VW California Ocean T6.1 Inverter Flashing Red and Not Giving Power

[atokodi]

I recently picked up a used VW California Ocean T6.1, but the inverter has never functioned correctly — it flashes red and outputs no power.

I've gone through a bunch of blog posts and forum threads online but nothing has actually helped. The batteries are basically brand new since the car is a 2024, and I tested them anyway — they're at 100%. I also figure if it were a fuse issue, the inverter probably wouldn't even flash red at all, it would just do nothing.


So what else could I check? Has anyone managed to figure this out?

 

[andyinluton]

What are you plugging into it? It has only a300w capacity so anything that needs more than that will flash red & not work.

 

[atokodi]

What are you plugging into it? It has only a300w capacity so anything that needs more than that will flash red & not work.

i tried with a macbook and in iphone charger. neither works.

 

[Roger Boeken]

Can you trie with a power cord without any load ?

 

[atokodi]

Can you trie with a power cord without any load ?
View attachment 147732

same result. blinking red. i tested all the fuses under the driver seat. all seems to be good.

View attachment IMG_2812.jpg

 

[JAG7001]

same result. blinking red. i tested all the fuses under the driver seat. all seems to be good.

View attachment 147734

@atokodi Try flicking the main switch off & on above gas bottle then try the socket

 

[Chriskend]

Looks broke to me

 

[WelshGas]

@atokodi Try flicking the main switch off & on above gas bottle then try the socket

There is NO main switch for the Leisure electric circuits.

The switch you are referring to is the Mains 230 v RCD circuit breaker. It only covers/protects the Mains circuit, EHU socket to Mains power to on board battery charger and the Mains socket on the end of the kitchen unit. It only works when the vehicle is plugged into Campsite mains power or a domestic mains socket.

 

[Roger Boeken]

@atokodi Try flicking the main switch off & on above gas bottle then try the socket

other posts on this subject suggest to hard reset the inverter by disconnecting for 30 sec or longer.
Have you ever overloaded the inverter output ..?
Normally safety recovers automatically but maybe it didn't , hard reset may help.

 

[atokodi]

other posts on this subject suggest to hard reset the inverter by disconnecting for 30 sec or longer.
Have you ever overloaded the inverter output ..?
Normally safety recovers automatically but maybe it didn't , hard reset may help.

I bought the car used recently, so I don’t know the full history. The inverter has never worked for me. The first thing I tried plugging into it was a MacBook charger.

Is the inverter the metal “box” located above the rear leisure battery?

 

[atokodi]

@atokodi Try flicking the main switch off & on above gas bottle then try the socket

tried that, didn't help.

 

[Chriskend]

Still looks broke

 

[Roger Boeken]

I bought the car used recently, so I don’t know the full history. The inverter has never worked for me. The first thing I tried plugging into it was a MacBook charger.

Is the inverter the metal “box” located above the rear leisure battery?

No, the inverter sits under the seat :

it uses fuse 25 (40A) in SH fuse holder, you can pull it out for a minute to do hard reset.

 

[JAG7001]

There is NO main switch for the Leisure electric circuits.

The switch you are referring to is the Mains 230 v RCD circuit breaker. It only covers/protects the Mains circuit, EHU socket to Mains power to on board battery charger and the Mains socket on the end of the kitchen unit. It only works when the vehicle is plugged into Campsite mains power or a domestic mains socket.

@WelshGas inknow but it worked for me, new van, inverter plug wasn’t working, tried the switch on & off, and tadaa, inverter plug now works

 

[atokodi]

ok. i removed SH25 but the inverter was still flashing red. then i removed SH27 and SH28 and after that the flashing stopped. i replugged everything and it's still just flashing and not working. i don't have SH26. could that be an issue?

 

[Roger Boeken]

ok. i removed SH25 but the inverter was still flashing red. then i removed SH27 and SH28 and after that the flashing stopped. i replugged everything and it's still just flashing and not working. i don't have SH26. could that be an issue?

SH26 it not in use
did you wait long enough after removing SH25 ?
SH27&28 have nothing to do with the inverter

 

[atokodi]

yes. i had it unplugged for 5 mins now. when i plug in the laptop charger it's blinking red. even without the fuse.

 

[atokodi]

i just realized it is sh27 that does not have a fuse not sh26.

 

[atokodi]

sh26 is the inverter. if i pull that the led stops blinking.