Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 14:08:09 -0500
Reply-To: Paul Borghese <PAUL98@PRODIGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Paul Borghese <PAUL98@PRODIGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Optima Batteries
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Solar panel? There was a discussion a few month back that the Optima
batteries do not fit in the Drivers Side compartment. Have you had this
problem? If my memory is correct, someone bought an Optima and could not
figure out how to make it fit without drilling holes in the top of the
cover.
Paul
-----Original Message-----
From: "Johnson, David R FOR:EX" <David.Johnson@GEMS6.GOV.BC.CA>
Newsgroups: groupstudy.vanagon
Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 2:20 PM
Subject: Re: Optima Batteries
I have had an optima auxiliary for about a year with all stock components. I
had an RV place install it, so I don't know all the details. The battery
LED is now showing the auxiliary level. So far it has worked well. On one
occasion I forgot to turn the fridge off of 12v and ran the battery into the
"red". Nuthin went up in smoke. For some reason, perhaps a bad ground, or
short somewhere, the LED will show in the yellow unless the engine is
running, charging the system. I plan on replacing the relay with a larger
one, when the solar panel arrives. Also I have not yet wired the radio to
the auxiliary, or picked up an inverter or charger for shore power. The wish
list grows and grows... although head gaskets, door locks, fuel tank filler
seal, master cylinder replacement, AFM capacitor fix, windshield
replacement, window tinting, stereo upgrade are also on that ever expanding
list of "gotta do's"
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Manning [mailto:smanning@EXECPC.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 9:40 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Optima Batteries
Hi Brent,
Thanks for the response. The stock 30 amp relay works fine and does
switch with the ignition. I just think the $40.00 wheel chair battery I
bought was it's time to dye. I have tested the theory of the relay
working with the ignition on as I have tested the charging rate of the
aux battery while the engine is running.
I may anyway just replace the stock 30 amp relay with a 40 or 75 amp
relay. I have no intention of using this Optima battery as a second
starting battery, even in a emergency. If I do need it, I'll just use
jumper cables instead of wiring something in-line.
I'm looking for simplicity for what I already have. I just want to drop an
Optima in in place of the 32 amphr battery in nnow without any relay or
wire upgrade whatsoever. At the most, I just want to get a new relay. I'd
really like to find out if anyone has used the 30 amp relay with this size
battery
Thanks -steve
>
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> The problem with the relay is not that it will cause charging problems,
but
> rather that it is undersized to safely handle the potential current
flowing
> to/from the battery.
>
> Your problem is possibly due to chronic over or undercharging, or perhaps
> the relay has failed completely, and therefore the battery is not charging
> at all.
>
> BTW, these gel-type batteries are very picky about charge voltages.
>
> Brent Christensen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Manning
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: 3/22/2000 8:27 AM
> Subject: Optima Batteries
>
> Hello list members,
>
> I have a question on installing an Optima Battery for anyone who already
> has one installed. Checking the archives, I noticed on list member
> stated
> you need to replace the 30 amp relay under the drivers seat with a
> bigger
> relay as well as a #8 wire from the alternator to the relay.
>
> Right now, I have a 32 amp hr battery with the standard westy 30 amp
> relay
> and would like to know if anyone is still using this relay/wire setup
> with
> an Optima without upgrading. I follwed the instructions from the Vanagon
> site and had no problems until this year when the battery just won't
> hold
> a charge anymore.
>
> TIA
> -steve
>
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> <META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
> charset=3Dwindows-1252">
> <META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version =
> 5.5.2448.0">
> <TITLE>RE: Optima Batteries</TITLE>
> </HEAD>
> <BODY>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>The problem with the relay is not that it will cause =
> charging problems, but rather that it is undersized to safely handle =
> the potential current flowing to/from the battery.</FONT></P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Your problem is possibly due to chronic over or =
> undercharging, or perhaps the relay has failed completely, and =
> therefore the battery is not charging at all. </FONT></P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>BTW, these gel-type batteries are very picky =
> about charge voltages. </FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Brent Christensen</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>-----Original Message-----</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>From: Steve Manning</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sent: 3/22/2000 8:27 AM</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Subject: Optima Batteries</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Hello list members,</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>I have a question on installing an Optima Battery for =
> anyone who already</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>has one installed. Checking the archives, I noticed =
> on list member</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>stated</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>you need to replace the 30 amp relay under the =
> drivers seat with a</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>bigger</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>relay as well as a #8 wire from the alternator to =
> the relay.</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Right now, I have a 32 amp hr battery with the =
> standard westy 30 amp</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>relay</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>and would like to know if anyone is still using this =
> relay/wire setup</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>with</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>an Optima without upgrading. I follwed the =
> instructions from the Vanagon</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>site and had no problems until this year when the =
> battery just won't</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>hold</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>a charge anymore.</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>TIA</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>-steve</FONT>
> </P>
>
> </BODY>
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