A relay provides isolation only when the alternator is not running. In this setup a drained aux battery will drain charge from the main battery when you start the engine and the relay closes. There is a solid state battery isolator that works well with Vanagons--I've been using one for over a year now. Mark McCulley >From: BRENT CHRISTENSEN <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM> >Reply-To: BRENT CHRISTENSEN <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM >Subject: Re: Battery Under Back Seat >Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 13:27:33 -0700 > >Yes - you need to isolate the two batteries from each other, otherwise one >will drain the other if there is even the slightest difference in voltage. >(They will try to equalize each other). This can have catastrophic effect >due to the amount of current that can suddenly surge through the wiring. > >Traditional "battery isolators" don't work well in a Vanagon due to the >voltage drop. (Didn't work well in my old Jeep, either - wish I'd thought >about the relay trick back then). You need to separate the two batteries >with a stout relay (I have a 75 amp relay) that is only switched on when >the >alternator is kicking out juice. Then power all your accessories from your >aux. battery by shunting to the hot side of the #3 fuse terminal. > >Takes a bit of crawling around and snaking wires, but well worth it. I >wish >I'd been willing to give up the space under the seat for a pair of golf >cart >batteries! > >Brent Christensen >'89 GL Syncro Westy >Santa Barbara, CA > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf > > Of Jay L Snyder > > Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 10:08 AM > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > > Subject: Battery Under Back Seat > > > > > > I am thinking about installing a battery under the rear seat by simply > > running a heavy wire to the starter (which would in turn > > connect it to the > > existing battery) and grounding to engine or chassis. Would > > I need fusible > > link/fuse on this wire? What gauge wire? I realize this > > will only give me > > additional power when cranking or with ignition switch on. This setup > > seems too easy--am I missing something? > > Jay > > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com |
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