Query about 240 volt on site power for lighting

Submitted: Friday, Apr 25, 2014 at 17:38

ThreadID: 107461 Views:1970 Replies:3 FollowUps:4

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johno59

Hello everyone, We have a new Jayco Journey and my query is this. When connected to an on site powered site are the lights running off 240 mains or the 12 volt battery ? I would have thought the lights would be drawing from the 240 volt power supply together with the fridge,Air Con and all the other 240 volt appliancesWhen the 12 volt switch is turned off, the lights turn off.Does this switch have to be in the ON position when connected to 240 volt power?? Thanks johno

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Reply By: Member - happytruck - Friday, Apr 25, 2014 at 17:50

Friday, Apr 25, 2014 at 17:50

Hi Johno, I believe your lights will run off your 12v batteries. Your 240v should control your Air Con ,Fridge ,Water heater , ect. Your water pump will also be 12v only. The 240v should charge your battery when it is connected at a camp grounds, Hope this helps

Happytruck

AnswerID: 531201

Follow Up By: johno59 - Friday, Apr 25, 2014 at 18:00

Friday, Apr 25, 2014 at 18:00

Thanks happy truck, it doesnt make sense,but maybe the lights always run on 12volt from the battery as u suggest even though I am connected to 240 volt outlet thanks johno

FollowupID: 814216

Follow Up By: Member - happytruck - Saturday, Apr 26, 2014 at 11:31

Saturday, Apr 26, 2014 at 11:31

johno, they use 12v so they don't have to put 240v bulbs in as well as the 12v ones. When you freecamp you run only 12v so 12v light bulbs ( hope they are led to save power ) so when you connect to 240v your van should have a 240v -12v battery charger to top up your batteries.

happytruck

FollowupID: 814263

Reply By: Member - daz (SA) - Friday, Apr 25, 2014 at 18:49

Friday, Apr 25, 2014 at 18:49

Hi Johno
Yes if you want lights it needs to be.
Your lights can only be 12 volt. There are no lights that I know of that will run off 240 and or 12 volt Three way fridges will run on 240, gas or 12 volt and not very well on 12 volt. Compressor fridges usually are 12 volt and some 12 & 240 Air cons 240 only, Television either is a 12 volt or 240volt will not operate off both. When 240 is connected to your van the battery gets charges to run the 12 volt lights & 12 volt appliances.
If you purchased your van from new I would like to think that your Jayco dealer would have gone through all the operations.

Daz

AnswerID: 531210

Follow Up By: johno59 - Sunday, Apr 27, 2014 at 08:25

Sunday, Apr 27, 2014 at 08:25

Thanks Daz, All is clear to me now. It is amazing though that jayco explained very little when we picked up our van?We are learning lots of things through trial and error and on oz Forum. Thanks again JOHNO

FollowupID: 814307

Reply By: The Bantam - Saturday, Apr 26, 2014 at 23:10

Saturday, Apr 26, 2014 at 23:10

With the advent of cheap and efficient LED lighting, there is less and less reason to have 240V electrics in a caravan at all.

In the past 12 volt lighting was pretty piss poor, to get any sort of viable light output 240V was needed.

All the LED lighting technologies to date are DC native and running them off 240v just makes them less efficient.......in this day and age a caravan manufacturer would have rocks in their head to install 240V lights.

cheers

AnswerID: 531300