Date:         Fri, 16 Jun 2000 01:02:10 -0400
Reply-To:     The Bus Depot <ron@netcarrier.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         The Bus Depot <ron@netcarrier.com>
Subject:      Re: dual battery? hobigesuss!
In-Reply-To:  <3949A1C8.2BA0AC70@adelphia.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> > is this kit going to workout?

> > Depends on how many amps your radio draws.
> > The kit has a 15 amp fuse.
> > The fridge draws 7 to 8 amps.
> > The water pump....? I forgot.
> > Do you have other accessories you want to run of this circuit?

> It still seems as though we should be able to do better than 15 amps out
> of that extra battery though . . .


I think you're missing the point. The Hella relay/fuse limits the rate of
_recharge_ - not the current flow from the aux battery to your stereo,
lights, etc. The Hella relay doesn't care at what rate you discharge your
aux battery.  Those items are connected to your aux battery via their own
fuses and wiring, not to the Hella relay. You could hook up 50 amps worth of
stereos and other junk to your aux battery all at once and run it to the
ground, assuming the battery and those devices' wiring could support the
draw.  But when you went to start your van and leave the campsite, the Hella
relay/fuse will make sure that the aux battery recharged at a controlled
rate of about 15 amps, rather than dumping a ton of amperage into the now
nearly dead battery (which, as Beckett points out, is a good thing).

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW