Leisure Battery

[Lynne]

Ok.. have done what you said and it IS staying at 12.7 - not moving so it looks like it's the split charge as you say. Will trace the wire back to the battery behind seat.

[Lynne]

Found fuse by battery which is broken. Hubby gone to get a new one. Will update.

[Lynne]

Changed fuse. Still on 12.7. Not sure what to do now! Following wire from vehicle battery. Can't find relay? There is a black box behind passenger seat about 4"x 3". No idea if that is part of it? Seems to have wires running to battery.

[Lynne]

Hi again Ghost.. since my last post yesterday, we have changed the fuse again (didn't know how old the one we had was so got new one just in case). Also changed the fuse going to the vehicle battery and we now get a reading of 13.7V on the leisure battery.

The other thing is, that the switch on the zig unit for charging/touring.. does that need to be on when driving? If we put it on the charge from the leisure battery drops but if we leave it off it goes higher. Just wondering if this is normal as we are not sure if any of those switches should be on when driving! Thank you SO much again Ghost.

[ghost123uk]

Hi again Ghost.. since my last post yesterday, we have changed the fuse again (didn't know how old the one we had was so got new one just in case). Also changed the fuse going to the vehicle battery and we now get a reading of 13.7V on the leisure battery.

That sounds fixed then

What rating was the fuse ?

A leisure battery that has been well used over a weekend can can pull in the order of 30 Amps from the engine when first started up. The wiring should also be able to stand those currents.

The other thing is, that the switch on the zig unit for charging/touring.. does that need to be on when driving? If we put it on the charge from the leisure battery drops but if we leave it off it goes higher. Just wondering if this is normal as we are not sure if any of those switches should be on when driving! Thank you SO much again Ghost.

I have never worked on a van with that version of Zig, so cannot really answer that question. My zig (and others I have seen) just have a switch that says "car" or "van" ( = confusing ! ) but on those Zig's that just refers to which battery is supplying the current (not charging). "van" = leisure battery on most. You only switch to "car" (i.e. "main" battery) if you need power in an "emergency" as in that position you are using up your starter battery.

With a normal split charging system, both batteries are getting charged as you drive along.

Hope this helps you understand it a bit better

[Lynne]

Well as it seems to be charging without having any of the switches on I think the best thing to do is leave things as they are!

It has a 25 amp fuse in it... we exchanged it for a 25 amp (obviously not working) but then read on an old thread on here that it should be a 10 amp fuse? That's what is in at the moment but please let me know if this is wrong! Don't want to blow the thing up!! Thanks again.

[ghost123uk]

Well it's always safest to err on the low side for fuses. The only time it will need to handle a large current is for the first few minutes after starting up after using the leisure battery to the extent that it is running flat. So, I would stick to the 10 amp for now but check it does not blow when starting up as in the circumstances above = keep a spare or 2. Is it a blade fuse or a glass one ? (blade (in appropriate holder) = MUCH better for this type of application)

[Lynne]

It's a glass one but will change it now you have explanned! This has been invaluable information for us ghost as we would still not have a clue if you hadn't put yourself out to explain! Very grateful!!