charger light not working

Hi all
wonder if any one can help with this little problem, plug in 240 EHU cable should get green charger light on zig panel no green light, checked fuses in zig panel, not sure where to look next
van is VW Trophy 1994 petrol
any suggestion carefully looked at
VWT4
Mike

Would it be worth disconnecting the EHU and checking the battery voltage. Then reconnect the EHU and recheck voltage. The experts on here will tell you what voltage to expect, certainly I would think it should go from 12 ish to about 13.6 ish.
This at least would tell you that the battery is receiving a charge. Or did you already know this?

micknhilary
thanks for that suggestion I will give that a try and what results I get
vwt4

I feel a bit stupid writing this, but you have checked that mains power is getting into the van? i.e. the mains switch hasn't tripped or anything like that.

Sounds silly but have you checked that your EHU lead is ok, fuse not blown, if you have a multimeter use it on the ohms setting to check continuity.
the master switch on some types of control panel is a trip and will switch itself off if it detects a fault, another thought the habitation/vehicle switch if you have one is not in the middle ie off position.

Brian

Micknhilary not a stupid suggestion at all,yes power is getting into the van mains lights etc all work
Brian thanks for the suggestion trip switches all ok EHU lead is fine also, I have a switch actually on the charger will have to remove charger unit to check that, could be a long job as its in a very small space at base of sink unit
vwt4

vwt4 wrote:Hi all
wonder if any one can help with this little problem, plug in 240 EHU cable should get green charger light on zig panel no green light, checked fuses in zig panel, not sure where to look next
van is VW Trophy 1994 petrol
any suggestion carefully looked at
VWT4
Mike

Has the charger been recently changed? Reason I ask is that the original charger in our Clubman used to have an indicator light on it to show that it was working, and the [Zig ?] control panel above the rear door likewise had an indicator light to show when vehicle was connected to EHU.

However, after the charger was (to use A/S's phrase) "frazzled" by a power surge, it was replaced last year by A/S, and I was warned that the new charger does not have an indicator light, and - more relevant to your symptoms - the indicator light in the control panel no longer functions because of that type of charger. But it works fine (and I use the easily-visible fridge mains light to confirm that the ECU is connected).

cymru
thanks for reply the charger is the original one fitted under the sink unit cupboard, the indicator is on the panel and was working only a week or so ago, so is a bit of a mystery at the mo, it is throwing it down with rain just now so its gonna have wait till it clears up
vwt4
mike

Could be something as daft as the bulb gone?

Hi VWT4

From memory I think the Zig charging unit (not the panel) has a mains switch on it has this been inadvertantly pushed to the off position this happened to me a couple of times in the past and led to a bit of head scratching I seem to remember

Johno.

Johno
yes your memory serves you correctly, it does have a mains switch, unfortunately for me it is in the on position
thanks for your reply
peugeotboxer I suppose it could be the bulb, will have to me multimeter out when it stops raining
thanks for the tip
vwt4
mike

HI all
pulled out charger today, it seems that there is no power to the charger from the EHU, the mains wiring comes from the RCBs which are in another cupboard, so next step get to the rear of the RCBs maybe a wire as come loose (he says hopefully) if not, anyone got a spare Zig X3 charger?? I see that they are somewhat expensive at around £150 for a X70 (direct replacement)
vwt4
mike

Hi
update on charger saga, totally removed from van having uncoupled from RCB, removed outer fridge vent to gain access to wiring, pulled through and removed to garage plugged in to mains, result no charger output, new one required, on to internet to find new one.
bye for now
vwt4
mike

New charger ordered £120 awaiting delivery
vwt4
mike

Glad you managed to sort it.

peugeotboxer
thanks for reply, all I got to do now is put it all back (sob)
vwt4
mike

ordered new x70 zig charger yesterday at 1.0-clock, arrived today 3-0-clock from Glasgow, that is what I call service.
All I have to now is refit
vwt4
mike

Good luck! (But you may wish to bear in mind my earlier post - the replacement charger which A/S fitted to my MH does not support the indicator light in the Zig panel, though it works fine. Your charger may be a different model, of course, but don't be alarmed if, on the Great Switch On, there's no indicator showing in the panel above the side door!).

thanks for reply, can't do it today 44years married today, so if I want to make 45, I had better leave it alone
vwt4
mike

Whilst on the subject of Zig units, mine occasionally exhibits some strange behaviour whereby the light on the panel pulsates at about 1Hz along with a similar pulsating sound from the unit under the cupboard floor. Under these conditions it doesn't charge. However after a while it then seems to 'kick-in' and start to operate OK. The longer between periods of use, the greater the likelihood that it has trouble starting-up.

Anyone seen the same phenomenon?

Bartfarst (avoiding stuffing the turkey)

Hi bartfarst
it could be something like a rectifier in the charger or maybe a capacitor that is beginning to fail, I'm sure someone with more knowledge than me will be along soon to give better explanation
vwt4
mike

vwt4 wrote:it could be something like a rectifier in the charger or maybe a capacitor that is beginning to fail............mike

I think you're probably right regarding a cap going down as they most often seem to suffer through aging. However I think the charger uses 'switched mode' technology so is probably a complex beast with many other potential causes.

Incidentally I think there's also an LED on the PCB which illuminates when it is running - this is just visible through the slits in the cover. Whether this shows power is applied or actually charging I cannot recall.

Bartfarst

Hi what model of charger is it, x3,x70? my defunt one had green indicator next to switch on the charger that indicated power to charger I think
vwt4
mike

new charger fitted and working today, took a while re routing mains cable back to RCB I am sure Autosleeper did not design the Trophy with future repairs in mind had to be a bit of a contortionist to get 12vdc connections back on to charger in the little space provided but all done now so going to have a lie down in darkened room!!!

vwt4
Well done. Treat yourself to a drink of something - you deserve it.

squip