Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2003 12:22:17 -0400
Reply-To: "sam.cooks" <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "sam.cooks" <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Subject: Electrical / Westy weekender 2nd battery questions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Folks,
I recently acquired a 1985 Westy Weekender. I have accomplished the
repairs necessary to get it inspected and on the road with permanent
tags. So now I want to use it.
The van has a 2nd battery as I think is common to these models. The
battery in there is a starter type battery - identical to the main one.
(When it dies, I'll switch to deep discharge or golf cart batteries.)
It seems to be good - disconnected from everything it reads 13 V on the
multimeter (12.5 for the starting battery). What does it do though?
Everything on the dash shuts down when the primary battery is
disconnected. The van has the "silver" plug on the side of the front
passenger seat, but that appears to be the only possible means of
connecting to the 2nd battery. Does it power this plug? It seems I
remember reading on vanagon.com that this plug doesn't work with the
same adapters that fit the cigarette lighter and the usually DC
accessories. Nothing happens when I plug two items in and it appears
that the contacts points inside don't match.
So, how can I get some power out of this battery? If you have posted
what you did to a website or one of the lists, just point me in the
right direction and I'll look it up. No need to retype anything. I am
mostly interested in having DC power available, i.e., more DC plugs in
the rear, but probably also will install an inverter.
A PO installed a 120V box under the van and AC power can come in to a
household type box mounted inside through an extension cord from a
campground or home hookup (nice when you are working on the van), plus
to another on the small shelf just inside the rear hatch at the rear of
the AC unit.
I have read some of the posts / web sites of people who have had to
install their own 2nd battery. I have a parts van (87 vanagon) and can
take the fuse box, relays, etc. from it to use in this project.
Any help appreciated. I can solder and wire pretty well from my days of
model railroading with my son, but haven't learned much about auto
electronics, relays, isolators, etc.
Sam
--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD
89 Syncro GL
85 Westy Weekender, new to me 8/01/03
84 Vanagon, original owner, soon to be retired, just too many problems
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