Silly question about leisure battery and electrics

[Kennyp]

hey all. New joiner. We have a nice converted Bongo. My question is about the leisure batt. I have a regulator and all seems fine, however the only thing my battery powers is the interior lights. I have plug sockets, microwave, fridge (gas and electricity ) but nothing works apart from the lights! Seems a bit pointless so I guess I am going wrong somewhere ? It all works fine if I hook up. I was going to buy a solar panel as we are in Tenby next week without hook up. But can't see the point if it only powers the lights. What am I doing wrong ? Also can't attach pics in here otherwise I could show my set up. Thanks all

[mikeWalsall]

Sounds like my conversion ... The only thing wired up to mine is the fridge .. Just poor convertors who only to do half a job ..

There are easy to fit wiring conversions to power what ever you want directly from the leisure battery without any internal wiring alterations to what is already fitted .. Blinds .. lights ..radio .. power 'ciggy' sockets etc: ..

[g8dhe]

Can you explain what you have installed, names of control boxes like Zig CF8 or CF9 or PMS3, also who installed it ? There are a lot of odd installations being made recently, by converters cutting corners, using mains flex and other shortcuts - like no fuses etc.
Came across several that were not fit for purpose at the BASH this year

[mikeWalsall]

Well mine as the more 'sophisticated' Zig Cf9 unit ... not very neatly fitted ..







Very crudely made battery tray and a small leisure battery ..



Which I have replaced ....



.... and tided the under bonnet wires my self ..

[Kennyp]

How did you add the pics? I have a zig marque 1 (regulator?)
And a Chint (think that's it's name) fuse/switches

No idea who installed it, it was imported in 2011.. Guessing by whoever brought it over.
Everything works fine on hook up, but nowt on batt (apart from lights) I have tried switches in every combination

[mikeWalsall]

To put pics up ..

I load pics onto photo bucket ... find the picture I want ... click on it ... the selected pic; opens in a new window ... on the right hand pane click on the bottom IMG: that automatically 'cuts' the URL for you ..

When you want to insert the pic: into your post simply right click & paste the URL .. when your post is posted so is the picture .. (You can always preview your post before submitting it)..

[g8dhe]

Right if you have the Zig Marque 1 that's fine nice and simple and all that is needed.
Just leave the lefthand selector switch on Caravan, and operate the others as required.
You may also have a Zig charger fitted which will run the 12 volts and charge the battery when on EHU.

You may be under the belief that the mains sockets will work off the LB - NO they only work when plugged into an EHU .

There should also be some extra wiring like mike's image above that connects to the existing old fuse box, 2-4 wires that pickup the internal circuits in the Bongo and connect them to the LB. In which case the radio, 12 volt sockets and blinds will already be working off the LB without the ignition switch being on.
If this is not the case then the extra wiring may not be fitted or there may be a fuse gone and the LB is not charged.

[scanner]

You may be under the belief that the mains sockets will work off the LB - NO they only work when plugged into an EHU .

Unless you have a very sophisticated set up AND a very large leisure battery, nothing that is mains powered will work off the leisure battery.

That would include (if they ARE mains voltage) the sockets and the microwave - the fridge will only (make that should only) work off the battery when the engine is running, the rest of the time it should work off gas (that is assuming it is an absorption fridge, as you say it will run off gas or electric) whenever you are parked up or mains leccy if you have a hook-up.

Leisure batteries are good, but not THAT good.

[Kennyp]

It all makes sense now thank you. So the leisure batt on,y powers lights...I haven't got any 12v sockets, so may consider that for the future. So solar power isn't much use unless you have 12v sockets, be cheaper to take a few extra AA batts for lanterns. Though you can buy a smaller solar panel that charges through Usb connectors so my lads phone and Samsung tab will be charged up for rainy days.
Thanks all for your advice ...great forum !!

[scanner]

..I haven't got any 12v sockets, so may consider that for the future. So solar power isn't much use unless you have 12v sockets,

You should have 2x 12v sockets.
One in the dash just to the left of the steering column and one on the rear near side just inside the tailgate.

[Kennyp]

Scanner - thank you...yes !!! Lol ye olde name for em was ciggie lighter! Of course....
I will try in the morning, so they should be live when I switch to leisure batt?

[scanner]

Scanner - thank you...yes !!! Lol ye olde name for em was ciggie lighter! Of course....
I will try in the morning, so they should be live when I switch to leisure batt?

Mine are.

Just remember that the rear one has low capacity wiring so don't try to run anything "heavy" off of it.