Message Forums

Can anyone help please?

VW MH and testing out the new hook up cable on the drive before risking it elsewhere!

 Can't get anything to work, I am bemused as to whether what I think is the zig panel is actually that. There is a zig water panel next to an on/off switch next to a 12 volt switch above the o/s passenger rear seat. At the rear of the vehicle is a white box with 3 switches, situated below the boiler level with external hook up point on outside. Is this it?

If yes what do I do with it?

Sorry to sound so thick but its all so new and confusing!

cheers,

Jane

hiya Jane

first all Zigg units have the word ZIG on them this could be a home diy jobby but try this but be careful

Most if not all Zig units have an orange mains switch this is the switch to isolate the mains. The three switches you talk about at the rear are they blue trip switches one should be for the fridge and they act like fuses. It is a bit hard without seeing the actuall units. there should be a switch for you to switch between touring and site for the leisure battery. pics of the units would help alot. But please proceed with caution when dealing with the mains (240) side of the electrics

hope this points you in right direction

Reggieboy,

thanks, still struggling

I've put a couple of pics in my gallery. Played around yesterday (carefully!) and established that the hook up works, sockets live and fridge working but could not get interior lights to work. Do they run off the 12 volt leisure battery only? Can I not run them off mains?

From your description I don't think it is a zig unit and did some trawling on the web last night. The switches on the unit are trip switches.

I will be careful, my brother is an electrician so will give him a call,

Jane

Hiya Jane

Your lighting does work off the 12v leisure battery and you could always plug a table lamp in when you are on 240 hookup. Also when you are on hookup should be being charge from the mains. If you are unsure about electrics it is always best to seek a sparky ( and if they glow then there is a problem hehe ). The switches in the pics are RCB or trip switches so if you inherit a prob later with something you plug in they will shut that circuit down and stop you from glowing

take care

"I've put a couple of pics in my gallery. Played around yesterday (carefully!) and established that the hook up works, sockets live and fridge working but could not get interior lights to work. Do they run off the 12 volt leisure battery only? Can I not run them off mains?"

Mine are currently only running off the leisure battery too. I'm still trying to fix the fault. It is a fault - the manual says that the unit can be used as a mains to 12v converter to run all the 12v things. I've also got a problem with the mains not charging the leisure battery. I hope to get this fixed tomorrow, and if I do I'll let you know the outcome.

Regarding the illuminated orange switch - this has no effect on whether the mains is on or off, and only shows that the mains is working. This is all it's supposed to do, according to the manual. Puzzled me at first though!

Hi Paul, lights are usually 12v and run off the leisure battery, when you are on EHU, assuming you have a battery charger/power supply built in, the lights will run off that even if your battery is flat and being charged.

Phil.

Thanks. I've got it sorted now. Everything is working as it should ((-:

This is an old caravan - and an old (1981) Zig unit. The mains fuse had become detached from its connections, and I have now soldered them back on, which is quite a feat for a technopeasant like me! (Particularly when I had to do it in situ - near the caravan ceiling, in a 2 inch gap, in the dark!)

But if anyone else has such a unit, please be aware that the orange mains switch doesn't, and isn't intended to, switch off the mains. All it does is switch on/off the mains charger, and let you know that the mains is hooked up.

Looking at the setup, it wouldn't surprise me if this is a common problem. the mains fuse holder is easily worked loose, and it is not difficult to break the wires off it when you try to remove the fuse.

But it's lovely to get it all sorted so simply!

I'd just like to add - Motorhome problems overlap with caravan problems, so don't forget to check the caravan section of this forum for relevant info.)