Date:         Sat, 17 Apr 2004 23:28:11 -0400
Reply-To:     "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Daniel L. Katz" <katzd54@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solar panel battery charger, where to plug in

sam:

i suggest having a helper plug and unplug the unit into the cigarette
lighter, with sun shining, while the voltage is measured across each
battery. an analog meter is best, and the swing of the needle will show at
once whether the solar charger is connected across the particular
batttery. this way, you'll know for sure what is going on.

also, not inconceivable that po has a relay in there somewhere that is
only energized when the engine is running, just to complicate things.

dan

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 12:23:39 -0400, Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
wrote:

>I am about to buy a simple solar panel charger that plugs into a
>cigarette lighter type socket.  I will primarily use it in now in my 85
>Westy Weekender which has the factory dual battery setup.  The radio
>runs off the starter battery, but I will be using the auxiliary battery
>to run the laptop and other accessories we will use for camping and
>astronomy.  Many astronomy camp outs / star parties are away from plug
>in power supplies, which a PO set up in my weekender.
>
>Will the auxiliary battery charge if the unit is plugged into the
>cigarette lighter or must I switch the solar unit to the plug under the
>passenger seat to charge the auxiliary battery?
>
>--
>Sam Walters
>Baltimore, MD
>
>89 Syncro GL
>85 Westy Weekender
>
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