Karratha members - Any good 12 v experts in area?

Thanks Dave

The auto sparkies down our way are not realy familiar with the caravan stuff - are these?

Mh

The last time I used Karratha Auto Electrics there was a young bloke working there who had done his apprenticeship in a caravan shop north of Perth, but that was also 6 months ago...... so I don't know if he's still there or not, might be worth a phone call in the morning as people only tend to stay here a short time these days.

If you need any help finding either one or the other drop me a line with your phone number and I will give you a ring.

Dave

Thanks Dave

Hi Dave

Glen at Karratha Auto Electrics checked the batteries out as all ok, and we left the van there all day so he could monitor the batteries with the fridge running. All checked out OK, so we hope it was just low battery levels taking a while to recover with the new fridge working itself in that caused the drop. Best of all, was all that from Glen and NO CHARGE. Very good service for these days.

Motherhen

Hi Dave

As we still weren't happy with the power situation, my husband climbed on the van roof with black plastic sheets to check out the solar panels - three of the four appear to be not working again - the other is doing very well. Have got hold of the business who fitted the new diodes and re-fitted the panels when they carked it a while ago, but we have to wait a while to catch up with him. At least we know where the problem lies.

Meanwhile we can relax in the warmth (wet and stormy day at home yesterday).

Mh

Hi Dunaruna

Not quite sure. Everything is checking out OK, but we are not getting enough charge to run even just the new fridge (same brand and size as old one), when even in Tasmania we had enough power for everything from solar covering up to a couple of dull days. Batteries and connections seem OK. Maybe a short somewhere.

Motherhen

Updated diagnosis - three solar panels not working.

Mh

Corroded connections (not uncommon) or were all three panels toast?

Don't know yet, Dunaruna. When we discovered three weren't working while getting the van ready a couple of months ago (a recent change - all was well a bit prior to that), yes, water had got into junction boxes and corroded the wiring. We found a solar company and took the panels to them; they tested them and it didn't look good, but by fitting new diodes, they got them working again. First real workout was running the fridge when we left a week or so ago and we were not happy with the amount of power - just not quite right. This morning my husband climbed up and tested them one at a time using sheets of black plastic to cover - and nil input from three - the one that was OK last time was putting in the power - just not quite what we were used to from four! Yet to have the boss of the business we took them to before look at them and ascertain why. Then it will be fix or replace. Meanwhile we won't go further north until this is resolved.

Mh