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If a cell has shorted (no voltage difference), putting a shunt across it achieves nothing. No, a big but short belt is what CAN work, and all I can say Ken, is that, unusually for me, I haven't checked things out via Google, but this wisdom was passed on to me in the context of lead acids and I have used it to resurrect two SLA ones with low terminal voltage after a full charge, and they worked happily for many months afterwards.
I've only heard of this one on NiCads, the video pro's always swore by it for reviving NiCads with memory effect. The method was to select a nice meaty capacitor, charge it to mains voltage or thereabouts then discharge it across the cell. Needless to say, it isn't guaranteed to work - and I don't recommend trying it at home as they say.
Never heard of it being used on lead-acids, however I've always had good success on SLAs just by leaving the dead ones on charge for an extended period with the charger output voltage hiked up a volt or so. Sometimes takes weeks but usually works eventually.
______________________________________________________________ If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.
Ok so im starting to get to grips with my motorhome but I think the leisure battery is kaput. Firstly how can I test it? Should I charge it to see if it holds a charge? Do I need a special charger?
If I need a new one is there specific ones for specific motor homes? Mines a renault trafic rapport model.... Do I get the same power one, I think mine is 75ah or something or can I get a bigger one?
Thanks in advancce
Steve
Hi Steve
If your Rapport had a leisure battery installed when it was first built by Autosleepers it will have a zig charger built in.. the control panel is above the fridge and the leisure battery will be under the bonnet next to the van battery. So to charge the battery just attach a mains hook up and the Zig unit should charge the battery...
You will note I have said IF ... many early Rapports were built with no leisure battery and no charger.... they depended on just the van battery do do everything and this was only charged by the alternator ( the engine) So first check you have two batteries under the bonnet.
Then check if the Zig panel has a charger built in.... there will be a switch to control the charger.
then report back ..we can go on from there
and the off topic guys can start another thread about whiskering
Mike
P.S. Found I had a picture of one type of Rapport Zig Control Panel...if yours looks like this there may be NO inbuilt charger... this Rapport was one of the ones that was originally built with NO leisure battery. I have seen one that the owner had installed a Leisure battery but still with no mains charger.. could your van be like this?
______________________________________________________________ When confronted by a problem, you can solve it easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger have handled this?"
Hi mate, I have 1 of the later rapports with a factory fitted leisure battery (1991) and the zig unit doesnt look like that so I was wondering how I can charge it with my hook up? Regards
If your van has a Zig CF8 charger unit fitted then the Mains "on/off" switch should be set to ON and the "touring/onsite" switch should be set to ON SITE.
There is a full Zig manual located in the download section of MHF >>HERE<<
Mike
P.S. downloads are for subscibers only
______________________________________________________________ When confronted by a problem, you can solve it easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger have handled this?"
If a cell has shorted (no voltage difference), putting a shunt across it achieves nothing. No, a big but short belt is what CAN work, and all I can say Ken, is that, unusually for me, I haven't checked things out via Google, but this wisdom was passed on to me in the context of lead acids and I have used it to resurrect two SLA ones with low terminal voltage after a full charge, and they worked happily for many months afterwards.
Dave
Shorting the whole battery rather than the individual cell would acheive the right effect though. But given the price of leisure batteries and the risks involved why bother?
Hi there me again... It has a ZIG MC2000 unit on board so im not sure if I can charge the leisure battery to check its state just by hooking the mains up... 1 question when I connect the 240v hook up what settings should I have things on? 240v already?
You could try the Zig website you will find the contact details of the company there, maybe give them a call ...
[url=http://www.zig-electronics.co.uk/products.htm]Zig electronics Webpage Link <<<[/url
I don't know the ZIG MC2000 ... but lets hope someone who has the same one or knows about it reads this and comes back with some of help.
Mike
______________________________________________________________ When confronted by a problem, you can solve it easily by reducing it to the question, "How would the Lone Ranger have handled this?"
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