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wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:11 am
by philljenk
I have two batteries in my bongo which were there when I bought it. I am presuming that one is a leisure battery. ( although I think I have read somewhere that some bongos have two batteries because of the extreme cold in some parts of Japan).
I want to run a cable to a Zig control panel for the internal lights 12v and a radio or DVD player phone etc what size cable is needed for this and presumably it should be braided auto cable.
Any help would be appreciated.

Re: wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:06 am
by g8dhe
The normal for the lights and radio etc is just to wire them across to the L/B rather than to the ZIG itself, in which case you can probably intercept the fused cable from the L/B to the Zig, add an additional small fuse box ( http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/V ... lders1.php ) and then transfer the fuses and pickup the feeds in the original box the same way as the Willington kit does it by using a blade connector in the lower half of the original fuse box.
Image
The new fuse box can either be mounted under the bonnet or under the dash the are plenty of mounting points. The wire from the new fuse box to the old fuse panel is best rated at about 20-25Amps http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/V ... inwall.php .

Re: wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:47 am
by Tripewriter
Just make sure that your batteries are not connected in parallel! Get someone who knows to have a look.

Re: wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 12:19 pm
by triathlondave
The wire you need for connection is quite thick.

http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/751

usually the thicker the better. if you look at the page below

http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/f ... _data_.pdf

If you look at resistance as the cable get's thicker,

the resistance get's lower. This means the voltage stay's up.
using a thin cable even if it's 40amp will result in a lower voltage to your zig unit. it's at least a 3 to 4 meter run

I'm sure one of the bright sparks will be able to work out the voltage drop, over the distance from the battery to the zig unit.

I've orded 170amp, it works out at over £20 for the wire. But rather get the most out of the battery each day.

david.

Re: wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 12:21 pm
by triathlondave
Oh forgot.

make sure you get a good split charger.

just fitted a Willinton kit from ebay.

battery is much better charged then the previous version from Elite converstions

david.

Re: wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:09 pm
by teenmal
Tripewriter wrote:Just make sure that your batteries are not connected in parallel! Get someone who knows to have a look.

:?

Re: wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:24 pm
by francophile1947
Tripewriter wrote:Just make sure that your batteries are not connected in parallel! Get someone who knows to have a look.
They should be connected in parallel. If connected in series, you will have a 24V system [-X

Re: wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:44 pm
by philljenk
The willinton seems to be the solution, had a look at his site on eBay and got some useful printouts.
thanks for all the help
Cheers

Re: wire to zig panel from battery

Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 6:16 pm
by Tripewriter
Lol! When fitted in Japan for winter the second battery is NOT, repeat NOT a leisure battery it is there to ensure sufficient power to start a cold diesel! There is no split charge relay!

Plonkers