Wild Camping Demolition Man.

Gorillademo

Guest
Hi Guys and Girls

I'm Rob, a demolition operative living in my 1996 Puegeot Camper Van during the week.

I've only had the van a couple of months and am struggling with a couple of issues.

I've got some manuals for the on-board items, heating, fridge, Thetford cassette, etc... However... the Zig unit manual has been photocopied and the information does not match the unit in the van.
QUESTION 1. Should the Zig unit charge the leisure battery when hooked-up or on a genny? (there is a 'Green Charge on' lamp) on the unit... but it has never come on when hooked up or when using my sign-wave generator? Or does the Zig unit ONLY deal with the 12V electrics?

My reason for asking is the 'blown-air' heating system is flattening the leisure battery in a day or so! With the cold nights coming this is obviously no good at all. As an Ex-RAF Technician, confidence and experience is high and I have a volt-meter and a selection of tools with me. The leisure battery charges at 14V when the engine is running... but I have not been able to detect any charging when on hook-up or using the generator. But charging on 'mains' might be like a trickle charge (similar to using your car battery charger overnight).

20180722_121701.jpg

QUESTION 2. How long should the battery be able to support the blown-air heating? (The guy I bought it from suggested buying a new battery...) but he was only using official camp sites, not wild camping as I am, therefore, if the battery is not being charged while hooked-up, it will only be charged on the way to the site via the engine alternator, which may not be long enough.

In case the image doesn't work the unit has these numbers on the right hand side. MC-4000m AS

Here's hoping you guys may have some suggestions and or information.

Kindest regards

Rob
 
Yes, his original post is up on the New posts page, but is closed..so we can't warn him, if he's expecting replies there.
 
I decide to leave the country... The moment I turn my back...
.
The chaos begins.
 
I'm damn glad I wasn't filling in debit card details on another open window,
anything could've jumped across.
 
The only thing that's missing is the answer to his problem which I posted!
 
The Zig device has a separate charger, usually located in a cupboard or accessible void.

There is an on-off rocker switch and my bet is that this is in the off position.

If it has been turned off for a while there is a likelihood that the leisure battery is knackered.

Blown air heating uses quite a bit of energy. Are you able to use the heater without the fan?
 
Warning about what please?

Pauljenny said:
Yes, his original post is up on the New posts page, but is closed..so we can't warn him, if he's expecting replies there.
Click to expand...

Hi Guys... sorry for the delay, but been looking for answers on other forums.

In answer to my original post... I have the wrong manual for my Zig unit... but found 1 and yes, there is a switch on the side of the unit... and yes it was turned off!

I feel such an idiot... but in my defence, it could not be seen, and even when I felt around it, I missed it. But it has cured the problem. The green charge lamp is now illuminated and the battery is charging at 13.5v

Thank you to anyone who responded.


I'm very gratefull.

Kind reagrds

Rob.
 
Well you're not as daft as me with our motorhome. We had the same symptoms, leisure battery charging while driving. Used genny at motocross but still managed to regularly flatten the battery while parked up. Then the van battery flattened twice and we had to jump mh. After a while I decided to read the manuals and discovered there was an on/off switch on the charger...…………………! Naturally it was off. Everything great now.
 
Gorillademo said:
Hi Guys... sorry for the delay, but been looking for answers on other forums.

In answer to my original post... I have the wrong manual for my Zig unit... but found 1 and yes, there is a switch on the side of the unit... and yes it was turned off!

I feel such an idiot... but in my defence, it could not be seen, and even when I felt around it, I missed it. But it has cured the problem. The green charge lamp is now illuminated and the battery is charging at 13.5v

Thank you to anyone who responded.


I'm very gratefull.

Kind reagrds

Rob.
Click to expand...
just be aware that the zig will only charge at about 4 amps, you;d be better off wiring in or plugging in a more powerful charger
 
bobj808 said:
After a while I decided to read the manuals and discovered there was an on/off switch on the charger...…………………! Naturally it was off. Everything great now.
Click to expand...

I've wanted to type this for ages. Even if it will, and I know it will, bite my bum. RTFM. I even had to ask what it meant, I've led such a sheltered life.

Yeh! I know the manual was the wrong one, but just typing this was one of life's simple pleasures.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top