LEISURE BATTERY INSTALLATION SPLIT CHARGER

[jonbeer]

Hi all,

Thanks for taking time to look at this, sorry if it is covered elsewhere.

I bought a rust bucket of a 1984 T25 a couple of months ago, my FIRST vintage vehicle, my first VW, my first camper and my first post on this forum, so a mighty leap but my Dad had a split screen when I was a kid and I have dreamed of a VW camper ever since.

I have spent the last 3 months restoring bodywork and helping a mechanic (well watching helplessly really) to get it through the MOT. PASSED TWO WEEKS AGO!!!

So now I am venturing into the electrics part and think the van has been wired up pretty strangely.

My aim is to run a second battery (a leisure one) and install a split charger relay which I have already purchased on ebay (titled: 3 mtr Split Charge Relay Kit/System With 100amp Heavy Duty Relay) and I am ready to go, BUT I need to get my head around how wrong my vehicle may have been wired.

My main stumbling block is that I can’t work out how the distribution panel is connected to either the MEM mains switch/fuse box or the battery.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have more photos etc, just ask...

Thanks in advance to any kind soul who can advise me on how to proceed.

Jon

[cassandra]

Hi, this may be a silly question but I would guess that your van would have been fitted with a leisure battery when it was converted as your drawing of the control panel shows a battery selector switch, so are you sure there isn't another battery hiding somewhere? Also your diagram only shows two cables from the control panel, is that correct as there should be a lot more? If you have make and model of the control panel then perhaps you can find a connection diagram somewhere on the web, that would be a good starting point. The mains supply to the control panel (if it is also a power supply/charger) may be from the fridge supply as normal practice is to use one circuit breaker for mains sockets, usually 10 amp, and the second breaker, 5 or 6 amp to supply the fridge, charger and 240v lights if fitted. The control panel should have connections for both batteries, the water pump, 12v lights and possibly an auxiliary feed for a radio or what ever?

Pictures front and back of the control panel might help and also check the dark depths of the cupboards, engine bay, under the passenger seat and under the bed for a second battery or some stray battery clamps.

[CovKid]

It might just be simpler to ask previous owner. Hard for anyone else to advise as we have no idea if wiring has been modified.

[jonbeer]

Hi Cassandra,

Thanks for your time, when I bought the van it had been sitting for 4 years, it had all kinds of junk in it including a very dead leisure battery (which I disposed of), but the leisure battery was not hooked up and everything ‘leisure wise’ was connected to the starter battery.

I took the control panel (which is a ZIG CP400) out and looked at the back and there are actually four cables running into it (not two as my diagram had mislead you to believe) each cable splits into a positive and a negative, see wiring photo attached.

ZIG CP400 - wiring.jpg

From what you are saying I am assuming the 240v mains hook up equipment, like the fridge and plug sockets have no connection to the control panel and are in fact a separate 12v system? If so this begins to make a little more sense to me and installing the split charger unit seems far less daunting, maybe I have been over complicated this bit.

You said the aux feed could run a radio, this isn’t through the plug sockets I assume? My main idea for the leisure battery was to charge laptops/phones etc when I am wild camping (I live in Ireland and don’t really use campsites), is this possible through the AUX?

Thanks for your patience with a novice.

Jon

[jonbeer]

The previous owner was a mechanic who inherited the van from an ill uncle. He let it sit at his garage for 4 years and had no idea about it so unfortunately that avenue is closed to me.

Thanks for your time.

Jon

[cassandra]

Hi, a little clarification here. Your control panel is 12v only and is not linked in any way to the mains hook-up system, it is not a battery charger, just a switch and fuse panel for 'leisure' functions. The aux output is 12v and could be used for additional lights or a 12v 'cigarette lighter' socket which could charge a phone or lap top with the correct adaptor. You will need to fit your split charge relay and battery and then connect the positive from that battery to the spare terminal on the battery selector switch (the left hand switch as you look at the control panel). Your leisure battery will then supply everything connected to the panel. As for where to mount the second battery, that depends on what size battery you want and what space you have. The van has room under the passenger seat for a second battery but not a very big leisure one so maybe under the bed or in a cupboard may be better but the battery should be down on the floor and securely fixed where ever you decide to place it. As for the wiring, there are plenty of posts and possibly info in the club wiki on how to connect it and fuse it all safely. The search box (top right) is your friend!

Hope this helps.

[jonbeer]

Thanks Cassandra,

This really clears everything up for me. I have got the correct ZIG CP400 diagram now and will get started on this over the weekend. I appreciate you taking your time on what was probably a pretty basic and well covered subject.

Thanks

Jon