Date: Tue, 7 Sep 2004 03:56:40 +0000
Reply-To: Chris DeLong <green536@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Chris DeLong <green536@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Battery LEDs = Useful life?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
ok good detail here. I should have pointed out that you should not cut the
posts off BELOW where they expose themselves from the plastic casing.
Also, all of my references to this subject are referring to mounting a
yellow top optima to a westy/swivel seat vanagon. Nothing that I have stated
should be done with a lead acid battery or a "wet" battery.
Good disclaimer. I concur. That is why I am a little adamant about this as I
just did this to a customers vehicle and was very careful and put alot of
thinking into making it safe and reliable for him.
Chris DeLong
Fine Tuning
206.522.5503
www.finetuningperformance.com
Seattle, WA USA
>From: "Vince S" <gipsyflies@comcast.net>
>To: "'Chris DeLong'" <green536@HOTMAIL.COM>,<vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>Subject: RE: Battery LEDs = Useful life?
>Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004 19:30:25 -0700
>
>It is true that you could ruin the battery by cutting the top posts off
>if you don't know what you are doing. There are a few perils.
>
>1) The side posts rely on the integrity of the top post to form the
>connection for the huge amount of current the battery is capable of
>delivering. The construction of the top post is not a solid cylinder. It
>is actually more like a cap which slips onto another post which is
>connected to the innards of the battery cell. Cutting the top post means
>cutting across both and tends to severe the connection between the two
>and leaving a circular gap. After you cut the terminal flush you will
>have to fill the gap with solder and it is not something everyone can do
>without the right tool.
>
>2) While you cut the posts off with a heck saw there is chance the lead
>filing can fall into the battery cells thru the gaps I mentioned. The
>lead filing can short out the cells. I stand the battery on it's side to
>cut and then use a very powerful vacuum to suck out the filing.
>
>3) The reconstructed connections tend to be weaker so you should never
>attempt this mod on the starting battery nor should you use the battery
>for very heavy load. In my case I draw less than 20A max.
>
>Disclaimer: Please do not perform this mod unless you feel competent and
>willing to take personal responsibility if something goes wrong.
>
>
>
>- Vince
>
>http://gipsyflies.home.comcast.net
>1989 Vanagon GL Camper
>1993 Mazda Miata (for sale)
>1996 Land Rover Discovery
>2005 Mini Cooper S
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>Of Chris DeLong
>Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 6:52 PM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Battery LEDs = Useful life?
>
>
>actually, you cannot ruin the battery (esp a gel cell) by cutting the
>top posts off. not to mention the fact that what you are suggesting is
>that one should cut the body of the vanagon (not replacable very easily)
>to fit something that will wear out. Kinda like modifying brake calipers
>to fit brake pads. On top of that, if you did notch the swivel this
>would not allow you to rotate the seat all around as the corner of the
>swivel would contact the top of the battery because you would have to
>shim the battery up so the terminals dont short on the body. Sorry for
>the run-on.
>
>I spent a long time on a customers van that insisted on a yellow top
>optima. there was no other option. as it is there is still very little
>clearance between where the side terminals are connected to the system
>with respect to seat swivel.
>
>regards,
>
>Chris DeLong
>Fine Tuning
>206.522.5503
>www.finetuningperformance.com
>Seattle, WA USA
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: Tom Sinclair <neeemo@YAHOO.COM>
> >Reply-To: Tom Sinclair <neeemo@YAHOO.COM>
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Re: Battery LEDs = Useful life?
> >Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004 17:31:20 -0700
> >
> >I don't think you have to cut the posts off--in fact
> >you could ruin the battery doing that. You have to cut
> >notches in the seat swivel so the posts will pass
> >through when laying the Optima on its side with the
> >posts facing the front of the van.
> >
> >Tom
> >
> >
> >--- Chris DeLong <green536@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> >
> > > in order to install an optima into a westy with
> > > swivel seats, the terminals
> > > on top must be cut off. That is of course if you are installing it
> > > under the front seat.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Chris DeLong
> > > Fine Tuning
> > > 206.522.5503
> > > www.finetuningperformance.com
> > > Seattle, WA USA
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: Vince S <gipsyflies@COMCAST.NET>
> > > >Reply-To: Vince S <gipsyflies@COMCAST.NET>
> > > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > >Subject: Re: Battery LEDs = Useful life?
