Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 14:17:39 -0700
Reply-To: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Mike \"Rocket J Squirrel\" Elliott" <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Westy large battery capacity options
In-Reply-To: <46B8D978.8030104@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Mark, no comments, suggestions or criticisms on this idea out of me.
Just a request that if you do get it rigged up, take some photos and
share them with us. It sounds like a pretty cool and ambitious idea.
Oh, and what size or model number wheelchair battery are you looking at?
I'd like to look at the specs.
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR
On 8/7/2007 1:43 PM Mark Drillock wrote:
> As more of us including myself look at going with newer electric only
> refrigerators, total battery capacity and charging systems become topics
> of broader interest. The simple approach is just to get 1 or 2 large
> deep cycle batteries and fit them into existing storage space inside the
> cabinets. I can't accept the loss of this space without first examining
> my other options.
>
> I am now considering 2 variations of a 3 bank battery system, using sets
> of sealed deep cycle wheelchair batteries arrayed in banks. None of this
> replaces the stock starter battery which I would retain in stock form.
>
> The battery size under consideration comes in 18-22 Amp Hour versions.
> It costs $30-50, depending on capacity, source and shipping costs. I
> have found a source for the 22 Ah at about $40 including shipping if
> ordered in pairs. Since it is a standard size used in wheelchairs it is
> readily available and in quantity.
>
> One of the long struggled with limitations of Vanagons is the size of
> the battery compartments under the front seats. Other than a couple of
> standard European size automotive starting batteries there is no single
> battery that fits well without hacking. Over the years I have read on
> this list of people who used wheelchair batteries but only recently did
> I pay attention to just how well a set of these can actually fit.
> Thanks, Karl Mullendore! These batteries are also sold by Solar power
> equipment suppliers.
>
> These are the right height and up to 4, yes FOUR, will fit side by side
> in the stock battery compartment. At 12 volts and 22 amp hours each that
> is far more capacity than an Optima and a lower cost and better fit.
>
> My current thinking is to fit 2 banks of 3 batteries each under the
> floor in the sliding door area. A third bank of 3 would be under the
> drivers seat. This would give 3 matching banks of 66 Ah each, 198 Ah
> total. The cost of these nine batteries would total about what 2 Optimas
> cost but at nearly double the total capacity and much battery fitments.
>
> A second option along the same lines is to make each bank out of 4
> batteries instead of 3. I may give this a go once I have enough
> batteries in hand. I am nearly certain they will fit but I'm not certain
> that the difficulty of fitment, added cabling, and tighter service
> access is worth the extra 66 Ah this version would provide. With a total
> of 264 Ah this is the capacity of about 5 Optimas but without giving up
> any interior space and costing only about what 3 Optimas would.
>
> Two of the 3 or 4 battery bank sets would be mounted up under the floor,
> on hinged access trays, with each bank able to be lowered separately.
> The 4 battery per bank version might be so tight as to require short
> wire straps as suspension hinges since there may be not enough room to
> swing one end down so it would need to be lowered all at once.
>
> May plan would be to use the 2 under floor banks as fridge power only
> batteries and the third bank would be for my other camping needs. As
> stated my starter battery would remain the stock setup.
>
> Comments, suggestions, criticisms, all welcomed.
>
> Mark
>
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