Technical Voltage and water-gauge not working

[FreeCamper]

This little instrument is bugging me... It is meant to show battery-voltage and water-levels, but the only thing that happens when I press the switches, is that the backlight comes on. Tips will be highly appreciated.

 

[Communicator]

As presumably the meter fails to respond to any of three inputs (battery voltage, fresh water, and waste water) the connections to the meter, or the meter itself, may be faulty. A digital multimeter connected in parallel could be used to confirm that voltage is present at the meter terminals.

 

[FreeCamper]

Thanks. I will try...

 

[FreeCamper]

Sadly the instrument itself seems to be the problem. Voltages is infact present on the terminals, so everything else works. I guess these instruments are impossible to get..?

 

[Communicator]

Sadly the instrument itself seems to be the problem. Voltages is infact present on the terminals, so everything else works. I guess these instruments are impossible to get..?

I suspect that due to the specialised scale markings, the meter is probably a Dethleffs special.

If unable to source as a Dethleffs, spare the replacement would be difficult,involving some delicate work. and you may consider it too complicated.

Basically it is an edgwise moving coil meter.

As a starter, you would need to know the sesitivity of the basic movement. This is normally shown on the meter movement, usually near the needle pivot point. Look for a marking like "100µA fsd, or 1mA fsd". (The sensitivity may be reduced by using a suitable resistor in parallel.) Armed with this information it may be poosible to purchase a suitable basic meter of the same or greater sensitivity. I have never attempted to change the scale card on such an instrument, but it may be possible, and probably requires both donor and reciipient to be of the same make. An alternative would be a conversion chart.

Examples of what may be available here. (Link to Ebay.)

 

[HughJampton]

I'm not sure how much help a possible repairer in the UK will be, but the panel looks like an early Schaudt one customised for Dethleffs.

In the UK, Apuljack might be able to help:

Schaudt/Lippert | Apuljack Electronics

Schaudt is now known as Lippert. Typically Found In Hymer, Dethleffs and Burstner Vehicles

www.apuljackelectronics.co.uk

...as they offer services on a significant number of Schaudt panels (Though, without the model number I can't check yours).