Club 80-90 Forums

I'm slowly going through my 79 t25 westy and when I bought it I noticed the battery charger was unplugged under the bench seat. So I plugged it back in. Hooked up to mains and it was pumping out just under 18 volts to leisure battery. I then tested main battery and this was around 14 volts. I went back to leisure to double check and it had gone back down to 12 volt. Then tested main battery again and this was 12 volt aswell. So I unplugged charger and tested incoming supply. This was healthy ac supply coming in. I thought I may aswell plug in again to double check once I went to get my other dc volt meeter incase my other one was playing up and it now gives nothing to either battery so I think my charger is knackered.
I am going to add some led lights for low energy usage when we don't have hook up and I was looking at maybe adding a solar panel maybe 100watt flexible panel. What is my best options. I was thinking about a zig unit with built in charger and then seperate solar controller or is there any other ways of doing it. I was thinking zig unit just for fusing the lights and anything else I decide to run and then found my battery charger not working so thought may aswell get one with charging capability.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Mark

I wouldn't bother paying out for a zig charger, they are not up to much! IMHO better to get a decent output ( 10 or 12amp) "intelligent " mains charger and hard wire it in so whenever you hook up it charges the leisure battery ( you could add a optional switch to switch tween the two batteries , which is what I have done)
You then only need a aux fuse box for the lighting and what ever else you want too run off the leisure battery

As for solar panels, buy the biggest wattage one you can physically fit on your van as the more watts you buy the cheaper per watt it is , and you can never have too much free charging !

Ah ok. What charger would you recommend. Should I try and have a look at my original westfalia one? How are they wired in in relation to charging batteries. They charge both at same time I assume as when I tested they were both getting volts.

I have the 12amp version of this one
im not sure about the westy one, someone will be along in a min to tell you more .......

Ok. Thankyou.

I think I destroyed my charger recently by starting with it connected by accident ( not 100% sure)
I wonder if a relay triggered by ignition to disconnect would be a good idea?

itchyfeet wrote:I think I destroyed my charger recently by starting with it connected by accident ( not 100% sure)
I wonder if a relay triggered by ignition to disconnect would be a good idea?

That has been my main concern too, I have two battery chargers, one of which is an automatic one that switches off when the battery isfully charged. I would love to hard wire it in with a switch that

• 1. turns the mains off and on
  2. a switch to isolate the charger from the battery circuits
  3. probably the same switch also selects which battery the charge is going to (Leisure or Starter)

My only concern is how to protect the circuit from damage if the van is started whilst the charger is connected either running or just accidentally left switched to either battery but no electric hook up is in place.

I don't know know if that would affect the charger or not. I'm no expert with dc electrics. Someone would prob know though. I wonder how westfalia wired there's in originally.

nevill3 wrote:

itchyfeet wrote:I think I destroyed my charger recently by starting with it connected by accident ( not 100% sure)
I wonder if a relay triggered by ignition to disconnect would be a good idea?

That has been my main concern too, I have two battery chargers, one of which is an automatic one that switches off when the battery isfully charged. I would love to hard wire it in with a switch that

• 1. turns the mains off and on
  2. a switch to isolate the charger from the battery circuits
  3. probably the same switch also selects which battery the charge is going to (Leisure or Starter)

My only concern is how to protect the circuit from damage if the van is started whilst the charger is connected either running or just accidentally left switched to either battery but no electric hook up is in place.

wishes 2 and 3 are easy, a simple three position switch, with the charger connected to the common pin, and each battery connected to the other two pins respectively will give you direction of charge and off in the centre
which is what i have .... i see no point in switching the mins into the charger, its off when you are not hoooked up and when you are who cares!!

as for damaging the charger by starting , not sure it would, mine hasnt, but a simple 5 pin relay from ignition live will disconnect the charger feed to the switch as soon as the ignition puts the oil and alternator light on