I'm just starting to plan my electrical layout and the one thing I'm uncertain about is the Zig (or alternative) charger and whether its necessary in our ickle vans? There are a few useful threads on here (like this one) about how to install these things, but I'm interested in how you guys use your vans and rely on these systems? I think we'll be doing impromptu weekend trips, vw shows and maybe a week long trip per year in the van which may make use of established van sites. As far as I can tell there are a few basic options : 1) just wire up new electrics to the main battery 2) wire up new electrics to a leisure battery and install a split charge 3) as item 2 plus an inverter to provide limited 240v power 4) as item 2 and install a separate independent 240v hook up 5) as Item 4, plus a Zig charger So what have you got and why?!
The zig unit will do your split charging for you also when on mains trickle charge your batteries,, Steve,
Never had hook up. Always have solar panels as we is hard and don't use heating. Split charger and solar panels anythink more your not really camping.
You've missed an option off of the vote. We run everything from the leisure battery, we have a split charge relay and our 240 hookup goes, via a double pole consumer unit, into a posh battery charger (whose name escapes me) which keeps the LB fully charged even as we're using it. We also have one 240v socket in the van also fed from the consumer unit. It's all automatic, tucked out of sight and our hookup socket is hidden in the engine bay. Having said that if I did it again I would fix the hookup socket to my tow bar beside the normal tow bar electric socket as someone suggested on another thread I read this morning
I have it all but only as i can I would not bother with 230v the only time i use mine is to fully charge the battery before i go and i could just plug a in charger for that i run a compressor fridge, lights water pump and radio fed from a 110amp battery plus a solar panel mounted on the roof and can go a week with ease
I've got a little wind up handle (you know, like the ones on small radios) that the mrs is in charge of. Runs all of the power I need, lights, radio, warm air heater and TV . I do have to chuck her a bacon sarnie now and then as the poor wee thing gets a tad tired stood outside all day, wind, wind, wind for hours on end. Wouldn't be without her......................or the wee windy handle
