When connected to power supply, all electric lights, fridge and plug points work. However, when power failure, and fully charged battery was supposed to kick in, had no power to lights. Am told by auto electrician that power unit has blown and needs to be replaced.

Queries:

1. Is it safe to connect to power if the battery is effectively disconnected from the power supply system (which I was in effect doing since I was unaware that the power unit had blown).
2. Is it possible to bypass the power unit's battery charging and emergency feed capability, and power directly off the normal power connection.
3. Is it possible to connect the battery directly to the lighting and fridge, and switch over manually in the event of a power failure.

Hi Hugo
The spec for the Romany 2006 model indicates that there is no battery charger and that the fridge etc runs off 220v AC. Has your van been modified to have 12v DC lighting and hence a battery to supply power to the lights when the AC fails?

Also, you say the lights fail when there is no AC power - do you also lose power to your plug points and fridge? If not, your battery could be supplying power to them through an 12v DC to 220v AC inverter.

What power unit do you have in the caravan?

We need to know the info that Douglas has mentioned to direct you in the right way.  There is someone in PTA North that can assist you to repair the power unit but first we must determine what you have and how the system is setup in your van.

Welkom hier, hoop jy kom reg.

Sterkte

Thanks for your quick response, Douglas and Leon. Correction, its a 2002 Romany not 2007. The power unit is a CI Chargemaster Mk5. I bought the van 2nd hand so I don't know whether any modifications have been made to the power system, however I think not. All the plug points and fridge do not have power when AC is off. Btw I live in Montagu W Cape, so repair in Pta N won't work.

Hi Hugo.
Before rushing off to have the Chargemaster tested, check all the fuses in the van. Also make sure none of the switches have tripped on the unit. The unit must be putting out 12v DC for the lights when the AC power is on. I am sure this same 12v is used to charge your battery. If your battery is charging OK then the Chargemaster is not faulty. Some of the fuses may be found external to the Chargemaster - my old Gypsey Caravette had an in-line fuse close to the battery.

Hope you get sorted out.