Date: Sat, 27 May 2000 09:23:23 -0700
Reply-To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: [Caravana] battery
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Greg,
I think there is some confusion here between the auxiliary battery
compartment under the driver's seat and the starter battery compartment
under the passenger's seat.... THEY ARE NOT THE SAME SIZE HOLES!!! The
starter battery compartment is SMALLER than the auxiliary battery
compartment.
Your quote of my battery fit instructions below is for the Optima being
fitted to the auxiliary compartment under the driver's seat. These
instructions will NOT work for installing an Optima under the driver's seat.
Perhaps some of the other instructions will work, but I'm pretty sure mine
won't.
Also, I would like to point out that using the side posts of an Optima (one
of the other suggestions below) is problematic since you would have to cut
the stock positive post lug off and install a GM style lug to mate with the
GM style side post on the Optima battery. This large cable is not exactly
easy to manipulate and may be too short after cutting. Also, if your Optima
goes dead you may have a problem if you are in a place where you can't buy a
new Optima... you won't be able to go back to the stock battery since the
lug will now not fit the stock battery post. (Also, if you want to go back
to the stock battery your air tight battery box cover will now have holes in
it which will allow you to breath the toxic fumes emitted from the stock
battery.)
Some thing to think about....
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg" <yeff@SOCAL.RR.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 12:58 AM
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
> >
>
| 
