Zig Unit

[iowcamper]

P1000543.JPG

Been using my van for the past 6 months without trully understanding what to do with the zig unit !!

i tend to leave all 3 switches up as pictured all the time and just flick the 12v switch down when needed for lighting or water pump, this seems to work fine but will normally only last about 4 days before the 12 v stops working, if i switch the middle one down then the 12v wont work at all
if i connect up to electrics on site the two plug sockets in the van work fine whatever the left hand switch is on??

can anyone explain how the switches should be dependant upon:

whilst driving
whilst camping
whilst parked but nor camping
etc

sorry if this is a bit simple but i have tried to look in wiki but cant find anything other than a wiring diagram that means nothing to me!!

cheers

[ermie571]

hi mate,
looks like the same as mine.

Mains...when you are on site, you plug into hookup, and switch the mains on. The switch glows orange. This then allows the zig to charge the leisure battery. Yep, the 13a sockets will be live all the time on hook-up as they should be independently fed from the small consumer unit you should have in the van!

charging >> touring/on site. When driving, switch to touring. If your zig is working correctly, your alternator will now charge both the driving and the leisure batteries. When stopped (ie not driving) switch to on site. If you are on hook-up, the 240v will charge the leisure (not the driving battery). If not on hook-up, the 12v will run from the leisure only, ensuring that when you want to start the van, there is power on the starter battery.
12v on/off...as it says really. If you want the 12v system live or not.

BE CAREFUL...if you leave on touring for long periods of parked up, not running time, and one battery is not in as good condition as the other, the switch in touring means both are linked...and will therefore level out. Had one or two no starts before I realised this. Only has to fall to 12.1 12.2 volts before the thing will refuse to start.....

ah - just re-read your post. Whe you say flicking the middle one down the 12v won't work at all indicates one of two things....you leisure battery is totally dead, or you don't have one!!!!

basically - driving charging=touring, camping chargine=on site, 12v on. Parked up, charging= onsite, 12v off. (unless you have a radio that needs a memory - mine has but I don't use it)

Hope this helps
Em
xx

[iowcamper]

thanks em

that does make sense so will start using it properly

so if i put the mains on when im hooked up it will charge up the leisure battery i didnt realise that so in theory if you have hook up the leisure battery should never go flat

iowcamper

[ermie571]

errr no. The charger is a trickle feed. If you are pulling alot of power through amplifiers, telly, etc etc, then the charger may not be able to keep up. I tend to run mine all night to try and top it up a bit. But make sure your leisure is in good condition....if you can, get it indoors and get it on an intelligent battery charger for a week to make sure its well ready to go. The Zig then has more chance of keeping it topped up!

(intelligent battery charger - have a read of this thread...you will need a cuppa)
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... arger+lidl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Em
xx

[1664]

Some bedtime reading http://www.club80-90.co.uk/pages/downlo ... ig-cf8.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[iowcamper]

thanks guys

think that makes sense now

iowcamper