Wiring up 12v lights ?

[Redmask09]

Hello all,

Just after abit of advice, I stripped out a caravan and took all the wiring out it came out as a hole lot... How ever the lights was attached elsewhere anyways my question is...


I've got two wires for the 12v water filter... Can I run the wires from this to the lighting ?

Or where should I run the lights too..

Any advice appreciated

Danny

 

[DTDog]

It is not possible to answer a simple 'yes or no' to you question.
To really answer this question, more information is needed.

You say "wires from the water filter"?

Do you mean water pump?
Is this still being used?

What lights have you got. Spot lights, strip lights?
What watage is each light?

What cable are you using?

I suggest you gather as much information as you can, probably with pictures as well to help and then take each stage a step at a time, asking advice on each stage.

 

[Redmask09]

Hello thanks for the reply,

Yes using the water pump as well

I'm using all the wiring from the caravan so the wiring is all good etc

Also using the lights from caravan ...

Thanks

 

[hextal]

Are you asking if you can run the lights and the pump on a single circuit?

If so, i'd suggest not, you want to fuse both circuits separately.

What wire is it? - count the strands or measure the core dia, this will let you know what current it can take and work out the voltage drop over a given distance.

Also check the wires for kinks, nicks and signs of damage and make sure its multi-strand, as opposed to solid core.

Personally i'd run every item on a separate dedicated circuit - pump, lights, sockets, fridge, oven, etc etc...

 

[Redmask09]

Thanks very much for the reply, I've sorted the lights out now ... I've just rewired them up to the previous wires ...

I do have another silly question if anyone can help...

When running on the leisure battery I can only use 12v lights, but on hook up can use sockets and lights... How do I get to use the sockets when not on ehu ?

Cheers for the help

 

[hextal]

I don't have a ehu on mine so not expert. But id imagine you'd have separate sockets for use when not on ehu. These would run from the battery via an inverter to convert 12v dc to 230v ac. or get stuff that runs off 12v.

 

[Deleted member 951]

Thanks very much for the reply, I've sorted the lights out now ... I've just rewired them up to the previous wires ...

I do have another silly question if anyone can help...

When running on the leisure battery I can only use 12v lights, but on hook up can use sockets and lights... How do I get to use the sockets when not on ehu ?

Cheers for the help

If you don't have a generator or inverter you will only have 240v when on EHU.

 

[AuldTam]

Thanks very much for the reply, I've sorted the lights out now ... I've just rewired them up to the previous wires ...

I do have another silly question if anyone can help...

When running on the leisure battery I can only use 12v lights, but on hook up can use sockets and lights... How do I get to use the sockets when not on ehu ?

Cheers for the help

Cant really advise without more information. It depends on what your planning to run with an invertor..e.g. a laptop or a microwave, theres a big difference in what you will need.

 

[Redmask09]

Good evening guys, thanks once again for the help...
I've just been doing some research and to be honest not going to using a lot of 240v sockets will be mainly tv on a evening but I'm gonna buy a 12v tv so that's sorted ... Other thing will be a kettle but again may after buy a 12v kettle and a mains kettle ... Laptop I could maybe use via the cig socket ..

The problem I've got with cig socket at present I need the ignition on which isn't good really ....

Another question is can you link up two leisure battery's together ?

 

[hextal]

yes - most do.

The norm is linking a few 12v in parallel, i'm linking a pair of 6v in series (same overall voltage and capacity, but the 6v batts i'm looking at are cheaper).

By the way, everything i've heard about 12v kettles is - don't get one as they are pretty dire

 

[wildman]

Anything connected with heating, kettle, fire, or curling tongs should be run on gas unless you have a massive battery bank and means to charge them. From you general questions it would appear that you know nothing about electricity. I suggest you get a book and learn before you electrocute yourself or set fire to your van. electricity, even 12V can kill and can start massive fires if wired incorrectly or using cable too small to take the load. If a fire started your insurance would NOT cover it unless the wiring was done by a competant person, which is why they ask if there are any modifications to the van.

 

[Firefox]

Don't run anything for heating stuff via an inverter off 12v batteries eg Kettles, Microwaves etc The only thing you should run off an inverter are low wattage items like chargers, small TVs etc I would say keep the wattage less than 50w and even then not for long periods or you will draw your battery down quick.

 

[Smaug]

Good evening guys, thanks once again for the help...
I've just been doing some research and to be honest not going to using a lot of 240v sockets will be mainly tv on a evening but I'm gonna buy a 12v tv so that's sorted ... Other thing will be a kettle but again may after buy a 12v kettle and a mains kettle ... Laptop I could maybe use via the cig socket ..

The problem I've got with cig socket at present I need the ignition on which isn't good really ....

Another question is can you link up two leisure battery's together ?

As Wildman says, anything that heats stuff uses a lot of current; supply that from 12v thro an inverter & the current is increased significantly (about 20x) current is what heats wires & causes fires.

It is normal to have 12v leisure batteries connected in parallel to increase capacity, connect them in series & you will get 24v! keep your leisure batteries & circuits separate where possible so you can always strat & drive away in the morning.