zig/ charger/battery Forums

casagodfrey

I have a Citroen C25 based Autosleeper with a 12V problem. Before I start to throw money at it, I would be grateful for any advice.
My problem is -
1. No battery charge on Hook-up - evident by lack of green LED on Zig unit.
2. Hook-up does not provide power to 12 systems - evident by nothing working when leisure battery is flat and hook-up is connected.
- 12 Volt system works ok (lights brighten) when engine is switched on.
To date-
12V system checked at local Auto Electricians - No power drain, Leisure battery generally ok. 240 volts side not checked.
I have exposed the charger unit. It is a Lab craft unit. No vibration or hum evident so not certain if it is powered.
I have exposed the back of the zig unit - it all looks ok - no apparent loose connections.

Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed/ cure this problem. At the moment, we have to use a hook-up and plug a table lamp into the 240 socket.
Thanks

crackpot

Have you tried the fuse on the 12v side of the zig? Or check the output from the 12v side of the zig when connected to the mains (check the charge leads to liesure battery), is there power getting to the charger/powerpack? Sounds like a fuse or your charger/powerpack is kaput Crying or Very sad

No big deal either way Surprised

Crackpot.

GeorgeTelford

They sometimes have an on/off switch on the ZIG unit for the charger, sorry if thats a bit obvious you would be surprised how many times the obvious is missed.

On mains the voltage on the battery terminals should rise to 13.8 ish.

As docted said do chack the fuses, also last one of these I got rid of had three fuses on the back of the charger unit, not sure if the Labsraft is the same but worth a look.

George

Brambles

Hi casagodfrey,

You mentioned "2. Hook-up does not provide power to 12 systems - evident by nothing working when leisure battery is flat and hook-up is connected."

If the battery is indeed flat and that is what you meant then iit could be correct you get no power from the Charger/power supply.
If the battery voltage falls too low then switch mode chargers will detect as a falt condition and turn of their output for protection. Youihaveto charge the battery 1st up to a reasonable voltage. (probably 10.5 volts)

I doubt this is your problem as you later mentioned battery is ok of sorts and vehicle engine is suplying volts, but thought I would mention anyway.
Jon.

casagodfrey

Good fast responses folks! - I'll take the old bus out for a spin to recharge and try again.
Then I'll go on a fuse hunt.
Thanks

autostratus · Moderator

Be careful about going out in the van to charge your leisure battery.

Our battery wasn't holding its charge very well and got very low.
We then lost all 12v power and with help from a freindly neighbouring camper found the 35amp fuse blown in the main charging circuit.

I was told that as the leisure battery was trying to take too high a load to recharge it blows the fuse (sited just behind the main vehicle battery in our case).
As we didn't have this size fuse in our spares box we used the 35amp fuse from the rear window heater as we have no rear window heater.

PamNPete

We also have a mains 240V fuse in the supply to the charger unit

Think you may require a voltmeter to check if youu have power to various parts

Good luck with your search

casagodfrey

I have checked the charger unit for fuses - no joy.
I removed the cover and it looks like a war zone in there.
Loose components and a couple lightweight wires floating free. It looks like vibration damage to me (the van is an E-reg).

Labcraft no longer make these transformers. Can anyone suggest an alternate source/ solution?

GeorgeTelford · Last edited by GeorgeTelford on Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:30 pm; edited 1 time in total

Sterling do a budget charger for about £50, this is a proper Staged Charger that also is OK as a power supply when on site.

Here is their site and contact details fortunately the gear is miles better than the website.

[url]http://www.sterling-power.com/[/url]

George

jabber

George, I have no faith in Sterling, they do not even answer emails sent to them. In one of the recent magazines they gave details of a range of chargers I could not find on their site and also suggested you went to their site and downloaded the 2005 brochure.

I never even got a reply, if they can not be bothered to reply to emails they ask for and they do not have the details on their site then ...........

This is a copy of the the email I sent to Maria:

[i:534c197851]Hello Maria,

I have just trawled your web site looking for the ProBudget Digital battery chargers and the 2005 brochure to download.

Unfortunately my IT skills must be diminishing, because I found neither!

I am referring to the reference made on p182 in the March edition of Practical Motorhome.

Your assistance in finding these pages on your site would be much appreciated.
Regards,

John[/i:534c197851]

I think you will agree an answer would have been rather nice. The email was sent on 21/01/05.

There are vendors of similar equipment who do answer generally within the same day.

One wonders what their aftersales would be like!

John