In the article about Dometic refrigerators by Derek Drew, he says: "Do not use a "dual battery isolator" to keep your two batteries separate because the VW 90 amp alternator supplied with the Vanagon doesn't push enough volts to overcome with grace the voltage drop that a standard dual battery isolator imposes. Instead, use very high power relays." I do have 2 batteries AND an isolator and have gone through more alternators than oil changes in the last couple of years and no VW mechanic has identified this as the problem, so this was a very important clue for me. However, for details and solutions, Derek refers to another article: "Dennis Haynes wrote an excellent technical article on his theories of how to install a second battery for this purpose in an early issue of the LiMBO newsletter". I have been unable to find this article either at LiMBO or elsewhere. Can anyone provide me a copy of or location of this article, or other reliable instructions on how to wire this differently so as not to keep burning out alternators? Thanks very much, Paul Chubbuck from Colorado |
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