Mains 240 v cable not being detected anymore?

[Phil Hall]

Hi I have looked for similar threads but can only find one which doesn’t relate.

We have just had a massive mains surge that has taken out the whole street and blown up several gas boilers and appliances.
My T5 Cali was plugged into the mains at the time. The circuit breaker did not trip, and the internal mains socket is live and working. However, the central control panel no longer shows the cable connected and also when I start the engine there is also no warning beep that cable is plugged into the van. So 240 volts present at the socket but I also think there is no charging happening now. Help any ideas before a take to a dealer?

 

[WelshGas]

Hi I have looked for similar threads but can only find one which doesn’t relate.

We have just had a massive mains surge that has taken out the whole street and blown up several gas boilers and appliances.
My T5 Cali was plugged into the mains at the time. The circuit breaker did not trip, and the internal mains socket is live and working. However, the central control panel no longer shows the cable connected and also when I start the engine there is also no warning beep that cable is plugged into the van. So 240 volts present at the socket but I also think there is no charging happening now. Help any ideas before a take to a dealer?

Just on the Off Chance,

For those of you who don't know, if you ever get any problems with roof stuck or any other error say with the heater or fridge, you are able to access the hidden menu in your control panel as used by the VW Engineers.

Access as follows:



1. Hold down the centre of the rotary button together with the menu button (button below with the squares on it)

2. You will get the hidden menu.

3. Rotate the rotary button to get to "VW diagnose" and select this by pressing on the centre of the rotary button.

4. If no errors are present it will display "no errors"

5. If Errors are present then a list of errors will appear

6. Press the centre of the rotary button again to delete all the errors

7. Repeat process above just to check that errors have dissapeared!

8. Re-configure the time and date if neccesary.



Any problems should be resolved assuming these are Electronic and not Mechanical.

 

[pieman]

Not seen this myself yet, but from a bit of a Google it seems like there is a 30amp fuse for the 240v-12v charger, just not been able to work out exactly where it is! Sounds like that could possibly be the issue, it looks like the mains socket is fed independently of this so fits with what you've described.

 

[WelshGas]

Hi I have looked for similar threads but can only find one which doesn’t relate.

We have just had a massive mains surge that has taken out the whole street and blown up several gas boilers and appliances.
My T5 Cali was plugged into the mains at the time. The circuit breaker did not trip, and the internal mains socket is live and working. However, the central control panel no longer shows the cable connected and also when I start the engine there is also no warning beep that cable is plugged into the van. So 240 volts present at the socket but I also think there is no charging happening now. Help any ideas before a take to a dealer?

Also there is a 30 amp fuse under front Passenger Seat for Mains Charger supply, which is probably OK, BUT there is also a small glass fuse on the Mains Charger in a fuse holder next to the 230v mains input plug. This might have blown.

 

[pieman]

Location of mains powered battery charger fuse

Hello Everybody , My first posting .....T6 having problems with the mains powered battery charger , it is not charging the leisure batteries . The control panel shows the leisure batteries taking charge from the alternator when the engine is running but the control panel does not indicate...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Was just reading about his one, looks like the one WelshGas just mentioned

 

[Phil Hall]

Just on the Off Chance,

For those of you who don't know, if you ever get any problems with roof stuck or any other error say with the heater or fridge, you are able to access the hidden menu in your control panel as used by the VW Engineers.

Access as follows:



1. Hold down the centre of the rotary button together with the menu button (button below with the squares on it)

2. You will get the hidden menu.

3. Rotate the rotary button to get to "VW diagnose" and select this by pressing on the centre of the rotary button.

4. If no errors are present it will display "no errors"

5. If Errors are present then a list of errors will appear

6. Press the centre of the rotary button again to delete all the errors

7. Repeat process above just to check that errors have dissapeared!

8. Re-configure the time and date if neccesary.



Any problems should be resolved assuming these are Electronic and not Mechanical.

As always thank you.
Sorry but showing my ignorance here has to the position of the charger I can see the suggestions about the small input fuse by the kettle type iec mains connector but where do you think I will find the charger. One post says below wardrobe in back by leisure battery and another has said below the fridge. T5 2013 plate.

Stoped working in her now too cold and dark will start again in daylight. Thanks

 

[WelshGas]

As always thank you.
Sorry but showing my ignorance here has to the position of the charger I can see the suggestions about the small input fuse by the kettle type iec mains connector but where do you think I will find the charger. One post says below wardrobe in back by leisure battery and another has said below the fridge. T5 2013 plate.

Stoped working in her now too cold and dark will start again in daylight. Thanks

Originally the mains charger was positioned below the fridge but was prone to overheating so was moved to a position above the rear Leisure Battery around about 2010/12.
I think you will find it above the rear leisure battery.
Check it is there, easily seen or felt. Remove rear leisure battery, NB the battery does not need to be disconnected in-situ, leads are long enough to remove from compartment. Once battery clamp removed use something like a paint scraper to slide battery over the lip of the enclosure. Using a strap or cord around the battery makes removal easy.

