Date: Sat, 16 Oct 2004 09:03:44 +0930
Reply-To: bobbol@ADAM.COM.AU
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bob Bolton <bobbol@ADAM.COM.AU>
Subject: Re: Dual Battery Switch
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi there. I use a rotary marine switch, mounted under the driver's seat just
forward of one battery. (The other battery is under the passenger seat).It's
about 5" diameter and 2 inches high, and these things are very solid. It has 4
positions: "Off", "1", "Both", "2". A lever has to be depressed to move it from
any position, which I find a good safety feature.
I have to slide the seat forward to adjust the switch, and have often thought
of
having it remounted where I don't have to do that, but otherwise, I like it -
it gives me a lot of control. Normally, I run the van with 'Both' selected, to
charge both batteries, and use alternate batteries each night, so that each is
getting the same kind of treatment. Also, if one battery died, or had to be lent
to another vehicle, I could select the other for starting and driving, without
fiddling about shifting things.
There's just one important trick with these switches, that I remember from when
I had them in boats: NEVER switch them past "Off" with the engine running.
Apparently this could blow the diodes in your alternator in a boat, so I
presume it could do something similar in a car.
My procedure is:
.Stop for the night
.Switch to "1" or "2"
.In the morning, switch to the other battery for starting ("2" or "1") if
you've
had a big current drain during the night.
.When the engine's running, switch to "Both" - BUT NOT BY GOING PAST "OFF"!
I leave the van stored for long periods when I am out of the country, and it's
easier to just switch to "Off" to isolate both batteries, than playing around
with spanners. Also means that I am asking a bit less of friends or relatives
to start the motor and run the van up and down the drive, every now and then.
Also, if I want to work on wiring or something, it's an easier disconnect.
An auto electrician told me this is old technology, and wanted to replace it
all
with a relay. But I like things simple, that I can easily see - and I like the
options and control this gives me.
Bob Bolton
Adelaide
South Australia
84 Sopru Conversion Transporter Campervan
Quoting Automatic digest processor <LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>:
> Date: Fri, 15 Oct 2004 09:33:21 -0700
> From: aircooled chris <aircooledchris@EUCASAFARI.VENDIOWEB.COM>
> Subject: dual battery switch
>
> Would it be ok to use a marine switch to separate two batteries that
> would switch everything on your van over to a different battery when needed?
>
> Or would it be bad to actually run the vanagon with everything connected
> to the aux battery?
>
> I just figured that while camping, you could use the starter battery to
> get you going, but after a night of camping, switch over to the aux
> battery during the following day of driving, so you can fully charge it
> again before the next night of use?
>
> thanks for any tips!
>
> cr
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