> I've often wondered why more owners don't do as I do with my aux > battery and that is relay it so it supplies the "entire electrical > system" (actually supplies just to fuse panel under dash) when the > ign key is off. Entire that is but for starter motor. > ... > The advantage is that one can wire accessories straight into the > stock electrical system.
I initially considered this approach myself, but I just didn't have enough faith in the stock electrical system. Instead I have largely routed all accessory loads (plus headlights) through an aircraft circuit breaker panel (salvage from a C-141) installed in the aux battery well under the driver's seat (my aux battery is under the rear bench). The panel is fed by a 6ga wire from the aux battery, and most of the small loads are fed by 12 or 14 gauge stranded wire, and four 10ga runs for the individual headlight circuits. I like being able to manually shut off individual loads by pulling the breaker, and also not having to struggle with replacing blown fuses during installation and testing. Reaching behind the seat and pulling the fuel pump breaker also makes for a somewhat effective anti-theft device. The one pain is that I spent a LOT of time stringing wires under the van. (possibly amusing pics for people who like to see wires follow) <http://blue.foodhammer.net/panel1.jpg> <http://blue.foodhammer.net/panel2.jpg>
-- John Bange '90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger" |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.