Date:         Fri, 29 Sep 2000 14:54:49 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: What Specific Model Optima Auxiliary Battery Should I Buy?
              Any Comments on the Hella Kit?
Comments: To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <019301c02a40$134a8be0$4a9fe0d8@wd1000086onem>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 14:07 9/29/2000, Bill Davidson wrote:

>David.... slower than what???

Slower than using a 6mm wire.

>Sure... we know that a 2.5mm wire will supply less juice than the 6mm
>wire... but the question asked us to contrast two choices... the original
>2.5mm wire and the Hella kit; not changing to 6mm wire.

True -- extra info, free gratis for nothing <g>

>I have heard that
>the Hella wire is even smaller than the 2.5mm (not verified)... so it would
>seem that the stock 2.5mm wire would charge faster than the Hella wire...
>but then that depends on the route the Hella wire takes too... if it's
>direct from the starter battery that would be a much shorter route than the
>stock route via the main fuse panel...

Yep.  Depending on how "directly" it comes from the battery.  Wire to the
panel is 6mm I think.


>I don't think so.. ... the starter-sized wires are in the 00 size range...
>If you go to the FLAPS you will see that jumpers are typically either 4, 6
>or even 8 gauge for the cheapie... and longer than would be required to go
>directly from the auxiliary battery to the starter battery.

Ok, fair enough.  Although in my book 6ga is barely usable and 8ga is
ridiculous.  These are the same folks who make things that plug into your
cigarette lighter socket that supposedly will jumpstart your car.  Also,
jumper cables are meant to be used from a running engine, so you can get
away with a little more drop across them.  If I was doing this I'd make up
a single jumper wire of 6ga or bigger that was just long enough to reach
from one battery to the other (the ground is already taken care of).

:)
d


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