Date:         Fri, 18 May 2007 18:37:16 -0400
Reply-To:     Troy Delnicki <colorworks@GCI.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Troy Delnicki <colorworks@GCI.NET>
Subject:      Re: GoWesty aux battery kit?? Bentley manual VS. blue factory
              repair manual??

>I am using the GoWesty aux battery kit with a 33AH deep cycle battery I
>purchased from Batteris Plus for $60 or so.  The kit is pretty good.  The
>solenoid and wiring can handle up to 50 amps.  the directions that came
>with the kit were not good.  In some instances they were wrong and in
>other instances their reccomendations were at odds with the
>reccomendations from the list.  In the end I used most of the hardware
>they supplied, but I wired it up quite a bit differently.  This was on an
>82 air cooled Westy.  In summary, the kit is fine, but be sure to verify
>that the supplied directions are accurate for your vehicle.

Interesting. I purchased the Go Westy kit, and found the instructions to
be invaluable, specifically with reference to cutting the wire at the back
of the fuse panel. Their instructions were right on the money, but then
again I have an 89.

The Go Westy kit also wires the Fridge and sink pump directly to the
battery, and this is not for everyone. Further, the kit uses 10 gauge
wire, which technically can only handle 30 amps, not 50. It would take
eight gauge wire for the full 50 amps. I also ran an eight gauge wire
directly from the main battery over the gas tank up through the floor and
then to the relay. I believe the kit uses the existing 10 gauge wire
already there.

I also installed a SPST 50 amp switched to bypass the relay. This is
useful for a few purposes. One, if you're using a battery charger you can
charge both batteries at once. If you kill your main battery for some
reason, you can flip the switch and trickle charge it with the auxiliary.
You could attempt to start the van directly, but would blow the breaker in
short order and possibly overheat the wires--not good!

Anyway, the solenoid can be picked up on eBay as well as the 50 amp
breaker for half the cost. The instructions for wiring the fuse panel were
worth the money to me, and just having the convenience of all the wires
cut was handy. The folks at Go Westy have to eat too, maybe not quite so
well, but...

Cheers,

Troy