small MH without leisure battery

[liz]

Hi everyone i have a small 1998 Mercedes Vito professional conversion which has all the normal bits 12v lights, fridge, electric tap, and 240 hook up.
but there is only the car battery ( a large one ) and no zig unit anywhere. (or i haven't found it yet) Plus how does it work if there is no zig unit if i hooked up doesn't this mean that it wont charge the battery?

does anyone know anything about this sort of set up and how long can i run things with out running the car battery down. The fridge is always on gas and so far I have only used the odd light in the evening with no problems.

the previous owners had no problems and even installed an all singing & dancing DVD& radio/CD unit. they have watch 2 films in succession with out hook up. but i need a bit of re-assurance on trusting this set up.

PS, Ive only just found this site but I'm looking forward to reading more.

Liz

[ant]

Hi Liz.
Romahomes are my speciality, but a single battery system on a motorhome is a bit risky. It sounds as if the battery has been changed from the standard one to a much bigger one, that would suggest to me that the previous owner had a problem and the easiest solution was to just make the battery capacity bigger. You don't say how old the Vito is but many modern vehicles are not supposed to have the battery charged while still conected so a mains charging system with a single battery is not very common.
Just using lights and a bit of TV should be ok for a few days but you'd need to start the vehicle and go for a drive after that just to prevent the battery getting too low. Starting batteries are not deep cycle batteries and don't like to be discharged and re charged continually.
I'd get a second battery and split charger system fitted then you wont have to think about it !
Ant

[liz]

thank you for your prompt reply,
i think i will have to eventually put in a conventional system. The van is 1999 converted by Concept Designs and the battery is housed under the front passenger seat.

you got me thinking whether it had been changed so i have done some digging and found in the brochure
"12dc from vehical battery, wired to water pump, lights, and fridge, 240 v input wired via safety cut out to fridge and two switched sockets."

any recommendations for a garage who can do this type of work in and around north hampshire

[ant]

Hi Liz.
Any Garage with an Auto electrician could do the job it's not rocket science, if you have a local garage you trust to do your servicing they could do it or at least know somebody who could.
Ant