Club 80-90 Forums

I'm after a bit of advice. Just got back from a couple of days away. I didn't have a pitch with hook-up so just used the 12v circuit in the evenings. I didn't notice anything unusual apart from the red LED on my CF8 zig unit indicated the leisure battery was getting low on Sunday night. Normally the drive home would be more than enough to re-charge the leisure battery but this morning it was completely flat and neither of the zig unit LEDs, either green or red, light up when the 12v circuit is switched on? I tried the car and touring switch and that didn't light the LED's either? I thought this switched the 12v supply from the leisure battery to the starter battery so I expected this would light the LED(s) but still no power? The only circuit diagram I've got is this one and it doesn't show how the switches are wired up or if there are fuses inside the zig unit?



I haven't checked the alternator output yet, but the alternator light goes out as soon as the engine fires. And the van started ok so the starter battery seems to be charging, and the fridge is getting cold when driving. Oh and the leisure battery is only a few months old as well. I be happy to hear anyone's suggestion as to what could disable the 12v circuit completely and stop the leisure battery charging?

Check the two 35amp fuses next to the starter and leisure batteries. If you heavily discharged the leisure battery it may have drawn greater than 35 amp from the alternator when the engine was restarted.

Spot on diagnosis.

The fuse holder on the starter battery looked like it had overheated in the past and had been "fixed" by a previous owner by wrapping it in electrical tape. Inside the mis-shapen holder was a 15amp fuse that had burn marks but hadn't popped. I think the taped up holder wasn't keeping the fuse tightly enough in place and it was arcing. Finally it broke contact completely because the spring was missing as well?
I got a new holder from the local caravan shop and evrything is back to normal.

Thanks again