Brand new leisure battery and cant get it to work!!

[Iwannabongo]

was it definitely a leisure battery?

oh and you need to change your forum user name to "Igottabongo-and-its-stressing-me-right-out-already"

yes it is a leisure battery, it just don't work

my new user name "Iwannabongothatworks" lol

[g8dhe]

OK well going by the photo's;
I suspect that the LB is connected to some of the existing devices in the van probably via the usual route of going thru the fuse box down by the drivers knee. The Zig unit is only wired up for working via the Starter battery. There doesn't appear to be a charger connected to the EHU either as there is only one switched circuit for the mains sockets, and there is no 12 volt feed to the Zig panel either.

I would suggest you;
First check out the feed from the L/B to see just what circuits it feeds most likely via the fuse panel by the drivers knee, then you will know what is powered from the L/B.

Second consider installing a feed from the L/B to the Zig unit, this will then let you feed those items connected via the Zig from the L/B as well.

Finally if you have room to mount one a suitable 12 volt power supply / battery charger to feed the Zig unit as well so that when your on EHU you can charge either battery and run the items that have been moved across to the L/B from the mains.

Given the nature of what has been installed so far, I would also suggest that you check out just how the Split Charger is fitted. First there should be a fused feed from each battery (this is VERY important there must be TWO fuses not just one) to a relay under the bonnet. The relay may be a Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR) which operates when the S/B reaches about 14 volts, it then feeds the L/B to charge it when moving, once the voltage drops below 14 volts the relay drops out and the devices powered from the L/B cannot then flatten the Starter battery. The relay may also be a standard type which is operated via the Ignition switch such that it is operated only when the Ignition switch is in the ON position, neither the ACC or STARTER positions should operate the relay (this is quite important as otherwise the L/B will also be used to turn the Starter motor!!!!).

[Iwannabongo]

Thanks Geoff again for your info,
I will check out the wiring to fuses(as well as I can)
I might try and give the original converters a ring to see if they can tell me the whole original set up.
It sounds like this set up is not any good for me anyway.
Do you or anyone know how much it will cost to have this done by a garage.
I obviously want to be able to charge the LB by driving and EHU and to have fridge running off LB and EHU.
Will it be better to upgrade this Zig for a new one?
cheers

[g8dhe]

No the Zig itself is OK I use one myself, but there normally installed with the Zig PSU as well, one of these http://www.zig-electronics.co.uk/index1.htm the X70 or X80. That supplies the 12 volts from the EHU when your connected, the +12v output simply connects to the common red sleeved wire on the Zig switches then the switch decides which battery will be the used as the Source or load depending if the EHU is Off or On, normally the Fridhe is connected to the AUX switch. The mains supply for the X70/80 is then connected to the switched mains supply. Normally you have a dual switched box one output feeds the sockets and the other feeds the PSU but its not that critical the PSU will only be taking about 1 Amp at most. If you prefer you can use a battery charger BUT the modern ones aren't always so good for supplying the static loads of the Lamps/Radio/Fridge etc as they try to be clever and vary the charging rate on something that isn't a battery!

With regards to the fuse box by the drivers knee you will need to try and work out which of those fuses are supplied by the L/B, it will only be fuses on the top row, normally these;

However rather then using the method shown here, by removing the fuses and replacing the fuse with a link back to a separate fuse box, your convertor may have gone in and cut the wires around the back of the panel, its easy to drop out, and then supplied them from the L/B that way.

Mine is wired up like this, ignore the Low Voltage Cut Out relay and the equipment in the lower right corner there specific to my set-up;

[Iwannabongo]

I wish you were my neighbor
I had a look at that fuse box earlier and their was nothing coming from the front like in your photo, so I took it off and then got confused so replaced it quickly!!
I have sent an email to the original converters and am waiting for a reply(if they bother), to find out how it is set up.
By what you are saying, it seems like there is no charger attached to the zig from the EHU, which is something I want, so if I can keep the original Zig then all is well.
Do you know where abouts I can put a charger in, as space is a bit limited on my side conversion, are they normally hidden away behind the back of the Zig unit?
Do you think the extra wiring would now be possible with all the conversion nailed in place?
thanks Justin

[g8dhe]

Do you know where abouts I can put a charger in, as space is a bit limited on my side conversion, are they normally hidden away behind the back of the Zig unit?
Do you think the extra wiring would now be possible with all the conversion nailed in place?
thanks Justin

The charger will need some ventilation in the form of an air flow from bottom to top and out to free air, mine is a pair of slots cut into the back of the conversion, top and bottom, below the two offside windows.
Adding cabling is not usually a problem, I replaced the cables that had been fitted in mine soon after getting it as stripped mains cable is NOT suitable for a vehicle as it doesn't have the right abrasion resistance qualities (electrically its fine) but the insulation is just to soft, and the new MOT reg's mentioned elsewhere on the forum will be looking specifically for chaffing of wiring looms, I can see this catching out a lot of modified vehicles if enforced !!! See these messages http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 01#p479701 and new MOT reg's http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 16#p480916 this fact from the quote;

Secondly, the Communities and Local Government office figures reveal, 68 per cent of the 12,000 accidental car fires were caused by vehicle defects with "wire and battery" problems sparking the lion's share. Only seven per cent of car fires were caused by crashes.

