Club 80-90 Forums

Along with a check at the garage today before we (try to) go away, we asked them to fix the zig-leisure battery connection. We bought a new battery as the old one was dead, and it wasn't a proper leisure battery anyway.

The battery seems full, but the light on the zig fades almost immediately. The fuse has been checked. Connectors all cleaned. Guess what? we're going back to the garage at 8.30 tomorrow! But, any ideas what the problem is? How would we identify if the earth was faulty? You can tell we don't know much about electrics. Poor Steve has swopped out the van battery too to check it is a problem with the connectors somewhere and not the battery, but the same thing is happening. And we know the van battery is healthy.
Very grateful for any advice.

If all else fails get him to make you up a piece of heavy wire with two eyelets..you could then directly connect the positive terminals on both batteries whilst driving which will charge both batteries.
You just need to disconnect one end when camping (but wrap some tape around the disconnected end so it doesn't touch the body of the van).

This is effectively what a split charge relay does 'connects the two positive battery terminals together' when driving.

Martin

Thank you so much. That's such a help. Steve has been up much of the night sorting other stuff so he can get to the garage when they open! It seems there is no power coming out of the auxiliary part of the zig. Goes green, then red then immediately fades. (Residual power from the hookup he thinks) I know others have had that issue on here but connectors and earth strap all ok. Starter battery as leisure battery has same issue.

later info: it is the connection between the leisure battery and the zig; the electrician is rigging up a conduit and cable to connect it up so it works. All sealed in behind the units so will be a big job to take out and reinstall. Good news is the electrician has done it before in his own!

Main battery is in engine bay, at rear, leisure under passenger seat.

Are you only Dreaming of California or have you managed to get there too?

Bibitybob wrote:
Are you only Dreaming of California or have you managed to get there too?

Good to see it's being sorted.

No I'm just living the dream of California ownership (T3 Westfalia California that is)

With the amount of money I spend on keeping her in trim and running I think I could have easily gone to California several times over.

Martin

California Dreamin wrote:If all else fails get him to make you up a piece of heavy wire with two eyelets..you could then directly connect the positive terminals on both batteries whilst driving which will charge both batteries.
You just need to disconnect one end when camping (but wrap some tape around the disconnected end so it doesn't touch the body of the van).

This is effectively what a split charge relay does 'connects the two positive battery terminals together' when driving.

Martin

Hi Martin

Would this work where the leisure battery is a higher AH than the starter battery?

(Sorry to hijack thread...)

Thanks

cleagarr wrote:

California Dreamin wrote:If all else fails get him to make you up a piece of heavy wire with two eyelets..you could then directly connect the positive terminals on both batteries whilst driving which will charge both batteries.
You just need to disconnect one end when camping (but wrap some tape around the disconnected end so it doesn't touch the body of the van).

This is effectively what a split charge relay does 'connects the two positive battery terminals together' when driving.

Martin

Hi Martin

Would this work where the leisure battery is a higher AH than the starter battery?

(Sorry to hijack thread...)

Thanks

The amperage from the Alternator will charge the weakest battery with more amps than the strongest... because that's what electricity does... matters not if the batteries have different Amp hour rating

So if your leisure is down on power more than the starter.. it gets the bulk of the charge, but not all of it

With the amount of money I spend on keeping her in trim and running I think I could have easily gone to California several times over.

And thanks again for your quick response. Feeling there was hope despite our frustration was a great lift this morning!!

kevtherev wrote:

cleagarr wrote:

California Dreamin wrote:If all else fails get him to make you up a piece of heavy wire with two eyelets..you could then directly connect the positive terminals on both batteries whilst driving which will charge both batteries.
You just need to disconnect one end when camping (but wrap some tape around the disconnected end so it doesn't touch the body of the van).

This is effectively what a split charge relay does 'connects the two positive battery terminals together' when driving.

Martin

Hi Martin

Would this work where the leisure battery is a higher AH than the starter battery?

(Sorry to hijack thread...)

Thanks

The amperage from the Alternator will charge the weakest battery with more amps than the strongest... because that's what electricity does... matters not if the batteries have different Amp hour rating

So if your leisure is down on power more than the starter.. it gets the bulk of the charge, but not all of it

Thanks very much!

Thanks[/quote]

The amperage from the Alternator will charge the weakest battery with more amps than the strongest... because that's what electricity does... matters not if the batteries have different Amp hour rating

So if your leisure is down on power more than the starter.. it gets the bulk of the charge, but not all of it[/quote]

That's useful Kev. So, as my leisure battery is 4 years old that needs replacing so that my main battery gets properly charged. Is that right mate?

It's slightly more complicated but:
Charge rate is controlled by: PD (potential difference)...between the alternators charge voltage of (13.9 - 14.2 ) and the batteries standing voltage (12.6v 100%, 12v 50%, 11.5v around 15%) treating voltage like water pressure, the charge pushes in the direction of the lower value.

Trouble is...and as Kev points out, the alternator sees the PD of these two linked batteries as one value, for example: a fully charged starter with a standing voltage of 12.6 volts and a half charged leisure with 12 volts will be seen as a single 12.3 volt battery, approximately 70% charged....so the alternator slowly replaces the 30% and stops....in reality leaving the leisure only 80% charged.

Trick is to independently charge both batteries with a smart charger several times a year to get them both to 100%.

Martin

Nicely put Martin

the leisure would be better charged on a phased or as martin says a smart charger to get the best from it..