Zig CF8 Battery charger/mains unit

E

ex-Gladys

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Aug 2003
Messages
5,252
Location
Colchester, Essex
Visit site
Gainsborough Lady is fitted with one of the above, but there is no "user manual" with it, and nothing I can find of use on the net. There are 3 switches; 240v on/off, 12v on/off and a "charging touring/on site" switch. She has 3x110 AH Odyssey AGM domestic batteries, and on checking them out yesterday they were at <25% charge (11.8v). I'm not sure how the Zig should be set when motoring. Yesterday I left the 12v on, and selected charging/touring and that seemed to help, but then the domestic elecs are not usable (interior lighting at least...) Anyone know how these things are meant to work? Now she's on a mooring mains ain't much use....
 
I don't know the charger you refer to however I would recomend you fit an ampmeter in the domestic battery +ve line so that you can see exactly what is happening both with engine charging and the Zig CF8 charger.
However you may get a clue by monitoring closely the battery voltage. It should rise to 13.75+ if the batteries are to receive any charge. If as you mention however the charger switch will disconnect the domestic services klike the lights then it sounds like it is wired into the boats distribution system. That sounds like a good idea because when charging batteries a t a high rate the voltage can be excessive for thigs like lights and electornics at over 14volts but this is unusual in practice. This would equate with the "charging" position being for fast charge while "on site" being a floating type voltage which will feed the services but not charge the batteries much. ie perhaps around 13 volts. good luck olewill PS don't leave it on "charging" for too long after batteries are charged unless you are sure the charger will autoamtically reduce the voltage hence current when they are charged or you could boil the batteries. ( calculate the charge current divided into 330 gives aprox hours to recharge form flat.)
 
Had one of these in my caravan ... excellent pieces of kit !!

Basically the only one you are really worried about for charge etc. is the 12v position.

It is usual for all services in the 'van' except the fridge to be disconnected from the batterys while charging from the car ... you can imagine the load if not !! So if wired correctly on your boat as per Caravan set-up - yes you would lose various domestic bits.

So its normal to leave the Zig on charging and 240V on if it controls power to the charger ... some do - some don't ... (mine didn't as the 240V switch only switched in mains power to domestic services via transformer or to 240V items - the power to charger was direct of the main breaker).
Once you come off charge supply - flick the 12V switch to "on-site" ... this then powers all your domestics including any fridge if fitted ...

If you want a manual - then have a word with your local Caravan shop - as this panel is a common item on vans ... and they are not cheap !!!

You should have indicator lights to show which is on / off etc. and whether charge is full or not ... you should notice a slow dimming of light when switching off charge etc. and also the colour is indicating charge state. If the panel is fitted in a locker - as vans do - do not cover or block its air-passage ... as it runs pretty warm ...

Hope that helps .... honest talk to local caravan place - they should be able to help with details / info.

Plus here is Zigs web-site to contact them .....

http://www.zig-electronics.co.uk/products.htm
 
Nigel,

Thanks. That sounds exactly like what's happening. It was a little embarassing yesterday to have the Wallas do a low voltage shutdown whilst starting to cook lunch for friends.....
 
You are a lucky man to have one on boat ... who-ever thought to fit one was clever ... but may have let you down on set-up !!

When I had mine I only ever really used the towing / on-site switch .... rest looked after itself. The battery used to stay connected and charging all time ... I didn't even understand float charge then - it was fine .... even when parked up in front garden.
The on-site should have a facility to cater for the power hook-up - at least mine did allowing the 240V to come in and power any item you wanted to hook to. I didn't increase my facilities across it though ... I installed a separate breaker box - as my panel was already warm .... (later check with dealer showed that I was over cautious and spare capacity was available).

I would love to fit one to my boat - but price is heavy for my pocket !
 
I would check carefully what you have.
From memory, CF8 has a little transformer and a couple of diodes, giving a very basic unregelated charge of around 4 / 5 amps, designed for 45 amp hour car battery.
With your size batteries you need to be looking at around a 30 amp charger that goes upto 14.4 / 14.6 volt, with float charge.

Brian
 
It looks like there is a "proper " mains charger hooked up to this lot, but with only a standard Fiesta (AKA Lancing Marine XLD1.8) alternator, we are probably undersupplied in that dept...
 
CF8 is a very good piece of kit but is not really intended for large battery banks with multiple domestic batteries due to its relatively low power output. If you have one start and one service battery it will be fine. ZiG are extremely helpful people, give them a call/email and you have a fair chance that they will send you a new set of instructions. I have run them with great success in campervans using 75Ah service batteries and in a boat using 110Ah, and only the piddly charge coming from an outboard.

Note, the CF8 is not meant to be a 12V power supply unit, it needs the service battery in the circuit. Note also that there are three domestic outputs, which can be run as ring mains, but with a 10A limit to each ring.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top