T5 SE mains hook up vehicle not charging

[alison]

Hi
Does anyone have any advice on mains electric not charging batteries please? I have tried looking through previous threads but still not sure what is going on with my vehicle. I have tried to charge my batteries using mains hook up at home. I bought a new hook up lead and new 3 pin plug adapter (as I thought problem might be with these), however my residual circuit breaker switch still won't switch on. When I flick it up it goes straight down again. I assume the problem is with the vehicle rather than the leads. I have read through the California supplement but that does not offer much help to me. It suggests there is a test button but not sure what that does.
Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[sapto]

Hi
Does anyone have any advice on mains electric not charging batteries please? I have tried looking through previous threads but still not sure what is going on with my vehicle. I have tried to charge my batteries using mains hook up at home. I bought a new hook up lead and new 3 pin plug adapter (as I thought problem might be with these), however my residual circuit breaker switch still won't switch on. When I flick it up it goes straight down again. I assume the problem is with the vehicle rather than the leads. I have read through the California supplement but that does not offer much help to me. It suggests there is a test button but not sure what that does.
Any advice greatly appreciated.

Apologies in advance: No expert here. Only got the "same" model T5 SE.

So what I've read in the TX Board about not charging there are 2 Options:
Check your plug at the kitchen, check your switches in the backwardrobe and under your seat (S60=30A).

Batterie lädt nicht wenn das Auto am Stromnetz hängt ??

Servus - wenn ich bei meinen T 5 California Bj 2012 7HMA die Aussensteckdose mit dem Stromnetz verbinde - wird die Batterie nicht geladen - die Batterieanzeige beibt trotz langer Stromeinspeisung bei gleichen Wert z.B. 50% stehen. Ich bin eigentlich der Meinung das mindestens die...

tx-board.de

And a fault might be underneath the fridge: The charger's be not correctly connected.

Ladegerät funktioniert nicht

Hallo, bin neu in diesem sehr informativen Forum und eine altgedienter T2- und vor allem T3- (Syncro 16") Fahrer. Da aber alles mal irgendwann zu Ende geht habe ich mich jetzt gegen einen erneuten sehr zeitintensiven Selbstausbau und für einen T5 Cali Comfortline entschieden (man wird halt...

tx-board.de

"You can usually find the charger if you remove the lid on the left of the cupboard under the sink.
You will then see the compressor and the actual cooler ....... the electronics between the two parts is the charger."

Hope that helps!

 

[alison]

Many thanks for the information. I will see if I can find the charger under the cupboard. I am guessing that if the circuit breaker switch won't go on and there is no charging symbol on the control panel that there won't be any power at the plug socket in the kitchen area. Is that right?

 

[WelshGas]

Many thanks for the information. I will see if I can find the charger under the cupboard. I am guessing that if the circuit breaker switch won't go on and there is no charging symbol on the control panel that there won't be any power at the plug socket in the kitchen area. Is that right?

Could you let us know what year your vehicle is?
The position of the Mains Charger changed during production of the T5.

If the Circuit Breaker will not stay in the ON position then the likelihood is that you have either a faulty RCD Circuit Breaker or a fault in the Charger or Mains Circuit within the vehicle.

If you unplug the Mains Lead can you switch the Circuit Breaker into the ON position?

 

[calikev]

Have you anything plugged into the 240v socket?

 

[alison]

Hello
Many thanks for your response.

I have checked the vehicle with the mains hook up unplugged and the circuit breaker will not stay up in the on position, when I flick it up it drops straight down.
I don't have anything plugged into the 240v socket.
The vehicle is an early 2013 T5 DSG SE

It was in for roof repairs (new pump/motor) before Christmas, however I don't think anything would have been disconnected for this.

 

[WelshGas]

Hello
Many thanks for your response.

I have checked the vehicle with the mains hook up unplugged and the circuit breaker will not stay up in the on position, when I flick it up it drops straight down.
I don't have anything plugged into the 240v socket.
The vehicle is an early 2013 T5 DSG SE

It was in for roof repairs (new pump/motor) before Christmas, however I don't think anything would have been disconnected for this.

The RCD circuit breaker can fail.

https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/search/183150/?q=Faulty+RCD&o=relevance

 

[alison]

If noting is plugged in , and you are sure your repair over Christmas was done by a knowledgeable dealer who did not mess things up ....
The circuit breaker can be faulty , try to replace it .
Does anything else works when the engine is running ? Lights , fridge , rear 12v sockets ...