[Iwannabongo]

When you say the slots are cut in the back of the conversion, I presume you mean the MDF and not the body shell!
I am still waiting for a reply from the original converters(if I get one) to find out how it is set up.
I am then going to probably take it to Bell Hill and get them to do it, as I don't think I would know where to start.
I appreciate all your help, because I didn't have a clue about the charger before etc, and if I can still use my Zig, then this will save me a few quid also.

[g8dhe]

Yes indeed the back of the MDF not the skin of the van , on ours there is a "sealed" compartment between the Wardrobe and the first storage cupboard, which houses the Zig panel on the front and speaker visibly, behind the panel and screwed to the wardrobe is the charger unit, and the mains switches are mounted on the lefthand side with access to the switches from inside the smaller cupboard, ventilation is at the rear below the windows;

[Iwannabongo]

Do you want to swap bongo's
I have looked at a few chargers and see they are a bit pricey(£115).
Do you know if the CF8 or CF9 work without a separate charger?
I was just wondering as it might pay me to get one of these as they are approx £180, and have functions to suit all options via EHU or LB etc, or am I being daft?

[g8dhe]

Nope swopping not allowed but I'll lend you my virtual one see here http://SphericalVisions.co.uk/default.php?52010

I've never physically handled a CF-8 or 9 but as I understand the manuals yes the charger is built in so nothing extra at the 12 volt level needed, but they are quite a bit wider than a Zig M1 panel and need a reasonable depth as well manuals here CF8 CF9 also the seperate chargers/PSU X70 X80

[Iwannabongo]

Nice Picture,
its a similar conversion as mine. You might have a working zig, but you don't have any mould in the roof canvas like mine
I have just read on another forum that the CF9 is a bit pointless so I will prob go with the cheaper option of just a charger connected to my zig and save my pennies for an electricians course.
I still don't understand what my LB does though with my set up.
I will let you know how I get on with my quotes from the garages.

[g8dhe]

One simpler way of checking what the L/B is setup to supply would be to leave the Van Ignition off and simply turn all the extras on and see what runs of course

Oh we keep the mould for special visitors, only get it out on occasions Rest of the time we give it a bath of one of the three usual remedies they all seem equally effective at the time but none has stopped it coming back, although this winter simply keeping the eyebrow vent open has reduced it somewhat and mopping up condensation from the skylight which drips onto the material has helped as well.

• Fenwickes Mould remover.
• 6 drops of Oil of Cloves in a litre of warm water lightly sprayed onto the offending area and then rinsed off.
• Dettol Mould remover

[Iwannabongo]

I might just use my roof to ripen some nice stilton before giving it a good clean
Just went to have a good look around the interior and found 2 vents under the rock n roll bed, I have reached in to unscrew the vents, but cant really see what's inside. I am going to try and get a camera shoved in the holes to take a picture. I presume one of them is something to do with the EHU, but not sure the other yet. I am hoping for a charger(or a bag of £50 notes) . If it is in their I have not got a clue how I am going to get to it, unless I take a chainsaw to the conversion, as all the panels are just pinned together.
I will update you on my findings(prob Sat as I am out tonight).

[Iwannabongo]

Hi Geoff,
I thought I better update you on Blingo, seen as you have been so helpful in trying to find out my LB problem.
I never received a reply from Hillside Leisure (original converters) when I emailed last week to find out how it has been converted, so I decided to phone them today. I explained to a nice chap that they originally converted Blingo 3-4 years ago but I did not want to hassle them with questions on a vehicle long gone , but he was very helpful.
He explained that the LB is connected to the zig panel on the switch that says car which is why I am not getting a reading when switching to caravan. He said that everything is running off the LB and when on EHU this will also charge the LB as well as the relay switch whilst driving.
I now feel very happy that I have a working ZIG
But a bit of a fool at the same time
Again a huge thank you to you for your time and will no doubt have many more problem solving things for you in the future.
If I meet you at a campsite one day I will buy you a nice cold beer

[Alacrity]

[quote="g8dhe"] Nope swopping not allowed but I'll lend you my virtual one see here http://SphericalVisions.co.uk/default.php?52010

Great 'picture(s)'!! But tell me, how do you drive with no feet??!!