Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 11:36:05 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Subject: Re: Overhead Westy light
In-Reply-To: <3B3DCE75-D9E3-4E61-99C2-EACA150A0195@uvic.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
Dennis,
been thinking over your criticisms about my electrical set up and I
still disagree with you. If my relay which separates the house from
starting battery fails during driving then the house battery takes
over supplying juice to all but the starter.
The car doesn't know the difference, the electrical path is the same.
Alistair
On 28-Jun-06, at 9:27 AM, Alistair Bell wrote:
Dennis,
I don't see the problem you envisage.
All aux lines i run from battery at rear up to stock fuse box are
fused in the little ux fuse box at battery. The house battery is
connected to main battery by realy when ign on (as is the standard
practice) and the connection line is fused.
There are no "cross connections".
If the relay fails when driving, as you outlined below, then the
fuses in the aux fuse box will blow, and or the inline fuse in the
house battery line.
Alistair
On 28-Jun-06, at 9:01 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
The problem with your idea is that you end up wit a bunch of cross
connections that not only make troubleshooting a problem, but should
something go wrong, make for a great fire starter. For example, your
headlights, through the ignition switch are powered from the original
battery, but the running lights are now on the auxiliary. When the
headlights are on, both batteries are effectively tied together. So,
if the charge relay or isolator r whatever stays open, (off), the
headlight switch and wiring is now the charging circuit. Run the
fridge 12 volts and few other loads plus the charge current for the
battery and you can easily put 40 amps or more through this circuit
designed for 15 and there is not a fuse anywhere. Make sure the
comprehensive insurance with fire is in place. Add a defctive cell in
the auxiliary battery and you can finish it quickly. Sounds drastic
but it has happened.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:40 am
Subject: Re: Overhead Westy light
> Hi,
>
> 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.
>
> In practice that means the running lights can be left on (but not
> headlights for that does require the key to be on the on position),
> but I haven't had any occasion where I have accidentally knocked the
> headlight switch on when camping.
>
> The advantage is that one can wire accessories straight into the
> stock electrical system.
>
> One other thing, I have a small aux fuse box wired into the battery
> (the cool little unit from late model Beetles/Golfs). This box has
> fusable links which I use to run : 1. additional wire to stock fuse
> panel, 2. additional wire to headlight relay, 3. wire to driving
> light. The box also has some spade type fuses for more take off
> points.
> My relay is mounted next to it and switches from starting battery to
> small gel cell house battery. The starter cable is not switched.
>
> This system has worked for me for a few years now.
>
> Alistair
>
>
> '82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94
> http://www.members.shaw.ca/albell/
>
> On 28-Jun-06, at 7:56 AM, Loren Busch wrote:
>
> You may find it easier to simply move ALL interior electrical stuff
> to the
> aux battery, including the radio, cigar lighter, etc. Check the
> archives
> for instructions on this. It involves running one wire from the aux
> battery
> to the fuse block. Where it attaches to the fuse block depends on
> what year
> Vanagon you are driving.
>
> On 6/27/06, Gilles Turmel <gilles.turmel@sympatico.ca> wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>> I want to connect my overhead Westy light to the fuse boxe powered
>> by my
>> auxilliary battery. Where is the best place to intercepted the
> power> wire feeding that light?
>> Best regards.
>> Gilles Turmel
>>
>
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