Club 80-90 Forums

Thanks, I definately need lessons in basic mechanics and electrics - thanks for your patience, at least the van isn't broken and going to cost me anymore money!!

The original van book said it could do it, however of course - that was 24 years ago!


Just need to adapt how I use the power when camping in the winter with long dark nights. I will look into getting a separate charger in time as it would be useful for longer trips.

Thanks everyone for your help.

LittleMissSunshine wrote:The original van book said it could do it, however of course - that was 24 years ago!

That's referring to if you had a CF6 fitted which yours isn't I'm afraid. Autohomes only fitted the CF6; yours has been retro fitted by a previous owner

Is there an as yet undiscovered box somewhere that the mains supply connects to and is not currently connected to the battery? If there is that could be the charger that would have allowed you to utilize the mains as battery power.

I will have a look - a mystery waiting to be solved, I am just so relieved something else isn't broken

Oldiebut goodie wrote:Is there an as yet undiscovered box somewhere that the mains supply connects to and is not currently connected to the battery? If there is that could be the charger that would have allowed you to utilize the mains as battery power.

No Autohomes didn't do that. There will be a consumer unit with two circuit breakers; 10amp and 6amp. The larger supplies the 13amp socket below Helen's Zig, the 6A supplies another 13amp socket by the consumer unit which the fridge plugs into. If a Zig CF6 was fitted, a separate flex was run to it spurred off the fridge socket.

What does the hook-up connect to? It would be a lot of hassle to fit if it only connects to a 3 pin plug socket or two. (and probably not that safe if it was retro fitted without a consumer unit or RCD.)

BOXY wrote:What does the hook-up connect to? It would be a lot of hassle to fit if it only connects to a 3 pin plug socket or two. (and probably not that safe if it was retro fitted without a consumer unit or RCD.)

No. The hook up is NOT retro fitted - the Zig was.

The Autohomes consumer unit consists of an incoming RCD main switch with two adjacent circuit breakers; a 10A and a 6A. One for the general use socket above the kitchen and the other for the fridge. That was it unless Autohomes also fitted a Zig CF6 which was optional....


(Phew!!)

Stop panicking her!!

When I purchased my Merc bus the hook up tripped the house electrics - some numpty had switched the live and neutral at the consumer unit. It is wise to check everything over upon purchase - or find a man that knows.

The last 3 or 4 posts went flying far over my head - glad you are around to calm the waters though

The zig must have been put in by owner number 1 as I was chatting to owner number 2 (the one we bought it off) who tried to explain what you have said to me over the phone but he never used in when the nights were long and only flattened the leisure battery once many moons ago.

No. The hook up is NOT retro fitted - the Zig was.

What I meant was if the ZIg unit had been changed it would be worth checking that the original hook-up was fitted as it should have been and not modified for the worse by a previous owner.

My Autohomes Kamper had an original fit hook-up that consisted of a 250v lead that was spured through a junction box to a plug socket and the Zig unit. It was about as safe as licking a socket

Instruction and lots of other Autohomes stuff here.

http://www.autohomes.vwt25camper.info/h ... ownlo.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Great link, thanks for sharing!

It seems we still have the original portapotti and crockery!

Hey little miss sunshine!

I'm a newbie too and had a similar situation to yours. I have an 86 autosleeper and assumed that lights etc worked from the 240 hookup, but had the same probs as you. I worked it out by disconnecting the leisure battery, plugging in the hookup, and you guessed it, only the socket and fridge were powered!

I have a proper heater also that only works of the leisure battery which gives an unknown "range" of time.

A possible solution that I found was to fit a "3 stage unit" (that's what the expert called it) this effectively charges the battery/batteries when hooked up but allows the battery to be used also. I was quoted £88 plus fitting if that helps.

Interested in any other solutions that anyone can suggest...

Ha! Glad I am not alone Might look into that in the long term, but I think if we just adapt our behaviour we should be fine (ie not have it lit like Blackpool illuminations!).

Thanks everyone for the great advice again.

pi quattro wrote:
I have a proper heater also that only works of the leisure battery which gives an unknown "range" of time.

not unknown if you know how much gas the propex uses when it's running...

pi quattro wrote:A possible solution that I found was to fit a "3 stage unit" (that's what the expert called it) this effectively charges the battery/batteries when hooked up but allows the battery to be used also. I was quoted £88 plus fitting if that helps.

They cost £15 from Lidl called a TRONIC and you could fit it yourself it's not rocket science, simply wire it to you mains RCD in the van. It's a phased charger for leisure batteries, nowt technical or expert needed
I sell the C-tek version (same) and it's £49.99
Lidl just get them cheaper as they bulk buy.