Caravan leisure battery not charging on hook-up

You plug in at the campsite, but the battery gauge keeps dropping and the 12V lights get dimmer each evening. Here's how to work out whether it's the charger, the wiring or the battery itself.

Check the obvious first

• Is the charger switched on? Many control panels have a separate "charger" or "mains" switch.
• Has the RCD or a breaker tripped? Look at the consumer unit inside the van, usually in a wardrobe or under a seat.
• Is the hook-up actually live? Try a 230V socket inside the van with a phone charger.

Measure the battery voltage

A cheap multimeter is the most useful tool you can carry. Set it to DC volts and measure across the battery terminals.

Reading	What it means
13.6V to 14.4V	The charger is working and charging
12.4V to 12.7V	Battery is fine but not being charged
Below 10.5V	Deeply discharged; many chargers won't start

Check the fuses

There is usually an inline fuse close to the battery and fuses on the power supply unit (PSU). Pull each one and look at it, or test it with your meter.

Is the battery worn out?

If the charger is putting out 13.6V or more but the battery falls flat overnight with little use, the battery has probably lost its capacity. Most leisure batteries last four to six years.

When to get help

If the voltage at the battery stays at around 12.5V with the charger switched on and all fuses are good, the charger or PSU has likely failed. That's a job for a caravan workshop.