Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 07:00:44 EDT
Reply-To: RAlanen@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
Subject: Re: isolator voltages
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
In a message dated 09/05/2004 12:09:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
I'm curious as to what voltages would be normal for 2 batteries w/ a
surepower isolator. My main battery seems to have bitten the dust, I
killed it leaving the "headlights" (the parking lights, etc which remain
on after engine is turned off) on overnight. The battery would take no
charge at all, I could start it from the aux battery, but it would take
no charge at all, after an hour of engine running. So today I installed
a new battery, and things seem ok, for the moment.
My alternator puts out 13.8v.
Each of the batteries, with engine on, read 12.8 - 12.98
As I understand it, the voltage should be OVER 13 while engine is
running. Engine off, the batteries are at 12.6 or 12.7
So the isolator is giving them each a little extra voltage, but not as
much as I would expect. I am fairly new to DC electricity in vehicle
context, so if anyone can help me test to make sure my isolator is set
up properly, and my alternator is working correctly, I would appreciate
it. I'm reading "Managing 12Volts", which is a great book, but its
basically telling me I need to measure evertying at 80 degrees.
I'm paranoid that I screwed up the isolator install somehow, and the
batteries are just slowly draining (the install was a month ago, and
things seemed ok).
Rob, I've got pretty much the same set up you have so my info may be of use
to you. I don't see what you aux battery is but mine is an Optima Yellow
Top. Standard group 41 as main battery and the Sure Power battery isolator. I
have installed a digital voltmeter connected to the two batteries with a
switch so I can check either of the two anytime I want by flipping the switch.
Readings I get normally are exactly what your getting. With motor running and
only the radio/CD player back lights and digital dash clock on the aux
battery I get between 13.3 ~ 13.9 on both batteries. With engine off I see 12.5
to 11.5 depending on the battery and time the engine has been off. There is
nothing running off the main battery with engine off and only radio/CD back
lights and digital dash clock on the aux battery.
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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