Date: Sun, 9 Mar 2003 23:57:15 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Power plans and questions
In-Reply-To: <3E6BABF0.1010100@fluid.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Is the device a secret? It would easier for us to help if we know what
it is and how long you need to use it. The cab lights and light in the
back of the Westy is actually feed from the front fuse box. Fuse #3 I
think. The two fuses near the sink cabinet are for the refrigerator,
water pump, and control panel. One is connected to the switched side of
the relay so that it is energized only when the alternator is charging.
The relay actually uses the idiot light circuit for the alternator. The
ground for the relay is provided through the starter solenoid. I guess
the plan was to also disable the relay while the engine was cranking. Of
I've never seen the alternator energize while before the engine actually
started anyway! This provides power for the refrigerator 12v heating
coil. The other wire is connected directly to the main power feed has
power all the time. It operates the fridge cooling fan, controls,
indicator lamps, and the sink water pump.
12.5 amps is a fairly heavy load. If you want to run the fridge on 12
volts, you need another 8. 12.5 amps should be feed by 14 gauge wire.
With 2-3 weeks run time for the fridge on propane, I see no reason the
run it on battery when parked anyway. For your 12.5 amp load, you will
only get a few hours (4-5), on fully charged optima. It takes many hours
of driving the charge a battery so keep in mind how this will be used.
Fuse holder can be obtained at a good auto parts store, JC Whitney, or
radio Shack.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
Of Mark Belanger
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2003 4:03 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Power plans and questions
Pokes,
I've got a fairly heavy power requirement for a project and will be
drawing about 12.5A from a device kept under the sink. I've decided to
install an Optima under the drivers seat and follow the guidance on the
Vanagon site. From there, I'm going to tap into one of the two red
wires used to power the fridge and light. My goal is to make minimal
changes and avoid running any lengthy new lines.
Some questions:
1) How much current does the Dometic draw? Between that and the 12.5A
I'm planning to pull, can those stock wires handle the load? (Note that
I assume the wire on the right is what powers the cabin light and the
wire on the left powers the Dometic. The plan is to tap the cabin light
wire and put in a heavier fuse)
2) Is anyone aware of a drop-in spade fuse receptacle I could use to
replace what's currently there? No sense in carry two kinds of fuses,
but I'd like to keep the original VW case that encloses it.
3) Can I assume the wire that connects to terminal 85 on the relay is
hot on ignition? That's what it appears like in Bentley 97.225, but I'm
not sure whether I'm reading the diagram correctly.
Thanks,
-MB
--
_______________________________________________________________________
Mark Belanger - belanger@fluid.com
