Leisure Battery/Zig Units

Post by **Poddington** » 10 Jun 2007, 20:49

I'm planning on putting a leisure battery in the camper over next few weeks and reckon I can sort the split charge out but I have no idea about camper electrics and hopefully someone could point out where I can find out some info from...

What is a zig unit for? Is it just to switch whats powering the stuff in the van from the 12v source to the mains source or is the more to it than that?

Do I need a zig unit to run anything from the leisure battery or is it possible just to wire up 12v sockets from it?

Can you run 240v appliances from a 12v source?

If that is the case, would it need wiring up to the existing mains hook up in the van?

Also, what kind of time would a leisure battery run a camper-sized fridge for (roughly)?

Any help or pointers to spots on the forum very much appreciated!

Post by **cumbriankeith** » 10 Jun 2007, 21:41

Zig units come in several different types - some are just simple, fused 12v distribution panels - others do mains charging when hooked up as well.
You can wire 12v plugs direct from the LB if you want - remember to fuse them appropriately, tho.
If you already have a mains hookup fitted then keep that separate - to run 240v stuff from a LB you need an invertor to convert it - £30 upwards depending on how much power you need - but big ones will drain the LB quickly, as will a fridge - which draws around 8amps so a LB would only last a few hours. When parked you should run it on mains or gas.

Post by **mal0r** » 11 Jun 2007, 08:14

drain the LB quickly, as will a fridge - which draws around 8amps so a LB would only last a few hours. When parked you should run it on mains or gas.

Yes, as I found out on Sunday morning when she wouldn't start! Wife insisted the fridge stay on through the night.

I'm also about to install up a Leisure battery compartment, but I don't know if my alternator is good enough to charge both batteries. Any help would be appreciated.

Post by **kevtherev** » 11 Jun 2007, 17:00

your alternator will charge both batteries and the weakest one will get the lions share of the amps

the info is in the wiki as I'm sure you've already seen.

is this "fridge" of yours just an electric cool box mal0r? as conversion (Electrolux) fridges do not (should not ) run on battery alone

Post by **mal0r** » 11 Jun 2007, 20:00

Actually, yes, it is just a cool/warm box. I think we'll be looking at investing in a 3 way fridge somehow.

Post by **BigTam** » 11 Jun 2007, 20:57

Just fitted new zig unit and leisure battery couple of weeks ago, one big no-no is wiring fridge to leisure battery,

Post by **kevtherev** » 11 Jun 2007, 21:21

mal0r wrote: investing in a 3 way fridge somehow.

whoa hold on.... there are many forms of fridges and a 3 way fridge is a big investment in time and money.

look at alternatives like a gas only fridge or a two way...even a frozen two litre bottle of water is a help to your cool box.
campsites even offer a block freezing service as well.

second hand gas/12v caravan fridges are pretty cheap

every thing you need to know is on here...how good is that huh?

Post by **Cruz** » 11 Jun 2007, 21:37

kevtherev wrote:even a frozen two litre bottle of water is a help to your cool box.

So true.We have a 3 way fridge but myself and the wife are lovers of the more rustic farm campsites so we hardly get electric hookup when we go away for weekends. We use a coolbox with 99p bags of ice. The meltwater keeps beers, wine, milk and water ice-fresh.

We only got hookup for about 5 nights out of the 14 we had in Scotland last summer and we once did a week in the south Downs in a tent (pre-van medieval days) using a coolbox during a week of temps in the high 20's. We just popped a new ice bag in each day. And emptied out the old water of course as it melts the new ice.