likely flattened the battery. You may have sufficient solar for this to recoup some charge during the day but you will most likely need to get to a powered site. A generator can help but will take between 5 and 6 hours to recharge one battery, increasing with each battery in the system.
If your battery has gone flat, there is likely little that can be done without recharging so keeping a backup light source like a torch or a lantern is an excellent idea to bring with you when travelling.
Check your Load isolation switch.
The button on the top right- hand side of the Trek turns off your 12v power output. Pressing this briefly will turn the 12v power on or off.
Your isolation switch should be cycled off for a few seconds before turning it back on again. It's very common for these to accidentally be switched off when turning off lights at night, going out for the day or when preparing to travel.
Check the main fuses.
All battery management systems will 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, holding it up to the light and check to see if there are 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 a good idea to check the size of the fuses you have and buy spares to suit.
Still no luck?
If after these checks you have not found the cause, take note of the voltage (if possible) and 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. If there are any error messages displayed on your Trek, make a note of these as well.
Contact us by calling on 03 9303 7033, by emailing us at support@cespro.com.au or by using the "help" button on the bottom-right of your screen.