Charging leisure battery

[northantsandy]

Hi Guys
I need a little advice re: Leisure Batteries

I have a zig unit and I am not sure if it is working or the leisure battery is dead. When driving I turn the orange MAINS button off and turn black button to TOURING, yet when i am stationary and turn 12v button to the ON position the leisure battery RED LIGHT flickers but then instantly go off. I imagined that the green button should comre on, but doesn't.
So
1) Can a leisure battery go flat beyond the point of charging? (van has hardly been used in last two years by previous owners)
2) How do I test the leisure battery? or Test zig unit is charging?
3) Can a leisure battery be re-charged from flat to a position where it will receive a charge?
4) Can I charge a leisure battery from an electric hook up?

I am not technical on voltage or amps.

Northantsandy

Thank you

[rainman]

Me not technical neither but I know a leisure battery can die to the point where it won't take a charge, same as your starter battery. As for testing, a simple voltmeter should tell you something.

[northantsandy]

Cheers Rainman

[andisnewsyncro]

There's a difference between deep cycle leisure batteries and starter batteries, but having said that most folks that I know (me included) use a standard battery for the leisure circuitry.

An elderly battery can indeed get to the point where it won't take a charge, but try giving it a long trickle charge and see how it goes. Some chargers do claim to be able to revive batteries, have a search for threads on the Aldi charger from a couple of weeks back.

As for charging on hook up, it depends, most, but not all, installations are wired this way, there are different models of Zig unit too, so I can't comment on yours specifically I'm afraid.

Have you got another vehicle you could "borrow" the battery from to test the circuitry ? That way you would at least rule out faults of that nature.

Good luck with it, I'm sure someone will be along with some more helpful advice shortly

[northantsandy]

Cheers Andi

[Willoughby]

1) Can a leisure battery go flat beyond the point of charging? (van has hardly been used in last two years by previous owners)

Yes

2) How do I test the leisure battery? or Test zig unit is charging?

Need a good tester multimeter is no good, most places test for free.
If its a ZIG CF 6 or 8 you can put a car bulb between terminal 3 & 4 on the back ot the unit. if it lights then the charger is fine.

3) Can a leisure battery be re-charged from flat to a position where it will receive a charge?

Worth a try, best bet is to use a proper 3 phase battery carger.

4) Can I charge a leisure battery from an electric hook up?

Yes you can, again best bet is get a decent charger.


I have a Zig CF6 and its not up to the job of charging my leisure battery 110A.
I fitted a good split charging diode and a proper charger for when on hook up.

IMHO If you are going to use the battery a lot you will need to sort something other than the zig.
If it's just for LED or Fu lights and water pump you will be fine with a zig.

Kev