Hello
Thanks again for the response. I have tried the rear 12v socket with engine running, that is working (charged mobile phone). Switched fridge on and light came on on control panel. I switched it off before switching off engine. Did not leave long enough to see if getting cold as batteries are very low.
When I switch off engine control panel briefly shows -0.2 amp then 0.0 amp. The batteries after running engine show 90% as is normal and drop very quickly to 80% then down to 40% and they were at 30% which is why I am anxious to recharge them.

With regard to the RCD switch, I am pleased you mentioned if it will stay in the on position when not on EHU. This is because when I put the vehicle on to charge from home before Christmas the switch would not stay up. I thought this was because hook up was not in properly. I fiddled around with hook up lead inside the house, changing the plug connector and the RCD eventually stayed in on position and charged the van. I guessed then that the hook up or plug connector was the problem.
When I tried the brand new hook up I purchased the other week, RCD would not stay up, I ordered a new 3 pin 240v plug adapter to connect to home supply. This made no difference. Old or new hook up.

This is my only vehicle but because of lockdown rules, I have not been driving it. It has only had one decent run since last October and two visits to a garage (roof repair and MOT and gear oil change).
I am anxious to keep the batteries charged. I am wondering if there is any condensation or anything.

The repair before Christmas was by a reputable VW repair garage so I think that should be ok.
I am not sure where I should take it if I take it in for a check.
Thanks again for your help.

 

[WelshGas]

Hello
Thanks again for the response. I have tried the rear 12v socket with engine running, that is working (charged mobile phone). Switched fridge on and light came on on control panel. I switched it off before switching off engine. Did not leave long enough to see if getting cold as batteries are very low.
When I switch off engine control panel briefly shows -0.2 amp then 0.0 amp. The batteries after running engine show 90% as is normal and drop very quickly to 80% then down to 40% and they were at 30% which is why I am anxious to recharge them.

With regard to the RCD switch, I am pleased you mentioned if it will stay in the on position when not on EHU. This is because when I put the vehicle on to charge from home before Christmas the switch would not stay up. I thought this was because hook up was not in properly. I fiddled around with hook up lead inside the house, changing the plug connector and the RCD eventually stayed in on position and charged the van. I guessed then that the hook up or plug connector was the problem.
When I tried the brand new hook up I purchased the other week, RCD would not stay up, I ordered a new 3 pin 240v plug adapter to connect to home supply. This made no difference. Old or new hook up.

This is my only vehicle but because of lockdown rules, I have not been driving it. It has only had one decent run since last October and two visits to a garage (roof repair and MOT and gear oil change).
I am anxious to keep the batteries charged. I am wondering if there is any condensation or anything.

The repair before Christmas was by a reputable VW repair garage so I think that should be ok.
I am not sure where I should take it if I take it in for a check.
Thanks again for your help.

I think the RCD switch may need to be replaced. Not a difficult job, either by VW or a Caravan/Motorhome specialist.
The % readout on the Control Panel is not that accurate but the Voltage readout is. Fully charged it should show 12.7 volts some hours after driving the vehicle or charging via the Mains charger.
The Control Panel showing a current draw of 0.2Amps is normal and is the power consumption for the screen.
If your Leisure Batteries are original, and not been well looked after and charged at least monthly, as per the Handbook, then they may well have failed as they are at least 7 yrs old.

 

[alison]

Hello again
Many thanks. I will get it booked in for repairs. With regard to my batteries, I have looked after them, however I left my vehicle for a roof repair (not the recent one) in July 2019 with a VW garage that damaged my vehicle and did not repair the roof despite over £2000 repair cost, hence the recent repair with another VW garage. During the time it was with the garage in 2019 they ran my batteries down to zero which I was cross about as I have always kept them topped up. It took a long time for me to charge them up again and this may have caused them some damage.
I have just checked control unit. 12.1 v. with 0.0amps and 50% battery charge. I took it to the local fuel station this morning to refuel, thought it might help the batteries. only about 1/2 mile away. Looks like batteries are charging a bit.

 

[KGCali]

If you have a car battery charger you could always connect this directly to the rear leisure battery which will then charge both the leisure batteries over 24-48 hours until the repair of the RCD switch.

 

[alison]

Many thanks. That is really useful information.

 

[KGCali]

Many thanks. That is really useful information.

Just make sure the rear battery +ve terminal fuse is OK so the charge goes to both batteries. You can do this with a multimeter as I described in this post ...hope all goes well.
Post in thread 'Are my leisure batteries dead?' https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/are-my-leisure-batteries-dead.38860/post-488278