Help needed please, electric has gone off

[pappajohn]

Take the cover off the fuse box and test for voltage with your multimeter set on AC volts into and out of the MCBs

View attachment 588275

As he said .... Never used it and don't know how.
Not worth fiddling with live electric, you're a long time dead.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I’ve tried charging the phone in different sockets, but nothing shows a charge or turning on. All sockets and plugs appear dead.

Have you tried something else in the sockets, besides the phone charger.?
Just as an aside ,do your 12 v sockets work?

 

[autorouter]

On the meter, you need to set it to AC Volts, not DC volts. AC is shown by a small 'twiddle' above the V. DC is shown by two lines, one solid and one dotted,above the V. You are expecting about 230V AC, so set to a high range, maybe 600V, if the meter is not auto-ranging.

 

[Rugeley Tim]

We had a problem like this a few years ago and it turned out to be the in-line fuse to the leisure battery that had blown, don't know enough about auto-electrics but the motor home service guy who was luckily on the site we were staying at identified it almost straight away and fixed it with a new fuse. Might not be the same issue but worth a try.

 

[Bucket]

the EHU is not only feeding your plug sockets, it will also be connected to for instance, the battery charger or the heater if it's dual-fuel.

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[faraway]

Have you tried something else in the sockets, besides the phone charger.?
Just as an aside ,do your 12 v sockets work?

Yes, the 12v sockets work and have tried a couple of other things.

 

[pappajohn]

Yes, the 12v sockets work and have tried a couple of other things.

The only link to the 12v circuits is the 230v battery charger.
That doesn't mean it's working though.

 

[Soots]

I carry a blue plug to13A socket adapter, and a socket tester. This is for testing the hookup post, EHU lead and sockets inside the MH.
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Good idea, Autorouter, thanks for that one.

 

[tonyidle]

Even a new lead could be poorly constructed with loose screws

Or "a new lead will be poorly constructed with loose screws" in my fairly extensive experience.

 

[ChrisL]

I used MMC when i was at Canterbury ccc, they came out to replace a tap for me, contact Steve on 07964531063 he does all kinds of motorhome repair.

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[Spriddler]

Quite agree which is why I mentioned in post #18 when the OP said it was a new EHU lead.........

In my experience that's all the more reason to check the connections at the plug and socket. Manipulation of a [new] EHU lead and the plug and socket may have dislodged an already poor or loose internal connection.

 

[eurajohn]

With the latest results of the tests the OP has been able to carry out the site power is connected and live up to the RCD, so site problem and hook up cable are eliminated.
Question for the OP, the right hand switch (MCB) have you tried operating the lever arm up and down and then ensuring it is up as far as it will go?
Don't remember you telling us which control unit your Chausson has, possibly where your faults lay.

 

[Lenny HB]

With the latest results of the tests the OP has been able to carry out the site power is connected and live up to the RCD, so site problem and hook up cable are eliminated.

Agree, sounds to me either loose connection in the consumer unit after the RCD or a faulty MCB.

 

[faraway]

Spot on. Problem solved, RCD and MCB were faulty and have been replaced. A very kind caravan owner on site, you is a qualified electrical guy, sorted out the issue, for which I am extremely grateful. He would just like to clarify that he has replaced the 45amp MCB with 100amp MCB as that is all that was available locally. Does anyone think this may be an issue? He asked me to check, but at the moment I have power!

 

[Dave Scadding]

The solution you have reached sounds like replacing a wire fuse with a nail, it will give you power……

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[faraway]

Would the same apply to the 45amp which was originally in there?

 

[faraway]

45amp was factory fitted

 

[eurajohn]

45amp was factory fitted

Does seem a bit over the top

 

[Lenny HB]

Spot on. Problem solved, RCD and MCB were faulty and have been replaced. A very kind caravan owner on site, you is a qualified electrical guy, sorted out the issue, for which I am extremely grateful. He would just like to clarify that he has replaced the 45amp MCB with 100amp MCB as that is all that was available locally. Does anyone think this may be an issue? He asked me to check, but at the moment I have power!

MCB should be 16 amp max, my Hymer only has a 10 amp.
It there to protect the cables in the van and should be sized to suit the wiring. Under a fault condition the cables would melt and start a fire before a 45 MCB tripped let alone a 100 amp one.

I recomemd you change it for a 10 or 16 amp ASAP.

 

[Lenny HB]

45amp was factory fitted

Dangerous should never have been fitted, see my post above.

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[Dave Scadding]

Would the same apply to the 45amp which was originally in there?

I haven’t read all of the thread however it looks like the 45a breaker was doing what it should ie there’s a live earth fault and it’s tripping before damage occurs. Imagine your lights at home kept tripping the 6a mcb would you replace it with a 32a mcb instead?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I would change the 100a breaker back to a 45a one when you get chance and try to find what caused the fault in the first place.

 

[faraway]

Many thanks, we are going to leave the power off tonight and get a 13amp MCB in the morning for safety. At least the problem has been diagnosed.

 

[autorouter]

The picture in the OP's post #48 shows an MCB F&S Model C45N, with C13 written on it, showing that it is a 13A breaker with a C curve. It would help if we could see a picture of the new MCB before anyone gets into a panic about 100A breakers

 

[Lenny HB]

I would change the 100a breaker back to a 45a one when you get chance and try to find what caused the fault in the first place.

No way 45 amp is far to big, flipping dangerous, see my post #79.
Most vans are wired with 1.5mm sq cable so absolute max 16 amp MCB.

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[Lenny HB]

The picture in the OP's post #48 shows an MCB F&S Model C45N, with C13 written on it, showing that it is a 13A breaker with a C curve. It would help if we could see a picture of the new MCB before anyone gets into a panic about 100A breakers

Missed that pic so it has probably been fitted with a C100N type breaker & size is OK.
1st time I've seen a 13 amp MCB.

 

[faraway]

It is a 100 amp. It has been “turned off” and the EHU cable disconnected for the night so all is safe. The 13amp will be obtained and fitted in the morning.

 

[chrish]

I could be wrong but I believe that for the 45 Amp Earth Leakage breaker on the left of the picture the 45 amp refers to the switching capacity rather than the protection, so if it sees an earth leak of 30ma it is capable of switching a current or 45 amps, so the 100 amp breaker will provide the same protection but is capable od switching 100 Amps.

It's the 13 Amp MCB that will break the circuit if there is too much current drawn.

 

[faraway]

Had to go for a 16 amp, which is now all fitted and everything is working well. Thank you so much to the kind fellow camper on site who did the work for me and to all of the forum members on here for their kind advice, helpfulness and encouragement, much appreciated.

 

[Ingwe]

I carry a blue plug to13A socket adapter, and a socket tester. This is for testing the hookup post, EHU lead and sockets inside the MH.
View attachment 588151View attachment 588152

Me too. It was one your first tips I adopted before our first trip abroad. Thanks.

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