Zig units? Why and can one be installed easily?

[MrBanana]

Following from my postings regarding Autohomes with and without Zig units.

What 'is' the point of them? And if a 'van doesn't have one, can one be installed into the circuit easily?

[AngeloEvs]

ZIG unit is a convenient and compact way of housing a 13.4V battery charger, fuses, switches, protection devices for the 12V appliances, a battery condition monitor, sometimes a water tank level meter, and all in one box. Overpriced but compact and the central point for all the wiring! Some German conversions have the charger separate and out of the way but the meters, LEDs, switches, fuses, etc in a nice looking box and conveniently located for access. Fitting depends on the competence of the person doing it and the number/type of appliances you wish to install and connect to.

[RachelDaisy]

my autohomes doesn't have a zig unit. It does have the fuses and trip swiches in the back of the cupboard to the right of the fridge. Does yours have that? Your interior looks exactly the same as mine.

When we got our van it didn't have a leisure battery or any wiring for one. Sort of by mistake (fitter didn't do as I asked) I had a mains charger fitted instead of a split charger and a leisure battery installed and hooked up. This means that when I am on EHU the mains charger, recharges the leisure battery. It does this automatically.

So what I am trying to say is you don't need a zig unit. Have a word with a caravan maintenance place and they will tell you the options. Or someone else will come along and tell you more.

[cumbriankeith]

Not all Zig units have chargers - the simplest ones (eg CP400) are just fuse and distribution panels for the 12v camping stuff.

[1664]

My Komet came without one but rather conveniently Autohomes stashed all the necessary wiring at that point anyway. Take the wooden lid off the top or remove the 13A socket and all will be revealed. Well, mine was anyway.

You may need a CF6 as I think the CF8 may be a tad too big.

The wiring should consist of a 24Ov (mains) input from your hook up fuseboard. Out are 12v for lights, 12v for water pump/fridge ignition and a pair that leads straight to your leisure battery, all rather untidily crammed into connector strips. In the cupboard to the left of the fridge there is a little 'secret panel' (for want of a better expression) where there will also be some spagetti but you shouldn't need to interfere with that if it was like mine.

You will need to remove all the girlie nice wood bit to get the Zig in and a couple of discreet holes for cooling. The Zig wiring diagram is in the Wiki.

As far as the mains go; if you are unsure for heavens sake grab someone who knows what they're doing - that stuff hurts.

And finally, No, you don't HAVE to have one, your van will function perfectly well without one - but they are kinda nice

[BigTam]

Mr Banana, I installed one iin my last van, an Autohomes Kameo, if you need a hand or advice get in touch, I am just through the tunnel in North Shields,

[MrBanana]

Many thanks Tom..... next time I'm down at Littlehaven, I'll throw you a wave!

[trundletruc]

My van came with a CF8 zig unit and yes it has a battery charger in it for charging the Leisure battery when we are on a hook up and it has fuses for ancillaries. (I'd rarther have the fuses next to the battery protecting all the length of wire.)
But it also has a switch which has to be flicked over whenever you camp and whenever you start off motoring. This allows the engine to charge the leisure battery when motoring and isolates it when you are camping.

To me this seems rarther out of date. There are electronics that will detect when the engine is charging and automatically connect the leisure battery and also when it is not charging disconnect it. (Split charging).

I would like to fit some electronics that would override the camping/motoring switch without having to remove the whole panel and leave a hole in the cupboard it is mounted on! Anyone got any diagrams as to the wiring INSIDE the ZIG unit? I have rung up ZIG and they are not interested. The unit sells well as it is!

So before fitting a ZIG unit are you sure you want to keep flicking this switch every time you stop and start or do you want to adopt a more modern setup?

Trundletruc.

[ermie571]

We are just wiring in a cf8 and removing the split charge. Not too worried about flicking a switch.....think I can probably manage that.

Must admit, I thought you only had to switch it to on-site if you are on the hook-up....ie the switch tells the unit what is charging the leisure.....the engine (touring) or the 240 v hook-up. Surely, the 12 v system will work fine whatever position the charge selector is in, as long as the 12v system is turned on?

Em
x

[trundletruc]

I was told by the ZIG people that the ZIG unit will not charge the engine battery when on a hook up but I have not checked this with the switch in the touring position?

Trundletruc.

[1664]

I was told by the ZIG people that the ZIG unit will not charge the engine battery when on a hook up but I have not checked this with the switch in the touring position?

Trundletruc.

Zigs were originally designed to be fitted in caravans, so they are geared to charge the (caravan) leisure battery either from the mains or from the car towing it ('touring') via the plug/socket. In a camper, charging while driving is via a relay and generally doesn't go through the zig as the batteries are right next to each other and the Zig's usually miles away.

[trundletruc]

Sorry 1664 but I think you will find that there is no relay in the CF8 unit. It relies on you switching the touring/camping switch to join the two batteries together when touring.
There is no wire that goes directly from one battery to the other. Not on my wiring diagram anyway.

Trundletruc.

[1664]

Sorry 1664 but I think you will find that there is no relay in the CF8 unit.

I didn't say there was.........

the wiring to charge the leisure battery while driving is entirely seperate from the Zig

[trundletruc]

Sorry I misunderstood.
The extra relay wiring is obviously something that your converter (Autohomes) put in to get over the problem of switching over manually.

This is what I hope to put into my Devon to make life easier.

Thanks.

[1664]

The actual wiring is easy, the hassle is getting from one side of the van to the other. Use a decent size cable though as the leisure battery will demand a high current off the alternator if it get substantially discharged.