Electrical head scratcher (for me anyway)

[deejayem]

Hi folks,

Am a new T6 owner and a new forum member. Also, what I know about vehicle mechanics, you could write on a postage stamp. Sadly.

I bought a 2019 VW T6 conversion in December last year. Have camped with EHU 4/5 times since, with no drama.

Last weekend, a strange thing happened…

I brought with me a 12v/240v Halfords cooler. Whilst driving to the camp site it was plugged into a (leisure battery fed) 12v cig lighter socket in the rear (Note, I also had a fitted fridge running). Soon after I parked and setup the EHU, I decided to switch the 12v socket that the cooler was plugged into. I have two in the rear and moved it to the other one. When I did this, the cooler stopped working. I checked all trips and fuses, all OK. I checked both sockets with a Quad lock USB 12V Car Charger (for cigarette lighter sockets). I had two in the van and neither worked.

Another layer on that point. The charger I lifted from the cab, which definitely was working, after I tried it in the rear, it then no longer worked in the cab.

Finally I tried a lead light with a cigarette socket plug, and that did work, in all 12v sockets.

So the net result was... The cooler (checked it at home with the 3-pin plug) and the two chargers were ‘blown’ by the sockets. All 12v sockets appear to be OK.

What the heck happened?

Also, am naturally very nervous about using these sockets for anything else…

Hoping you seasoned fellows can shed some light.

Cheers

 

[StratosFearXX]

Odd. Replace the fuses and try again. If they blow again ...

 

[icn05]

Have you any means of checking the voltage at the sockets with and without EHU connected?

 

[Alster]

All sounds very odd. The only thing I can think of is that the ehu is causing some sort of voltage spike or maybe bringing in an ac feed of some sort. Loads of photos of your setup might help.

 

[deejayem]

Have you any means of checking the voltage at the sockets with and without EHU connected?

Hmm. Just tried that and it blew the 10A fuse…

 

[deejayem]

All sounds very odd. The only thing I can think of is that the ehu is causing some sort of voltage spike or maybe bringing in an ac feed of some sort. Loads of photos of your setup might help.

Tried to test the socket voltage and in doing so the 10A fuse blew. It was the oxidised socket in the pics. That was the socket that, I think, blew the cooler. ‘Dampness’ and n the socket…

 

[deejayem]

The dampness note was a question not a statement. Fat fingers

 

[Alster]

That corroded socket would definitely cause problems - over heating etc although I would be surprised if it immediately blew a charger. When you say it blew a 10a fuse I assume you mean on the 12v side not the mains!

 

[deejayem]

That corroded socket would definitely cause problems - over heating etc although I would be surprised if it immediately blew a charger. When you say it blew a 10a fuse I assume you mean on the 12v side not the mains!

Yes the 12v side. I have the option to take it back to the ‘shop’ as it’s still under warranty. I should take advantage, it’s just blimmin’ miles away! Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Bigsidavies]

This might sound a bit crazy, but is it possible that they have somehow accidentally wired 240v to the rear 12v socket hence it's immediately blown the appliances that have been plugged in?
It's odd that it happened once you connected to EHU.

 

[Alster]

That was my thoughts as well….

 

[deejayem]

Hi all. Took the vehicle back to source… The installers had wired one of the 12v sockets the wrong way round. That was the socket that blew the cooler and the USB chargers. In addition but not related, the other 12v socket had a hair line ‘crack’ in the fuse. Not enough to tell me it had gone and was still able to fuel a lead light but not anything else. Anyway, all fixed.

 

[Alster]

That’s good- nice simple answer although I am surprised that 12v stuff doesn’t have reverse polarity protection. Are they going to compensate you for the damaged cooker and adapters??

 

[deejayem]

That’s good- nice simple answer although I am surprised that 12v stuff doesn’t have reverse polarity protection. Are they going to compensate you for the damaged cooker and adapters??

Ha. On the contrary, they thought it appropriate to advise that I was lucky not to be charged for the fuse diagnosis! Customer service… nil pois!

 

[Bigsidavies]

No peas?