Date:         Fri, 16 Jun 2000 23:38:56 -0700
Reply-To:     harald_nancy <harald_nancy@earthlink.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         harald_nancy <harald_nancy@earthlink.net>
Subject:      Re: Becketts Tome on Dual Batt.s, Relays,
              Saftey,and charging (Very Long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Beckett,
You seem to have doubts about the battery isolator.
I just want to mention the Sure Power isolator
that I have been using in a couple of different vanagon
campers since 1985 with much satisfaction.
It has transformed my westys into truly mini-motor homes with
independence from the grid, especially in conjunction with
the vented propane heater that we have installed in our westy.

When camping here in the Pacific Northwest,  we always
prefer the parks with nonhookup sites.
Even on extended travels, I  never had to recharge
my aux. or main batteries by plugging  into the grid,
even when using the vented propane heater and extra lights,
and stereo and other appliances during the day and night.
Never needed to take an extension cord.
We keep the vented propane heater going all night when it's cold,
which it mostly is up here in Washington State.
The heater requires a well-charged aux. battery to operate,
otherwise the safety relay shuts it down.

Often we stay up late, reading, cooking, listening to music
with the heater going, while it is sometimes snowing and often
raining outside. Never had a problem starting the van in the morning.
A quick run into town for an hour is often enough to recharge the
Optima aux. batt. sufficiently for another night of comfort camping.
It is possible to have these off-the-grid luxuries in a vanagon camper.

Isolators do have a voltage-drop across the diodes as you mentioned.
However, the Sure Power isolator made for the Bosch alternators
utilize a remote sensing terminal which compensates for the voltage drop.
I just want to let people know that there are options for those
who require independence from the grid while using vented heaters
and other appliances.
Right now I am using Sure Power model 1202R on my 1990 westy
with the 90 amp alternator. It's been going strong for six years
with no problems. Batteries last a very long time with this setup.
Like a 6 year lifespan is common for my starting batteries.
Sorry to rant, but just had to share my appreciation for the
Sure Power isolators from Portland, Oregon.
Harald Rust
'90 westy
(driven vw buses, vanagons for 20 years)
http://wetwesties.org/