Date: Sun, 4 May 2003 14:44:09 -0700
Reply-To: Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mark Drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: dual battery relay
In-Reply-To: <20030504185045.2010.qmail@web14512.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Harold has a good diagram for adding a second battery to a Westy using
the light duty relay method. Here is the link.
http://www.geocities.com/harald_nancy/images/dualbattery_diagram2.jpg
For those who want to use a larger relay and suitably larger wires a
minor change is suggested to the relay control lead connections. Even
those using the smaller stuff could make this change and then the
connections to the existion wiring would be slightly less intrusive and
more versatile. On the new relay, instead of hooking it to the existing
black wire, ground the wire coming from new relay terminal 85 or its
equivalent on a larger relay. Use the mounting screw of either relay for
this ground. Then connect the wire from new relay terminal 86 or it's
equivalent to terminal 30 of the existing relay. Use a piggyback
female-double male adaptor.
In this way there is no damage to the existing wire insulation and the
added relay does not present any additional load to the D+ lead of the
alternator. The added relay is instead controlled by the existing relay
and only activates when the existing one does. I have installed numerous
heavy duty aux bat relays in this manner on other Westys.
For those who install a big relay and wires there is an added benefit of
this control lead change. The aux battery can be more easily used to
jump the main battery for starting. If you have a Westy with the 2 fuses
behind the driver's seat it is really easy. Remove the cover from the
the 2 fuses and short accross the tops of them with a coin. You will
hear the aux bat relay click and the batteries are hooked together for
as long as you hold the coin in place (unless the main bat is really
dead). Those without these fuses or those wanting to be able to do this
even with the main bat really dead can add a momentary switch by wiring
one in between terminal 86 and 30 of the aux relay. Write for more
details if you need them.
Mark
Harald Rust wrote:
>Merv,
>You can read about it on my website:
>http://www.geocities.com/harald_nancy/
>Harald
>click here if you like to talk about
>vw camping:
>http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/vw-camping/
>
>Merv wrote:
>Any one know where I can find the schematics
>for the dual battery relay?
>Merv
>
>
>
>