Battery charger In Van

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 05 Feb 2007, 21:32

For most people I guess the leisure battery is charged from a split charge relay system when you're travelling along.
OK if you Are travelling along and th emain battery is fully charged, otherwise it won't switch over to charge the leisure battery.
Got myself one of those tiny maintenance chargers today from Halfiords £17.
A little larger than a phone charger, with connection wires to hardwire directly to leisure battery, then plug it in one of the 3 pin sockets inside the van. Then when on leccy hook up you just flick the on switch
and charge and maintain the batteries at the campsite expense.

If everyone knows this, then OK iv'e bored you.
But I thought it was a good gadget.

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 05 Feb 2007, 21:45

Most pro. conversion have a charger built in somewhere. Westy`s have a charger under the seat (the Black Buzzin Box), I think most UK conversion companies used a Zig unit ?? When you connect THE hook-up they come on automaticaaly and charge BOTH the leisure and the main batt (Westy one does anyway)

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 05 Feb 2007, 21:45

Most pro. conversion have a charger built in somewhere. Westy`s have a charger under the seat (the Black Buzzin Box), I think most UK conversion companies used a Zig unit ?? When you connect the hook-up they come on automaticaly and charge BOTH the leisure and the main batt (Westy one does anyway)

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 05 Feb 2007, 21:59

I have an Autohomes Karisma high top with a Zig unit
The Zig unit in my van controls the on/off for the power, but it has no charging facility.
So, most professional conversions have a Zig unit, but my professional conversion has a zig unit without a charge function.
Hence the purchase and sharing of info.

Post by **Ivorblueun** » 05 Feb 2007, 23:07

those trickle chargers are what they say very low out put just to keep your battery topped up when not in use, if you are using a lot of stuff off of the battery it won't be able to cope ie demand will exceed the input. the zig units that have the built in chargers can supply 4amps continuous with a max of 7amps iirc so you would probably be better off with a standard car bat charger or add one of the zig power supplies to the zig control unit you have though they are a bit pricey.

Post by **Ivor Brownun** » 05 Feb 2007, 23:38

Wonder if my zig charges the car battery, I know it does the leisure when on 240, used to carry a battery charger as my vans an auto so no push start, just carry jump leads now adays. Dalmationman it's always worth posting a good tip as someone might not know, especially a newby, like the intermitent wash / wipe easy fix, I suffered in silence before coming across the easy fix by chance.

dalmationman · Post by **dalmationman** » 06 Feb 2007, 07:08

I'm not sure how good the tip was really, not used the charger yet.
I don't expect it to charge a flat battery but to assist the mintanance of a leisure battery whilst parked on hookup.
If it works, then £17 isn't a fortune, not sure how much the chargers to fit the zig control panel cost.

Post by **Sven** » 06 Feb 2007, 14:14

I think they're great just to keep the batteries topped up especially if you're not going to move for a few days
S

Post by **Westy.Club.Joker** » 06 Feb 2007, 21:33

Hey dalmationman, wasn`t trying to dis. your idea. It`s a good easy solution for anyone without the factory fitted job.

How many amps/milliamps is the charger? My mate has a `bike shop, sells trickle chargers, look like a plug-top type thing. I think they are 700 milliamps, for £13.00 if anyone wants one. Post will be a couple of quid on top. Mail-order a speciality

Paypal accepted

Post by **ringo** » 07 Feb 2007, 12:52

My zig charges the leisure (all but very slowly) but not the car battery. Hence me needing a jump start after camping for a week.

I keep a battery charger in the van all the time so i can recharge the batteries as quick as possible.

Also, i only use the engine battery for the engine now. All accessories (stereo and courtesy lights etc) are off the leisure battery.

Due to the fact that my eberspacher zaps batteries - the small trickle charger wont be any good for me i dont think. I would love it if it was - my battery charger is massive and isn't easy to hide!

Ringo

Post by **DiscoDave** » 07 Feb 2007, 20:55

i have just purchased a pms3 by cec plug in systems! it's a fairly simple type thing! has all your 12v distribution on it, fuses and the like! it also has and rcd fuse board for your mains stuff and a charger. the charger doesn't charge auto matically, you flick the switch to decide if you charge the van or the leisure, but similarly if you run out of power in your leisure you can use the van batt as a last resort!

have a look on magnum motor homes if you want to see it!