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Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 00:02
by JNW
So this is a bit of a mystery.
I've had batteries in and out after the summer. Now, when you switch the Zig unit to van battery, rather than the leisure, it shows the green light, then red, then fades.
Weird eh?
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 09:50
by MidLifeCrisis
Which Zig do you have?
Sounds like you may no longer have a connection from the van battery to the Zig
a) could you have disturbed/disconnected/broken the wire when you removed/reinstalled the van battery
b) have you checked the fuse on the wire from van battery to Zig
You said that the LEDs went green, then red, then fade when you switch from Leisure battery to Van battery. Try this as an experiment (I am assuming you have a CF8 Zig);
a) Switch the Zig to the Leisure battery,
b) Switch the 12V On
c) You should have the green LED - everything is working properly;
d) Now, rather than switching to the Van battery, turn off the 12v.
e) Now switch to the Leisure battery
f) Now turn the 12v back on again - what do the LEDs do??
My guess is that the LEDs will not light at all?
My guess is that the LEDs were going red, green, fade as the residual power of the Leisure battery dissipated (by switching the 12v off inbetween this no longer happens)
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 10:18
by 1664
MidLifeCrisis wrote:Which Zig do you have?
Sounds like you may no longer have a connection from the van battery to the Zig
a) could you have disturbed/disconnected/broken the wire when you removed/reinstalled the van battery
b) have you checked the fuse on the wire from van battery to Zig
You said that the LEDs went green, then red, then fade when you switch from Leisure battery to Van battery. Try this as an experiment (I am assuming you have a CF8 Zig);
a) Switch the Zig to the Leisure battery,
b) Switch the 12V On
c) You should have the green LED - everything is working properly;
d) Now, rather than switching to the Van battery, turn off the 12v.
e) Now switch to the Leisure battery Do you mean Starter battery?
f) Now turn the 12v back on again - what do the LEDs do??
My guess is that the LEDs will not light at all?
My guess is that the LEDs were going red, green, fade as the residual power of the Leisure battery dissipated (by switching the 12v off inbetween this no longer happens)
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 13:57
by MidLifeCrisis
1664 wrote:MidLifeCrisis wrote:Which Zig do you have?
Sounds like you may no longer have a connection from the van battery to the Zig
a) could you have disturbed/disconnected/broken the wire when you removed/reinstalled the van battery
b) have you checked the fuse on the wire from van battery to Zig
You said that the LEDs went green, then red, then fade when you switch from Leisure battery to Van battery. Try this as an experiment (I am assuming you have a CF8 Zig);
a) Switch the Zig to the Leisure battery,
b) Switch the 12V On
c) You should have the green LED - everything is working properly;
d) Now, rather than switching to the Van battery, turn off the 12v.
e) Now switch to the Leisure battery Do you mean Starter battery?
f) Now turn the 12v back on again - what do the LEDs do??
My guess is that the LEDs will not light at all?
My guess is that the LEDs were going red, green, fade as the residual power of the Leisure battery dissipated (by switching the 12v off inbetween this no longer happens)
yes, of course, well spotted!! I'll get my coat ........
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 14:01
by JNW
Great. So where do they hi+de the fuse from the main battery?
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 14:45
by MidLifeCrisis
In theory the fuse should be as close to the battery as possible.
So, it should be mounted somewhere next to the van battery - usually there are a few fuses mounted in a block under the drivers seat (assuming thats where your battery is);
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 15:50
by BOXY
If you look at the photo in this post, the fuse is on the red wire.
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=109941" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 16:47
by JNW
There are two mounted fuses under the seat, and both look unblown.
Still weird isn't it.
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 Nov 2012, 19:19
by MidLifeCrisis
Do you have a multimeter?
Pull the Zig out (its held in place with the 4 screws on the faceplate)
See if you are getting 12v (from the van battery) at the screw-block at the back (you might need to disconnect your leisure battery before you do this to confirm that you are not seeing the 12v from that).
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 16 Nov 2012, 08:12
by 1664
There's not much point having the starter battery connected at all unless the Zig is acting as your 12v split charge system off the alternator or you feel the need for the option of running your camper electrics off the starter battery.
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 16 Nov 2012, 11:19
by MidLifeCrisis
1664 wrote:There's not much point having the starter battery connected at all unless the Zig is acting as your 12v split charge system off the alternator or you feel the need for the option of running your camper electrics off the starter battery.
Agreed - having the van battery connected to the Zig is probably more of a negative than a positive (ah, battery pun!) as there is always the danger that you'll have the Zig switches set incorrectly and be draining your van battery (rather than the leisure battery) without realising it.
On our T25, I have the van battery connected to the Zig but with the fuse removed - that way I can reconnect it very easily if needed (for some reason), but there is no chance that I'll inadvertently be draining the van battery (I have to guard against my own stupidity!).
(Either way, it would still be nice to know why you have the problem you have, fix it, then maybe pull the fuse as I have)
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 15 May 2013, 22:17
by JNW
So, months on..
I've had the leisure battery out for a while, but when I switch on the Zig, the LEDs come on briefly then fade. So it's getting something from the main battery; like a trickle. The fuse can't be blown, can it?
Worried that the leisure won't be charging..
J
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 16 May 2013, 17:12
by BOXY
I've never opened up my zig unit, but could there be a capacitor in it storing enough charge to light the LED. Does LED light everytime you switch on?
Re: Zig partial failure
Posted: 16 May 2013, 20:21
by JNW
Only if you leave it for a while.