Date: Fri, 8 Jul 2005 10:30:06 -0700
Reply-To: Tom Sinclair <neeemo@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tom Sinclair <neeemo@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Optima Battery safety question
In-Reply-To: <19c.36e9a383.2fffaf1b@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
I lined the battery box and underseat area with
not-metallic Dyna-mat for noise suppression and to
protect from shorting to the body.
Tom
--- Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM> wrote:
> In a message dated 08/07/2005 12:10:50 AM Eastern
> Daylight Time,
> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
> Here's what I did on one install:
>
> http://www.californiavan.com/battery/Battery.html
>
> 1) Remove the upper turntable if the van has Westy
> seats then chop
> about 1 1/2 inches away from the rear section of
> the lower turntable
> base. (see photo) I used a Dremel cutting wheel to
> remove the
> section.
>
> 2) Use the Optima without side terminals, the way
> nothing can short
> to the battery cover tin.
>
> 3) Shim the battery compartment with wood blocks to
> keep the battery
> from moving about.
>
> 4) Cover the positive terminals with an old rubber
> inner tube just to
> be extra safe.
>
> 5) Use a Surepower model 1315 battery separator
> instead of the wimpy
> VW relay. While the Surepower is a tad expensive
> at $70, it's the
> best possible way to hook up two batteries in a
> Vanagon. Intelligent
> charging, automatic separation when engine is off
> and automatic 2nd
> battery starter assist for those times when you
> left the park lights
> on....it's also compatible with Subaru alternators
> and the VW
> alternator idiot light without having to do any
> extra wiring.
>
>
>
> This is pretty much how I do them here except in
> Westys I keep the Optima
> standing up and cut holes in the cover for the
> terminals to clear. A thin
> layer of insulating material on top of the battery
> will allow the seat to swivel
> and not make contact with the positive terminal
> without any modification to
> the seat swivel base. Covered with the carpet that
> is there the slight rise
> in height above the original is not noticeable and
> causes no inconvenience.
> I've done an install in a CARAT and laid the
> battery on its side as youv'e
> explained and that works just fine with no mods
> needed. The Sure Power 1315 is
> certainly the right way to install an Optima Yellow
> top in a Vanagon. Works
> perfectly and that Optima is always charged right
> up quickly when the engine
> is started. A couple of other options I often
> include when I do these AUX
> battery installs: a second 12 volt outlet on the
> dash connected to both
> batteries with a transfer switch with a digital
> volt meter plug in so one can keep
> and eye on the charging of both batteries by a flip
> of the switch and give a
> second 12 volt power outlet when needed and a 300 ~
> 400 watt power inverter
> hardwired to the AUX battery. This set up will
> give you all the power options
> you'll ever need unless you want the micro wave
> oven option ;-)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Frank Condelli
> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> _BusFusion_
> (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW
> Camper
> camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
> '87 Westy, '90 Carat & 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
>
http://www.TomSinclair.com
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