> > > >Date: Mon, 6 Sep 2004 13:40:29 -0700
> > > >
> > > >Mike,
> > > >
> > > >I don't know if all Vanagon Westy with shivel seats
> > > are the same though
> > > >I will be surprised if they aren't. Looks like Sean
> > > has a 90 Vanagon.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >- Vince
> > > >
> > > >http://gipsyflies.home.comcast.net
> > > >1989 Vanagon GL Camper
> > > >1993 Mazda Miata (for sale)
> > > >1996 Land Rover Discovery
> > > >2005 Mini Cooper S
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > >From: Vanagon Mailing List
> > > [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> > > >Of Michael Elliott
> > > >Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 1:28 PM
> > > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > >Subject: Re: Battery LEDs = Useful life?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >What?!? Because I have shriveled seats I have to
> > > hack and chop the
> > > >yellowtop Optima that I just ordered??? Rats. I
> > > thought the thing would
> > > >fit on its side.
> > > >
> > > >I was /wondering/ why the pictures on Sean's site
> > > >(http://www.vgonman.com/auxbat.htm) showed so much
> > > room under the
> > > >seats!!
> > > >
> > > >Grumble, grumble.
> > > >
> > > >Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> > > >71 VW Type 2 / 84 Westy: A poor but proud race.
> > > >KG6RCR
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Vince S wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >Bill,
> > > > >
> > > > >I assume your 87 Westy has shrivel seats. Given
> > > that the only car size
> > > > >battery that will fit in the aux battery
> > > compartment is the Group 41
> > > > >battery just like the one under the passenger
> > > seat. This battery is the
> > > >
> > > > >easiest to install it fits like a pair of glove.
> > > I used this for years.
> > > >
> > > > >You can order the battery hold down bar from VW
> > > or find one from a
> > > > >wrecked Vanagon.
> > > > >
> > > > >The drawback of the group 41 battery is it is a
> > > starting battery and
> > > > >down work well if you draw the battery down very
> > > low. On the flip side
> > > > >is you can get them so cheap so that may not
> > > matter.
> > > > >
> > > > >Many folks including myself installed the Optima
> > > yellow top (deep
> > > > >cycle) or red top (good starting battery) but it
> > > requires some
> > > > >modification to the battery which can be a lot of
> > > work. Vanagon without
> > > >
> > > > >the Shrivel seats can fit the Optima on it's side
> > > which requires
> > > > >securing the battery so the positive terminal
> > > does not short out to the
> > > >
> > > > >chassis. Either of the Optima battery performs
> > > significantly better
> > > > >than the group 41 due to the spiral wound glass
> > > fabric construction.
> > > > >
> > > > >I have a page on my site about the modification I
> > > have to perform.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >- Vince
> > > > >
> > > > >http://gipsyflies.home.comcast.net
> > > > >1989 Vanagon GL Camper
> > > > >1993 Mazda Miata (for sale)
> > > > >1996 Land Rover Discovery
> > > > >2005 Mini Cooper S
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > >From: Vanagon Mailing List
> > > [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> > > >
> > > > >Of William Alexander
> > > > >Sent: Monday, September 06, 2004 7:35 AM
> > > > >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > > >Subject: Re: Battery LEDs = Useful life?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >Forgive me if I'm asking about a common knowledge
> > > question - but is
> > > > >there a preferred battery to buy for the aux
> > > battery space under the
> > > > >seat - I keep hearing mention that normal
> > > batteries won't fit there? I
> > > > >definitely plan on adding one to mine but am not
> > > sure which battery to
> > > > >purchase.
> > > > >
> > > > >A second similar question on a different subject:
> > > > >
> > > > >Is there a popular heater of some sort that folks
> > > use to generate heat
> > > > >inside the van on cold nights? some small
> > > kerosene heater or something
> > > > >like that?
> > > > >
> > > > >Thanks for the help
> > > > >
> > > > >William Alexander
> > > > >Roanoke, VA
> > > > >1987 Westy - searching for a name
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >On Sep 6, 2004, at 10:06 AM, Vince S wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >>Mike,
> > > > >>
> > > > >>Just returned back from a back to back trips,
> > > first into the Gorge
> > > > >>then to Southern Oregon. When I was in the
> > > Eastern Gorge amoung 25 or
> > > > >>so vehicles in the state park there were 8
> > > Vanagon Westfalia. At
> > > > >>Pistol River sailing spot there were 3 among 12
> > > vehicles! The weather
> > > > >>is cooler now making very comfortable camping in
> > > the Westy. Even got
> > > > >>to use the furnace in the cool morning a bit.
> > > > >>
> > > > >>For a few years I had only the primary battery.
> > > Those were the years I
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >>didn't have all the modern electronics as I do
> > > now. With one battery
> > > > >>you really have to be sure it is in good
> > > condition and secondly use it
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >>very sparingly and leave a lot of safety margin.
> > >
> >=== message truncated ===
> >
> >
> >
> >
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