Electrics/zig/hook-up problem

['hanish-boy]

Hello folks,

I'm trying to understand how my electrics are working in my new(old) T25.
The seller told me that the zig unit had been rewired recently.
Did he forget to tell me that it was rewired incorrectly? I'm hopnig you can help me work that out!

Here's the zig unit
[img:640:482]http://usera.imagecave.com/peacethrough ... int001.jpg[/img]

and the back
[img:482:640]http://usera.imagecave.com/peacethrough ... int003.jpg[/img]

The current situation is this:

Interior lights (strip mounted in hitop & spot above hob) work when 12V switch is ON.
Interior lights do not work when 12V switch is OFF no matter how the other switches are positioned.
Electric sockets (usual 3 pin type) only work when hook-up is installed and work regardless of any/all switch positions.
Interior lights do not work when hook-up is installed and 12V switch is OFF.

I haven't been able to test the batteries with a meter yet- buying one at the weekend but when I briefly switched the batteries round it appears that the leisure battery does have a charge.

I've downloaded, read and understood as best I can the pdf about zig units but I'm still in the dark about what's going on.

Can someone explain what I should do so that I can run my interior lights and sockets off the leisure battery.

In case the battery set up has some bearing on things:

Main battery
[img:640:482]http://usera.imagecave.com/peacethrough ... int005.jpg[/img]

Leisure battery
[img:640:482]http://usera.imagecave.com/peacethrough ... int004.jpg[/img]

Many thanks for any help!

[kevtherev]

Gawd...what a lash up.

personally I would get two new batteries...code 096. they are bigger and fill the space.

Interior lights (strip mounted in hitop & spot above hob) work when 12V switch is ON.
Interior lights do not work when 12V switch is OFF no matter how the other switches are positioned.
Electric sockets (usual 3 pin type) only work when hook-up is installed and work regardless of any/all switch positions.
Interior lights do not work when hook-up is installed and 12V switch is OFF.

that's all ok

basically when you hook up the leisure battery will recharge with a charger (zig) either automatically or with a switch

['hanish-boy]

^^^thanks Rev!

I'm planning on spending more time wild camping than anything else so I was hoping to have some light/power drawn from the leisure battery, rather than the main.

So from what you say, the interior lights only work when the 12V switch is ON?
That means they only work from the main battery?
Is that right?

Can I not have light without running the risk of flattening my battery?
Can I have power for my sockets drawn from the leisure?

Also- 'code 096'? Can you explain further please? Just a better fit and a bit beefier? Or...?

Thanks again.

[kevtherev]

So from what you say, the interior lights only work when the 12V switch is ON?

yes

That means they only work from the main battery?
Is that right?

depends...disconnect the main and see if they still work

Can I not have light without running the risk of flattening my battery?

yes from the leisure or Auxilliary battery

Can I have power for my sockets drawn from the leisure?

the three pin sockets are for 230v

Also- 'code 096'? Can you explain further please? Just a better fit and a bit beefier? Or...?

Code096 batteries are available from halfords or any motorfactor

at 75 amp hour they are great for long weekends and wild camping.. and you can use the aux battery to start the van
they are not "leisure" batteries so they charge back up quickly from the engine.
leisure batteries need a special three phase charger to get the best out of them. (lidl £9.99)
however the bigger the better and a 110 amp hour leisure battery will be ideal for longer times between charges...but then you will need to move it to another location

['hanish-boy]

Thanks for the help!

Ok. So it really does appear like the electrics will need a proper looking at so that I can get the lights to run from the aux battery, yes?

And to run the sockets from the aux battery....? Can this be done?

Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it. I've never tried to even think about electrics before. Anybody got a fresh brain?

[kevtherev]

Ok. So it really does appear like the electrics will need a proper looking at so that I can get the lights to run from the aux battery, yes?

yes..but disconnect the starter battery first to see if they already do that

And to run the sockets from the aux battery....? Can this be done?

The three pin sockets are a mains power circuit 230 AC voltage.

your aux battery is 12 volts DC.

entirely different.

what do you want to run from the sockets?

['hanish-boy]

I'd like to run a small fan heater and/or a small oil heater til I get a propex-type heater plumbed in.
At the moment all the heating we've got is the 2 burner hob. I'm not too keen to rely on it given that it's a few years old and may not be burning properly (CO fumes etc).

Can I get power to the fan heater without being hooked-up?

[kevtherev]

At the moment all the heating we've got is the 2 burner hob. I'm not too keen to rely on it given that it's a few years old and may not be burning properly (CO fumes etc).

using the hob as a heater will kill you...so don't

Can I get power to the fan heater without being hooked-up?

again....no

it uses mains electricity

as explained DC and AC are two different types of electicity.
the fan heater will only work on 230v mains.

propex or ebberspacher are good safe heaters...best get one of them.
In the mean time wrap up warm, or get hook up