Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 20:48:45 -0400
Reply-To: "Russell, William" <william.russell@UW-INC.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Russell, William" <william.russell@UW-INC.COM>
Subject: Overwhelmed: Second Battery
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
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"
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