Date:         Thu, 11 Nov 2004 12:40:31 -0800
Reply-To:     Joel VanderKwaak <joelvanderkwaak@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joel VanderKwaak <joelvanderkwaak@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      aux battery + jump starting
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Howdy,

I have an aux battery, isolated from my main using a Hellroaring
isolator. I run an amp, cd changer, and a 45L Engel fridge off the
aux, and have everything else (lights, radio, etc) running off the
main.

Hellroaring has a nicely designed product (remote module) that allows
one to connect the aux to the main with the flip of a switch, allowing
you to jump-start the van off the aux. I installed this setup several
years ago for my trips to Mexico so that I'd only drain the aux
running the fridge, and, if the main was discharged, I'd get some help
from a (hopefully charged) aux.

Yesterday I left my lights on at work, and my main battery was dead at
the end of day. No sweat, I thought, as I'm boyscout-prepared for just
this scenario: I'll just 'jump' the van using the aux. I flipped the
switch, the lights came on, the fuel pump started humming, but... not
enough juice to turn the engine over. Dang, I was glad I wasn't on
some remote beach.

So, now I'm thinking this aux setup doesn't add the safety factor I'd
envisioned, and was wondering if anyone else out there has a setup
that actually works in this scenario. I'm considering adding an
additional battery to the aux side of the circuit, for example.

For the record, the Hellroaring isolator is setup in the 'basic'
method, meaning I've run a wire from the main battery to the aux,
routing power through isolator. The aux battery is an Optima
Yellowtop, and the main is what came with the van when I bought it
(std starting battery). I may replace the main in any case, as I don't
know how old it is or how often it's been drained.

Thanks in advance,

Joel