I've been considering and researching a second battery for my 1980 Westfalia since before I even bought it last September. Unfortunately, with lots of research, sometimes comes lots of confusion. So, I'm looking for advice. Here's the situation:
I like music. I like it a lot. After purchasing my Westfalia, I installed an aftermarket stereo system. I installed 4 - 5" Pioneer speakers, a Pioneer AM/FM/CD Player (low end model), and a Pioneer power amp driving a nice big sub-woofer in one of those carpeted boxes at the end of 6' of speaker wire so that I can move it to wherever is most convenient at any given time. The sound is excellent! I think I need to fine tune the EQ because the stereo seems to have to be so loud that it hurts my ears when I'm driving. But, when I am parked it sounds superb.
After reading through the archives at westfalia.org, I was under the impression that my best option was to install a second battery that was exactly the same as my primary battery. Since I needed a new primary battery anyway, I purchased two GR41/60 MM72 batteries which seemed to be the largest ones that would fit in the van. I immediately installed the primary but the secondary is still sitting idle under the driver's seat. They have actually been rotated a couple of times already because I was having problems with the starting system.
As I continued my research during the Canadian winter, I realized that for the type of camping I like to do (long weekend festivals with no power hook-ups and plenty of need for loud music and cold beer); I would probably need an alternate power source to ensure that I could live to my expectations. I think that I have decided on installing a solar panel lying flat in the luggage rack over the passenger compartment. However, I don't have the money right now to make the purchase or the time to perform the installation.
What I would like to do right now is hook-up the second battery. I want it to charge from the alternator when the engine is running, yet be isolated from the primary batter when the engine is shut off. I figure that I should hook the stereo, the sub-woofer, some lighting, and the fridge to the second battery. In another few months, I would like to install the solar panel and connect it to the secondary battery as well. At that time, I would like the solar panel to charge the second battery when the van is off, but I would still like to make use of the alternator for charging the second battery when the van is running.
So, first of all, can I do all this? Am I missing any important facts? Secondly, how should I isolate the batteries? I've read that a relay is enough, and then I read that a relay isn't enough and I should use an isolator. Will either or both of these work with my planned solar panel setup? Where can I order the required parts and is this a task that I can really do myself?
Any assistance or input is GREATLY appreciated. I want to do this right and only do it once.
\/\/i!!y
1980 Vanagon "Jazzy" |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.