Hi everyone, I have a question related to a Zig CF8 https://www.grasshopperleisure.co.uk/zig-cf8-charging--distribution-control-panel-system-979-p.asp. I have a Zig CF8 installed in my campervan and from looking at the wiring diagram in the handbook it has been wired up correctly, (it was factory fitted into the van by Devon Conversions i believe). The manual doesnt say whether once the leisure battery is charged it then moves onto to float/trickle charge when the engine is running or whether it continually charges the leisure battery when the engine is running? I have checked the two wires that connect to the leisure battery and they show 14.2 volts when the engine is running and the Zig panel switch is set to 'touring'. If this is a continual charge is there a risk of overcharging and knackering the leisure battery? When the Zig panel switch is set to 'On-site' and the engine is running there is no voltage going to the leisure battery. TIA
That 14.2 volts is a normal charging voltage for a lead acid battery with the engine running. As soon as theres any real load on the alternator, that voltage will tend to drop a bit too.
Thanks Mike, is there a risk over continual overcharging of the leisure battery if it remains always connected, and if so would that not knacker the leisure battery eventually?
In the end the battery gets knackered by being used. This charging with the engine running is not quite long term overcharging, as it only happens during the shorter periods when you are driving. 14.2 volts is what your starter battery is getting too, people do not agonise over their starter battery being damaged. The far greater risk to both batteries is deep discharging when not charging which damages the battery, and in that case the Zig unit on hookup is a bit feeble for heavier modern usage. And more modern chargers have varying voltage charge cycles, and thermal limiting by measuring battery temperature, allowing them to avoid overcharging on hookup better than the Zig. If you are spending £200 on battery management there are better solutions than a Zig these days. And if you do not want to keep killing batteries then charging lead acid batteries immediately when they are deep-discharged is most critical. In the end they are cheapish and totally recyclable. Solar cells are a cheaper first step to minimising discharge, more expensive but better will be a lithium battery leisure system with all the battery to battery charger and management hardware. That lasts much longer and has a much higher effective capacity because very deep discharging is much less risky. You can only use 30-50% of your lead acid capacity, more like 90% with lithium.
