its called....?

[monkeyboysee]

hi guys,

i've just got the onboiard electrics up and running, using the original MCF5 panel, all working fine. As the van and leisure batteries are wired in, i want to get something to put inline that will stop the batteries overcharging automatically. is there something available, and if so what are they called?

i don't need a split relay as the panel does all the swap over etc.

cheers

[Oldiebut goodie]

An alternator.
I doubt that those Zig units will give you full alternator voltage anyway.

[Mocki]

i don't need a split relay as the panel does all the swap over etc

famous last words...... lol!

[monkeyboysee]

that doesn't sound promising, are the zig units "temperamental"?

everything seems to working ok, it changes from 240 to 12v no problem, and charges the leisure battery when asked. i was after something to go in the battery lines to stop overcharging and recking the batteries?

[Oldiebut goodie]

As said - the alternator performs that function pretty well - why are you trying to add something that is not required? Most people worry about not getting enough charge into the batteries, why do you think that just by adding a split charge or Zig will lead to overcharging? If anything it will drop the voltage?

[monkeyboysee]

i'm not making myself clear, apologies, i'll try again.

i've got the Zig MCF5 all wired up, as part of its function i believe it will charge up the leisure battery when hooked up to 240v. the manual says to only do this for 3-4hours. there's a good chance we might have gone walking for 8-10hours and don't want to come back to a firedamged shell or a knackered battery because it has had too much charge. a pal told me i needed a relay to sense when the battery is full and isolate the supply until it is needed again. i'm just concerned about overcharging and want some protection in there other than a fuse.

i hope thats a bit clearer, i'm not too technical.

[Krowne]

What you are after is an smart charger like this one on the brickyard which can be left on and reduces down to maintenance level and will never overcharge your battery
Brian

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... ory_id=157" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AdrianC]

i've got the Zig MCF5 all wired up, as part of its function i believe it will charge up the leisure battery when hooked up to 240v. the manual says to only do this for 3-4hours.

If this Zig unit can't control that itself, then it strikes me as being some heap of half-chuffed carp that's got no place in any kind of camper van...

Are you sure you've not misunderstood? That it actually says it'll have topped 'em up in 3-4hours, then it'll just keep 'em topped up? What's the exact wording of the section?

[monkeyboysee]

FROM THE MANUAL "when a mains supply is connected to the van the cf5 will charge the auxiliary battery at a maximum of 6amps. under normal circumstamces it should not be necessary to leave the charger switched on for more than four hours."

i also have the manual for the cf8 which is the "newer" model, thereis a rider "N.B. do not leave the charger switched on for long periods, when the caravan is not in use".