Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 00:58:18 -0700
Reply-To: Greg <yeff@SOCAL.RR.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Greg <yeff@SOCAL.RR.COM>
Subject: Re: [Caravana] battery
Here is part of what is on our Vanagon.com site, Goto (info-Articles &
Essays-Adding a second battery and charging system) for more info.
This battery will fit into the space under the driver's seat, though it's
not easy. First, the battery is too tall, so you need to remove the top
posts so that they are level with the top of the battery.
A simpler solution was proposed by James Matthisen. He writes:
I am going to use the side terminals and drill holes in the black access
cover (and carpet) for the top terminals -- the access cover then closes.
Top terminals come with plastic caps and will stick up through the carpet
(but not so high that the driver's seat won't swivel). They will be out of
harms way when driving, and if I need to jump-start someone I can just slide
the seat forward a bit and take off the plastic caps.
An even simpler solution was proposed by Jim Davis. He writes:
There's no cutting or grinding required for the Optima. Just mount it on
it's side so that the 'top' posts face forward. It fits fine this way.
Lastly, Bill writes:
My Optima rests nicely under the driver's seat of my 90 Westy and the lid is
still on its hinges. Put the Optima on its side with top posts pointing
forward (left plastic caps on) and side posts up. Right above the side posts
cut notches in the lid and then taped across the notches with black fabric
tape so there can be no contact of the posts to metal. In order to get the
Optima in the hole had to cut two notches... one for each of the top
posts... in the metal lip at the forward part of the battery box so the top
posts would pass by the lip... not a big deal.
(This works because the Optima can be mounted in any position... even
upside-down! If you do this, you can use the Optima 750, which doesn't have
the side connectors.)
In order to get the battery into the battery compartment you need to remove
the driver's seat entirely. When the driver's seat is removed, there may be
a metal bracket towards the front of the under-seat compartment that
interferes with installing the battery. Knock or cut this off, as it serves
no purpose other than to get into your way. Once this bracket is removed,
the battery will easily slide down into the compartment.
The battery can be connected as described in the electrical section of the
FAQ. Use the side terminals, which must be positioned so that they face
forward. The battery will be flush against the back of the battery
compartment. Use a block of wood to keep the battery from sliding side to
side in the compartment.
Enjoy,
Greg
86 GL Westy
Granada Hills, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: coyote <coyote@VANAGON.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, May 26, 2000 11:38 PM
Subject: Re: [Caravana] battery
> At 5:57 PM -0700 5/26/2000, Bill Davidson wrote:
> >I'm pretty sure the Optima will not fit under the passenger seat... at
least
> >not on my 90 WEsty Syncro.
>
> I didn't expect it to fit either, but according to the installers it
> does. I'll know more when I pick my van up next week.
>
> >Also, to cut the top posts is to void your warranty... got this straight
> >from the Optima people.
>
> The top posts were not cut, the secondary battery is laid on its side
> with the posts pointing forward, as shown in my diagram:
>
> > > Direction of travel -->
> >>
> >> +---------+
> >> | |==
> >> | |
> >> | |
> > > +---------+
>
> Coyote
> --
> /\_/\ ____
> Ron 'Coyote' Lussier ( ) \ _/__ Lenscraft
> coyote@lenscraft.com \ / \X / 229 8th Street Unit 4
> 1.415.241.0815 \_/ \/ San Francisco, CA 94103
>