 

[Phil Hall]

Originally the mains charger was positioned below the fridge but was prone to overheating so was moved to a position above the rear Leisure Battery around about 2010/12.
I think you will find it above the rear leisure battery.
Check it is there, easily seen or felt. Remove rear leisure battery, NB the battery does not need to be disconnected in-situ, leads are long enough to remove from compartment. Once battery clamp removed use something like a paint scraper to slide battery over the lip of the enclosure. Using a strap or cord around the battery makes removal easy.

Many thanks will got on it tomorrow thank you

 

[Phil Hall]

Many thanks will got on it tomorrow thank you

Hi again. I cannot see the charger psu above the leisure battery and I cannot feel any box ie charger with my hands. Do I now need to try find it under the fridge. If so do you know how I get to it please?

 

[WelshGas]

Hi again. I cannot see the charger psu above the leisure battery and I cannot feel any box ie charger with my hands. Do I now need to try find it under the fridge. If so do you know how I get to it please?

L hand kitchen cupboard, there is an inspection hole/cover.

 

[Phil Hall]

L hand kitchen cupboard, there is an inspection hole/cover.

Thank you again. Yes under the fridge grrrr. I think there is a little led light that is not on???..

 

[WelshGas]

Thank you again. Yes under the fridge grrrr. I think there is a little led light that is not on???..

View attachment 143209

At the side of the Mains plug there should be a screw type fuse holder.

 

[Phil Hall]

Thank you again. Yes under the fridge grrrr. I think there is a little led light that is not on???..

View attachment 143209

I finally managed to get access to the input fuse at the charger, many cuts on my knuckles. Not easy to pull it out it’s little draw. So it’s blown and nice and black. I cannot read the spec obviously 240V but the current rating appears to be 12 Amps?
I know it’s mentioned here somewhere but if anybody could help me that would be great

 

[Phil Hall]

Actually says T2AL250VP so I am thinking 2 amp?

 

[WelshGas]

Actually says T2AL250VP so I am thinking 2 amp?

Correct. Slow Blow 250v 2 amp fuse.

Post in thread 'Location of mains powered battery charger fuse'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/thread...owered-battery-charger-fuse.23143/post-374941

 

[Phil Hall]

Brilliant thank you. Believe or not I had some so inserted new fuse.
So according to the central display no cable plug in sign still and no charging.

So removed new little 20 mm charger fuse and it is NOT blown.

 

[Phil Hall]

So fuse not blown and I have 14 volts dc on the red and black output wires. I don’t know what the other wires do?
So I assuming with the dc output that the charger psu is not blown?

So I am looking downstream of the charger now….

However, I still have no signs of the batteries being charged and no “cable icon” showing on the main display.

Fuse box under the passenger I have tested all of the green 30 amp fuses.

I have looked at the various links ( thank you WG) but I am not sure if I should be looking at relay or a fuse?

Again thanks for your help.

 

[vbk1975]

So fuse not blown and I have 14 volts dc on the red and black output wires. I don’t know what the other wires do?
So I assuming with the dc output that the charger psu is not blown?

So I am looking downstream of the charger now….

However, I still have no signs of the batteries being charged and no “cable icon” showing on the main display.

Fuse box under the passenger I have tested all of the green 30 amp fuses.

I have looked at the various links ( thank you WG) but I am not sure if I should be looking at relay or a fuse?

Again thanks for your help.

Pin 22 on the Main Camper Control Panel connect is the one used to sense the DC charger is On and triggers the Mains Symbol. I believe it is just another output from the DC charger and thus just shows it is providing 12v because the Mains are connected.

It is a red wire from the mains charger, then a purple wire all the way to the control panel via some inline connectors. (Pin1 on the DC charger fly lead)

My best guess is that the DC charger has failed in some way

 

[Phil Hall]

So an end to this story:-
This was down to a very nasty underground cable fault from the Electrical Supplies Company network.
To give you a reference out of 14 houses down our road 6 houses had their gas boiler internal control circuit board blown up.

We had boiler circuit, Nest control circuitry, oven circuit board, doorbell transformer, tv amplifier/distributer.
One house had the same but additionally their dishwasher also got zapped.
As to this post additionally my beloved VW California was plugged in and the charger got zapped.

Electricity company sent a team round to fix repair or replace as much as they could themselves. However, where the California was concerned it had to go through an official VW Commercial lifestyle dealerships service department. As in this post “we” that’s we as in your wonderful contributions diagnosed that it was the charger power supply mounted under the fridge. VW dealer concurred, I knew this route was going to be expensive, so FYI…..

Final invoice :-

Total £1700
Charger was £540
Labour almost £1000 ( fridge had to be removed)
Initial diagnostic fee £180

No doubt about it - if it wasn’t for the claim route I would have done it myself.

So I now have a meaty surge protector inline.

Once again thank you all for your help.