Zig cp3g

[AnthonyB]

Hi,

This is the first time I've posted here and am after some help and advice. I have an old Abbey Cambridge 4 berth with a Zig cp3g power controller built in. From what I can see, it will run all the 12v appliances from wither the car battery or the caravan battery. I want to either convert this to enable it to run all 12v devices from a 240v mains input and also charge the battery up as well. I believe the CP400 does this, but does anyone know if it's possible with the cp3g (with some additional wiring and devices). Am I better upgrading this to a CP400 (or different unit ?). Also, does anyone know where I can get a manaul showing wiring diagrams for the cp3g.

Thanks,

Anthony.

 

[gary]

I am going to take a guess that yours is just a control panel and the 400 a charger with your panel as the front, if this is the case then get a modern charger and stick with the panel you have.

You will I think have a three position switch, Car/Off/Caravan and the 12S charging from the car will already be connected to the 'Car' side of the switch. It's quite likely then all you have to do is connect the positive from a charger to the 'Caravan' side of the switch and the Negative to the common earth point. This will then supply to all the circuits including the battery through the original fuses

In reality most caravan 'chargers' are in fact 12 volt 'power sources' with a secondary function of keeping a battery in a fairly high state of charge, a modern 10/12 amp output one is therefore quite capable of running the vans 12v systems without a battery. It is unwise to permanently fit a car battery type charger.

 

[AnthonyB]

Thanks for your reply Gary. The unit has a rocker switch to select between car and caravan (no OFF position) but from what you're saying I just need to get a charger and wire its +ve into the +ve switch for the caravan side. Have you any recommendations on what make/model of charger I should be looking at (The cheaper the better - as long as it does the job).

Thanks,

Anthony.

 

[gary]

If there is an 'Off' then it's in with the rocker neither to one or the other side, half way if you like. The switch on my zig panel has this 'Off' but it's not very positive and I prefer to switch to the car position to isolate the van while in storage.

As for which type of charger, Sterling make a proper multi stage leisure battery charger which I believe costs around