Date:         Fri, 16 Jun 2000 00:04:34 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ibm.net>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ibm.net>
Subject:      Re: dual battery? hobigesuss!
Comments: To: Marc Perdue <marcperdue@adelphia.net>
In-Reply-To:  <3949A1C8.2BA0AC70@adelphia.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 23:40 6/15/2000, Marc Perdue wrote:
>know this: the fuse won't blow unless you exceed its rated amperage.

No, it probably won't.  But it might get hot enough to, for example, melt
the cover of the fusebox, the way the heater-fan fuse did on
mine.  Remember that at blowing time, it has to be hot enough to melt the
element inside.

>  Given
>that, it seems I would NOT be able to run my stereo (10 amps) AND the
>fridge on
>that 15 amp circuit.  On the other hand, I've sat around in cars and had the
>lights, the heater fan, the windshield wipers, AND the stereo going at the
>same
>time WITHOUT the engine being on and without blowing fuses.  Sounds to me like
>the Hella kit is performing a simple service at a simple price . . .
>giving you
>one 15 Amp circuit where you had none before.

Actually, the Hella kit is doing nothing of the sort -- it merely provides
a connection between the two batteries while the engine is running, so that
both batteries may charge.  It's up to the installer what circuits are
taken from the aux battery, and how they are fused.  If you merely install
the Hella kit I think you'll be driving around with a fully charged aux
battery that never gets used.

:)
david
David Beierl - Providence, RI
  http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"