In a message dated 25/02/2004 1:41:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes: The best way to connect a second battery is connect the 2 batteries together with heavy gauge battery wire of as short a run as feasible. Put a heavy duty switch or relay in between the batteries. You can mount the relay under the driver's seat along with the second battery and use the Westy fridge relay to control the battery relay. Mark, this is intriguing. I have the Optima yellow top as second battery using the fridge relay and 12 gauge wire between the main battery and the relay to the Optima. The battery never does seem to get charged properly and looses voltage quickly while sitting for a few days with only the radio's back lights and LCD clock running. I've been wondering about this situation for a while now and your suggestion seems like the most plauible reason and way to solve this problem. What route have you found to be the best to pass the 02 or 03 battery cable from the main battery to the aux battery ? Under the van or in the van under the carpet ? Are you using a starter solonoid for the main relay ? Do you not find that when the aux battery is completely drained that the main battery will dump half its load to the aux battery immediately upon starting the vehicle, or will the alternator charge rate be able to keep this from being a problem ? This is the main reason I chose to use the 12 gauge wire fom the main battery to the aux battery relay. Cheers, Frank Condelli Almonte, Ontario, Canada _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 10 ~ 13, 2004 '87 Westy & Lionel Trains Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_ (http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/) & _CCVWC_ (http://www.ccvwc.ca/) Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley _STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Mufflers_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) _Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html) or http://frankcondelli.com |
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