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Subject Topic: elddis battery not charging on hook up
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PersonJo66
14/8/2017 at 4:30pm
 Location: Worsley Manchester
 Outfit: Elldis whirlwind View Jo66's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jo66 Reply   Quote Jo66 Quote  
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I have just bought an Elddis whirlwind - 1989 so quite old . i'm new to caravanning and have recently been to devon on my first trip. When the van was hooked up to the mains, the lights, fridge and sockets worked but reading lights and water pump are powered from the battery. After 5 or so days the battery light on the zig panel turned from green(normal) to red (low) and then the reading lights and water pump stopped working. I then couldn't work out how to charge the battery from the mains using the DCU unit. I turned the zig unit off and on, checked fuses and that nothing had tripped and tried different combinations of switches on the panel but the battery wouldn't charge. The zig instructions manual tells me that I can charge a battery using the mains hook via the DCU up but it doesn't tell me how and there's no obvious dial or switch on the unit.


PersonRob and Tina
14/8/2017 at 5:59pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit: Motorhome View Rob and Tina's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rob and Tina Reply   Quote Rob and Tina Quote  
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How old is the battery?


Personmarramc48
15/8/2017 at 11:15am
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: None Entered View marramc48's Profile View Profile   Reply to marramc48 Reply   Quote marramc48 Quote  
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Your battery cannot be completely U/S or it would not have lasted 5 days on site. I have a similar problem and solved it by fitting a smart charger purchased off e-bay for around £14. When I purchased the van it was fitted with a normal battery charger but this eventually overcharged the battery.

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mm48j


PersonGeoff48
15/8/2017 at 4:18pm
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5 View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
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Not sure which Zig unit you have but there is a simple You tube video Here which may help. The zig charger when switched on should give a maintenance charge to your leisure battery. I use a smart charger every month or so by removing the battery and charging. When the caravan isn't used I have an hook up but the smart charger is best for the battery.


PersonJo66
15/8/2017 at 6:05pm
 Location: Worsley Manchester
 Outfit: Elldis whirlwind View Jo66's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jo66 Reply   Quote Jo66 Quote  
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aw thanks to all who have replied, - much appreciated and I will get going with your suggestions, especially you tube!! - sorry rob/tina - don't know how old the battery is.. Just in case I can't solve the problem - as i'm not great with electrics, Lol - could anybody recommend a mobile caravan repair man in NW Manchester area. I have contacted a couple prior to registering on this site, but they don't work with older vans. thanks

Post last edited on 15/08/2017 19:38:08


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PersonGeoff48
15/8/2017 at 7:37pm
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5 View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
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What part of the country are you in please? Surprised your local ones won't work with older vans, newer ones should have less issues older ones should be a good source of revenue for them. You could search for one local to you by using the MCEA website Link


PersonJo66
15/8/2017 at 7:40pm
 Location: Worsley Manchester
 Outfit: Elldis whirlwind View Jo66's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jo66 Reply   Quote Jo66 Quote  
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thanks - I'm in NW Manchester area


PersonGeoff48
15/8/2017 at 7:51pm
 Location: Bolton
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Try this one Acorn Leisure he has serviced my van, I'm in Bolton, and is OK.


PersonJo66
15/8/2017 at 8:42pm
 Location: Worsley Manchester
 Outfit: Elldis whirlwind View Jo66's Profile View Profile   Reply to Jo66 Reply   Quote Jo66 Quote  
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thanks Geoff.


Persontwincle
16/8/2017 at 11:11am
 Location: Byfleet Surrey
 Outfit: Elddis Liberte 21 6 View twincle's Profile View Profile   Reply to twincle Reply   Quote twincle Quote  
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Check out my recent posting too: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=31&TopicID=3........

I had the exact same issue. The transformer thingy bob was not charging the battery when on mains. Find the transformer thingy bob, looks like a square metal block found near your electric fuses/mcb's
, mine was inside the mcb box. Mine has a kettle lead connection which have a reputation of wobbly out o try that first. With a meter you can check power in and power out to be sure.


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Personrob5425
18/3/2018 at 12:14am
 Location: Northampton
 Outfit:  Pennine Fiesta. Elddis Crown Sceptre View rob5425's Profile View Profile   Reply to rob5425 Reply   Quote rob5425 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Geoff48 on 15/8/2017
What part of the country are you in please? Surprised your local ones won't work with older vans, newer ones should have less issues older ones should be a good source of revenue for them. You could search for one local to you by using the MCEA website Link


I had the same problem here in Northampton, asked a highly recommended engineer to look at my motor mover and skylights, once he found out I had an "older" van, he didn`t wanna know

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What`s done is done, cannot be undone, but can be done again.



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