spare battery problem

Post by **chrisray** » 06 Dec 2005, 22:14

Hello,
My spare battery seems to be playing up. I've spoken to my alternator dealer and he reckons its nothing to do with that. My main battery is charging fine. When I switch the Zig unit over to the spare, nothing!

I was going to try using a mulitmeter to test the charge..however the one I got from Argo's had a maximum of 20A and this battery is 50A.. will it work? Or should I use a more powerful MM?

My knowledge of electrics is pretty bad, so any help will be much appreciated!

Chris

Post by **Ivorblueun** » 06 Dec 2005, 22:41

the supply to the zig unit should have a fuse from each battery worth checking them first, if its gone the battery will not charge and also no supply to the zig, if its ok check you have 12v going to the terminal block on the back of the zig if not sounds like a bad connection some where between bat and zig. your meter should be fine for checking voltage hope this helps

Post by **tonytech** » 06 Dec 2005, 22:46

Does your leisure batt charge via a split charge arangement?
If you have just renewed your alternator I'd be looking for a relay feed from the batt warning light that may have got left off.

Your multimeter will be OK for reading the terminal voltage on the leisure batt. Should be 14ish Volts with engine running.

T

Post by **chrisray** » 08 Dec 2005, 12:52

Thankyou for your replies. I don't know the setup..there's switches on the side of a cupboard that switch either to use the main battery or the leisure battery on with a green and red light with switches for lights/water reading/heating.

Inside the cupboard there's a fuse box which I've checked and they are all ok. The other day when I switched it to the leisure the red light came on the zig unit for a slight second then died. So I'm thinking its the leisure battery at fault.

On the multimeters side of things..can anyone recommend me one? I realised the argos one seems expensive consider there are car specific one for much less.

(and doh I didn't mean to make a new topic.sorry)

Post by **KevH** » 08 Dec 2005, 16:05

where abouts in the country are you?

Post by **cumbriankeith** » 08 Dec 2005, 16:24

Maplins have a cheapy but adequate digi meter for a fiver or less - I've got one in the van, one in the house, one in the garage...