Jayco caravan electrical issues
Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 at 12:08
ThreadID: 149861
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Replies:3
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Member - nick boab
]Hi folks :I have got a Jayco journey DX pop top 2020 caravan with electrical issues . Caravan management system is shutting down
the caravan ,. presumably from a lack of 12 volt power when on
battery power .
Caravan is fitted with 2x SSB dry cell AGM deep cycle batteries hvt 7022d
date15/5 /2020 .
Edit :caravan management is BMPRO J35B .
Also is lithium compatible ?
One of the batteries has had it ..10 volt after 2 days of charge .The other is holding 12.9 . volts . when I disconnected the faulty battery and just had the good battery connected the battery goes from fully charged state to 10 to 11 volts when I turn on the caravans Electrics system & then the caravan management system shuts down the electrical system .
So first question is what sort of thing is going to drag approximately 2 / 2.5 amps from the batter and also why would the solar panel only producing <2 amps when it might normally ~ 6 amp ?
This is when everything in the caravan is turned off
Prior to this problem the the system has worked perfectly
well . I am not sure on the size power output of the solar panel but would normally keep the caravan fridge running for at least two to three hours on previous trips when towing , there is no charging system ie DCDC charging coming from the vehicle at present .
A couple other questions in regards to replacing the battery or batteries does the caravan need to have dry cell deep cycle and can a caravan like this be fitted using the original equipment with lithium batteries the batteries are located inside the caravan under the
seat .
Happy to hear from you and your thoughts on these problems .I have called an auto electrician to book it in .
we are in southern
Adelaide subs . South Australia and not sure if Jayco dealer would look at this problem they have seen to be a bit vague in the past on questions asked .
any recommended service centres ?
One of the pictures is when the system is on and the other is when it has switched off

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Reply By: RMD - Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 at 15:08
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 at 15:08
G'day Nick
My experience is with Projecta chargers in a Jaco but not Jayhub. It is not uncommon for the system to use relays which are a constant drain, depending ON how many items are selected to be ON. Usual for there to be a drain of an Amp or so. The relays simply are the switched supply and ready for the appliance to be switched ON. If your, "GOOD" battery has been in parallel with a DUD one, then I would regard the one you are trying to use as Highly SUSPECT until PROVEN, in charge holding and Amp DELIVERY under some normal loading, ability. It might just be the best of two duds!
Most have a setting, accessible via control panel or APP, to change to LITHIUM battery chemistry and set the appropriate charge rate for it's capacity/BMS to handle.
If normal solar input is not producing much inflow it could mean the battery doesn't accept anything much at all or that unseen resistance is in that circuit, ie On the NEG SIDE most likely!
If those voltage readings are happening it appears the Battery cannot supply and drops voltage with a small load. OR there is a high resistance somewhere in the circuitry which is preventing increasing current flow and therefore less voltage presented to the panel.
I would be removing both batteries and with a jumper leads, substitute a KNOWN GOOD BATTERY instead of the AGM's and see how the system performs, Solar and vehicle charge wise. Just remove the possible fault sources. One CORRODED NEGATIVE terminal can stuff it all up! or positive maybe.
Don't get your hopes up about a JAYCO dealer knowing how it works or how to find a fault.
Also. If you JHUB has a charger which has programmable voltages, you might be able to SET the Charge voltage for absorption to say 14.4v/14.5V and if it gets there is will switch to the lower Float setting which you program into it at around 13.4V. Not sure if yours can do that.
Mine is JUST set for the BATTERY TYPE.
Alternately, if Lithium is what you want to use but not catered for by OE unit. or the charge system is faulty, a DC DC unit with solar input could be substituted and connected to Alt feed from car, and Solar feed to it too and the output to the Lithium battery. Alt feed and Solar to the OE unit dispensed with!. Just cheapest way to solve it if charger is not compatible OR FAULTY! Currently running a Kings 25Amp dc dc solar on my ute's lithium batteries. Just a cheapie! Replacing any of these caravan OE chargers is HUNDREDS of MONEY. If their charging features are not functioning, this may be a work around while retaining the UNIT/VAN funtionality!
AnswerID:
647571
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 at 15:39
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 at 15:39
Thanks RMD ??
Some food for thought . I shall get a another battery as you recommended and give that a go cheers .
Edit update : rmd you were 100% correct with the 2nd battery being a dud aswel although reading 12.9 volt on rest .
Tested very.poor
Also tested on one of my 12v fridges ..
Went from 12.9 fully charge to 11 volts then fridge shut down .
I'll get 2x new batteries & hopefully happy days
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: RMD - Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 at 21:26
Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025 at 21:26
Nick
That is great you tracked it down. Hopefully, with new batteries all will be functioning again.
I purchased a MOBI Relatively cheap DCDC SOLAR unit for my ute and find although it is claimed to be MPPT it never works in that mode as far as I have found. Hard to convince the seller though. We all have troubles with this hidden electron stuff
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025 at 13:07
Wednesday, Mar 12, 2025 at 13:07
I have put another good battery in and it's all working correctly now .
The solar was a little confusing , when there's nothing switched and the battery is fully charged it switches off for 30 seconds then comes back on for about 8 seconds and so on. It's confusing because that what the book says it does if there is a short in the system ,it has no fuses just an auto reset .
but when you put all the lights and fan on and there is draw from the battery the solar stays on either charging or in idle .
So at this stage I think that everything is working correctly . cheers nick
FollowupID:
928656