Date:         Wed, 11 Aug 2004 09:01:00 -0700
Reply-To:     TJ Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         TJ Hannink <tjhannink@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Aux. Battery-Stereo Amp question
Comments: To: Mark Cumnock <kayakwesty@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2004081111241363@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Mark Cumnock <kayakwesty@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> The Aux Battery will be directly wired to the inverter,mounted behind the
> driver seat on the cabinet .

The inverter needs to have a fuse and properly sized battery cables running between it and the aux battery. For a Prowatt 1750 watt inverter, Xantrex (www.xantrex.com) recommends a 200-amp fuse and 2-gauge battery cables if they are under 2-feet long, 1-gauge if they are between 2-4 feet and 1/0 cables for 5 foot runs with a warning never to use cables longer than  5 feet.

I just installed a 2000 watt inverter/charger in my coach and spent around $80 for a 300-amp DC fuse and holder.

> The cig lighters , will be wired into aux battery so a solar charger can
> back feed the aux battery and charge it while camping.I have made a fuse
> panel to feed the extra circuits that will be powered off the aux battery.


I used to plug my solar panel into the lighter socket for my auxiliary battery. As long as current flow is low (less than 1-amp) you shouldn't need any type of charge controller to regulate the output of the solar panel.

> So my question . Is a 300 watt stereo amp to much to ask of the aux. deep
> cycle battery going down the road , with the radio and xm unit tied into
> the aux battery and a small fan to help blow cool air up front.


I run a 100 watt amplifier for my subwoofer, a 5.6" lcd monitor, a VHS player, TV tuner,  rear-view camera, my Dometic refrigerator plus whatever is plugged into the lighter socket in my camper without any issues when the van is running.

> The aux battery gets its power from a 10 awg wire from the relay under the
> driver's seat. Since the battery stores electrical energy ...that is why I
> am asking this , if it were just a straight feed off the 10 awg wire the
> standard answer would be no....

> Has anyone else tried this??

The auxiliary battery setup that came stock in non-GL campers uses a 30-amp relay and a 12-gauge wiring to connect it to the starter battery.


Good luck,


TJ Hannink
Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
1981 Bluebird Wanderlodge, FC-33
Winter Park, Florida
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink [Vanagon] Album
FAVOR website:  http://home.earthlink.net/~clubvanagon

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