Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 13:44:09 -0400
Reply-To: dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: Trickle Charger (follow up 182 Amps)
In-Reply-To: <3a5856020607241014r4ec60764v1cf8b687d2f52427@mail.gmail.com>
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340 watts is a about a 28 amp draw. Way to much for the Optima for any lenght of time. Batteries should be sized for a 5 hour discharge to 80% DOD, (depth of discharge), minumum. The Optima is rated at ~ 55 A/H to 100% DOD. You really need 3 to do the job. 2 will do for short time periods.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian McCartney <monoscope@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Monday, July 24, 2006 1:14 pm
Subject: Re: Trickle Charger (follow up 182 Amps)
> I'm curious if you had problems with the Surepower isolator…
> …I've got one and an optima that's always been a little bit of a pain
> in the ass.
> The Surepower isolator was recommended to me by an electrical guy
> as I
> run a pretty big amp (340w) off the spare battery.
>
>
>
> On 7/24/06, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
> > RE: Aux Batteries
> > I've stayed out of the various recent battery threads because I
> don't have
> > anything to contribute beyond what was being said. But Dennis
> just made a
> > good point that I want to second based on my experience over the
> last 10+
> > years, first with an '85 Westy with a Surepower isolator and the
> last four
> > plus years with a '90 Westy and the basic relay setup. I've
> only used a
> > stock Group 41 lead acid starting battery for the aux battery
> from day one.
> > Simple reasons: ease of install and cheap. I went through 2
> 1/2 batteries
> > in ten years in the '85, one so far (replaced the battery that
> came with) on
> > the '90. For the price of a Group 41 at Costco (no longer
> carrried in my
> > local store) or at Wallyworld I can go through three or four
> batteries> before I meet the cost of an Optima yellow top and
> don't have the hassle of
> > mounting the Optima. I play the stereo a couple of hours a day,
> run a
> > laptop an hour a day or so (process pictures and watching the
> news on TV)
> > and have gone to all LED bulbs internally (stock lighting plus
> three other
> > lights I've added). I just came in last night from six days and
> nights> parked without starting the Westy and when I packed up to
> leave there was
> > still plenty of juice left in the aux battery when I checked the
> meter I've
> > installed just to see.
> > So if you are a little miserly with the electric usage the
> cheapest and
> > easiest way to go is the stock Group 41 starter battery under
> the drivers
> > seat. KISS
> >
> > Footnote: If I were fulltimeing or doing a lot of extended
> camping I'd pick
> > up a little Honda generator, fill my spare gas can, fire up,
> plug in, sit
> > back and relax.
> >
>