Zig CF9 / RCD problem

[BongoGog]

New thread from previous 'intermittent fridge charging problems' as help on here has narrowed down the fault somewhat.

As suggested by a master Bongolier I tried the Test switch on the RCD (CHNT)whilst charging from mains, which tripped (switched to OFF). Errrrrr so why's that then? Do I need to change a fuse in the RCD box? If so how??

All other appliances are working ok from mains and LBatt, however when i switch charger to ON on zig (when on mains) the fridge stops working and the lights become a little brighter. I can also hear a humming sound from the zig and RCD - can't remember if it did that before? Is that something to do with overheating? All fuses seem OK.
Still can't determine if it's the charger button on the zig that's at fault or the RCD? Would a new L battery sort it?

Anyone else had this problem and solved it?
Grateful for any help, which has been great to reach this far.
Cheers

V6 LPG JAL mushroom / side conversion

[g8dhe]

The RCD protects against current "leaks" to earth it sounds like you have a faulty charger that is causing the RCD to trip out. There are often interference suppression capacitors from live and neutral to earth within the charger and its not uncommon for these to go faulty and cause this type of problem.

[briwy]

If the wiring is the same as our JAL conversion the fridge isn't actually wired through the Zig unit. It is attached to the same connections that come to the Zig from the leisure battery. If your conversion is the same as ours was (fullside conversion) you can get the worktop off (its stuck down with silicon sealer) and see what exactly is going on.

[BongoGog]

The RCD protects against current "leaks" to earth it sounds like you have a faulty charger that is causing the RCD to trip out. There are often interference suppression capacitors from live and neutral to earth within the charger and its not uncommon for these to go faulty and cause this type of problem.

Sounds complicated. How would you repair that then?

[BongoGog]

If the wiring is the same as our JAL conversion the fridge isn't actually wired through the Zig unit. It is attached to the same connections that come to the Zig from the leisure battery. If your conversion is the same as ours was (fullside conversion) you can get the worktop off (its stuck down with silicon sealer) and see what exactly is going on.

Top tip thanks, I've opened from the front ie the zig itself but can't pull it out to look inside - hope I haven't pulled any connections doing that. I'll have a go from above as you suggest. Sounds like same conversion - 2012 normal side conversion (ie not superwide bed). The fridge must be wired through the fridge - the fuse etc is on the zig?

[BongoGog]

Right I think I've sorted it now, but the zig is very warm, almost too hot to touch, don't think it was like that before, however I did have all lights, fridge etc all on to test system. Does that sound normal?

[Simon Jones]

The Zig will get warm when charging on hookup. It's a very simple unit with conventional wire wound transformer which does run quite hot. You should have an orange light on the mains switch and the 12v LED should be green (assuming its similar to the CF8).

[BongoGog]

Hi Simon
Yep all lights as you say, it's just that I hadn't noticed how hot it got before.

[BongoGog]

If the wiring is the same as our JAL conversion the fridge isn't actually wired through the Zig unit. It is attached to the same connections that come to the Zig from the leisure battery. If your conversion is the same as ours was (fullside conversion) you can get the worktop off (its stuck down with silicon sealer) and see what exactly is going on.

I've opened the top as you say, we had a screw also but dead easy - so good, a little trickier putting top back on - had to slide under adjacent top. Had a look inside, it looks like fridge cable isn't connected to zig but it's just looped around vehicle trim and is fed back in from below unit. Thanks for th tip - might come in handy, especially after noticing a mini blade fuse on the cables - bit of a pain if that blew and you didn't know about it.

[briwy]

If the wiring is the same as our JAL conversion the fridge isn't actually wired through the Zig unit. It is attached to the same connections that come to the Zig from the leisure battery. If your conversion is the same as ours was (fullside conversion) you can get the worktop off (its stuck down with silicon sealer) and see what exactly is going on.

I've opened the top as you say, we had a screw also but dead easy - so good, a little trickier putting top back on - had to slide under adjacent top. Had a look inside, it looks like fridge cable isn't connected to zig but it's just looped around vehicle trim and is fed back in from below unit. Thanks for th tip - might come in handy, especially after noticing a mini blade fuse on the cables - bit of a pain if that blew and you didn't know about it.

Yes, ours was the same, fuse in the lead rather than somewhere geattable.
As you say there's a knack to getting the top back down but ours always stayed put without any sticky stuff as it's a tight fit.
Glad you got it sorted.

[BongoGog]

New problem - I removed my leisure battery (to get it checked out). I thought i'd switched everything off - but forgot to turn off the on off switch inside the fridge, which drained my starter battery, although zig was switched to LBatt and OFF?

So if you remove LBatt is a zig wired so it then connects to Starter battery even though switched to LBatt on zig.

I've just turned on 12v lights and switched from Lbatt to Sbatt on zig (still with no Lbatt) the light remained ON for both settings?

Does this sound right?

Confused

[Simon Jones]

If you leave Zig on Touring position then it will just connect both batteries in parallel so they both charge (& discharge) together. What I do is leave it set to On Site and use a split charge relay to take care of charging whilst driving.

[briwy]

New problem - I removed my leisure battery (to get it checked out). I thought i'd switched everything off - but forgot to turn off the on off switch inside the fridge, which drained my starter battery, although zig was switched to LBatt and OFF?

I wired an On/Off switch with an LED in it in the main feed to the fridge. Easy reminder to see at a glance if it's on. It fitted nicely in the space to the left of the Zig unit.

[BongoGog]

If you leave Zig on Touring position then it will just connect both batteries in parallel so they both charge (& discharge) together.

Thanks again for the help Simon - so it's ok then? Must confess I don't really understand what is or how to put a split charge relay in.

[BongoGog]

[/quote]

I wired an On/Off switch with an LED in it in the main feed to the fridge. Easy reminder to see at a glance if it's on. It fitted nicely in the space to the left of the Zig unit.

[/quote]

Thanks for the pic - interesting your choice of colours is exactly like ours - grey sides and 'carbon fibre' effect tops, but are your trims different colours? Nice idea about the on / off switch, what are the other buttons on other side then, below 12v socket - is that a battery level gauge - take it you put those in yourselves also.