Date:         Tue, 26 Jun 2007 06:29:40 -0600
Reply-To:     Paul Chubbuck <paul@TAKINGFLIGHT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Paul Chubbuck <paul@TAKINGFLIGHT.NET>
Subject:      2nd battery article by Dennis Haynes
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

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