Zig unit draining Battery Help please (1 Viewer)

GaryH61

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Feb 13, 2015
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Horwich Greater Manchester AKA Lancs
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I don't have a leisure battery, yet, and the van (engine battery) is relatively new. However, on the ZIG distribution panel there is a 12v isolation switch as well as a pump and fridge switch. With the pump and fridge switches off and the Propex heater 'stat off, if I leave the 12v isolation switch on it will flatten the Van battery.

How can this be if lights off fridge off, pump not running and propex stat off. what other 'residual current can be being drawn from battery ?
 
Feb 24, 2013
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Bolsover, Derbyshire
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Hymer S800
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not long enough
Logic would say it cant be drawing anything, like you already think

Has it worked like this before, ie without a separate habitation battery?

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Jan 28, 2008
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Dovercourt, Harwich, UK
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7 years campers before that
over how long is it going flat many modern vans drain the battery in a couple of weeks due to alarms and radios that draw current all the time
 

Lenny HB

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Oct 18, 2007
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Also with only one battery the fridge & heater's electronics will be additional drain.
Not practical to run a modern vehicle without a separate leisure battery.
 

Tootles

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Sep 14, 2013
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Was a newbie, now a Middie.
Zig units have long been accepted for throwing up faults of various types, and are pretty much un-repairable, (to my personal knowledge and cost). :(

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scotjimland

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Jul 25, 2007
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Suffolk Coastal District, UK
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if I leave the 12v isolation switch on it will flatten the Van battery.

A Zig unit is basically a charger and a 12v power supply unit .. like any other power unit, leave it powered up and it will be drawing a small current.. no matter how small.. it will eventually drain the battery..

You could test this by measuring the mA being drawn when nothing is being used.. the solution is to isolate when not required..
 

karl c

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Mar 25, 2014
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since 2010
if you have an amp meter put it in line on the live or + that will show if there is some thing pulling it down.
if there your showing a draw you can pull any fuse one by one till you find what is pulling your battery down.
the meter on the panel could be pulling a small amps over time.
 

Lenny HB

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Oct 18, 2007
52,685
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On the coast in West Sussex
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658
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Since 2008 & many years tugging
A Zig unit is basically a charger and a 12v power supply unit .. like any other power unit, leave it powered up and it will be drawing a small current.. no matter how small.. it will eventually drain the battery..

You could test this by measuring the mA being drawn when nothing is being used.. the solution is to isolate when not required..
Zig used to make just 12v distribution panels as well as chargers I was assuming that what it is in this case as no 2nd battery.

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GaryH61

GaryH61

Free Member
Feb 13, 2015
81
172
Horwich Greater Manchester AKA Lancs
Funster No
35,087
MH
Elddis Auto Stratus
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Since 2014
Also with only one battery the fridge & heater's electronics will be additional drain.
Not practical to run a modern vehicle without a separate leisure battery.
were 20 year old (Van years) circa 1995 not that modern

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GaryH61

GaryH61

Free Member
Feb 13, 2015
81
172
Horwich Greater Manchester AKA Lancs
Funster No
35,087
MH
Elddis Auto Stratus
Exp
Since 2014
if you have an amp meter put it in line on the live or + that will show if there is some thing pulling it down.
if there your showing a draw you can pull any fuse one by one till you find what is pulling your battery down.
the meter on the panel could be pulling a small amps over time.
Will give it a go and see what draining = thanks:smiley:
 

pappajohn

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Aug 26, 2007
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Only takes a couple of days
I would expect a couple of weeks at least.
radio memory and alarm will put a load on the battery....radio memory may be 50ma
depending on make and the alarm (if fitted) may be another 50ma...just guessing.

100mah is 1amp every 10 hrs so in a 24hr day thats just under 2.5 amps.
80ah starter battery discharged to 50% = 16 days.....and at 50% discharged i doubt it would start the engine anyway.

Sounds very much like your engine battery is on its last legs if it only lasts two days
 

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