Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2008 19:22:33 -0700
Reply-To: Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Philip Zimmerman <philzimm1@OBERON.ARK.COM>
Subject: Re: Optima Blue D31M
In-Reply-To: <E1K3dSm-0007zN-EV@garm.runbox.com>
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Ooh Monseigneur, I thought to error was a human quality and to forgive
divine?
Anyway, you have been really scrutinizing the Optima stuff with an
eagle-eye to pick-up on my omission/oversight of the Optima Blue-Top
34M model. Not only are Optima's colour-coded ontop but, the lower
cases are also colour-coded... (Light-Grey=Deep-Cycle/Cranking and
Dark-Grey=Cranking only). Thanks for bringing this specification into
the light for all to see.
Wow, no wonder Optima's cost so much with all this colour coordination
going into their manufacture.
A couple of comments on your scrutiny of charging voltages. A couple of
tenths of a volt here and there will not have a significant impact on
charging a battery in general. The voltage to shoot-for (assuming
Alternator charging) is around 14.2 to 14.6 volts for an AGM in general
and assuming a "bulk charge" rate. Each Manufacturer will have their
own "sweet-spot" though. As an aside, "bulk" charging is all that one
gets off the crude charging system found on most automobile alternators
anyway. My belabouring point here is the stock Vanagon alternator is at
best, around 13.8 volts which is marginally poor for charing any AGM
battery that I've researched.
Charging at 14.5 volts will perhaps blow-out a few of the older
light-bulbs in your Vanagon. A few of mine when-south soon after I
installed the Isolator. Since then, I haven't noticed abnormal
bulb-failure though. Most 12 volt-DC electronic-things have a wide
tolerance for varying input voltages. Worth scrutinizing what you chose
to install though. Most accept anything from 12.0 to 15.0 VDC in
general. The thing to look for is the low voltage shut-off
specification (look for stuff that will still operate on voltages as
low as 11.5-11.75 vdc.
Is this gas (battery outgassing) flammable?
The primary element would be Hydrogen, along with a bit of very acrid
Sulfuric-Acid vapours.
Nasty stuff and yes the Hydrogen is very flammable. I too, would
give-pause, if installing a big bank of Wet-Cell Batteries in an
enclosed space with a propane furnace, sealed combustion or otherwise.
Each to his/her own but, I personally don't really enjoy sharing living
space with batteries. I prefer them to reside outside or at least in a
sealed and vented enclosure. Most of us Vanagoneers know of folks that
have all variations of batteries stuffed and shoe-horned into their
Vans. Heck, the non-camper versions don't have sealed and vented
battery boxes! Life is risky.... so eat desert first!
I too, gotta ask Mgr. and I recall my friend Dennis Haynes from the
right-coast asked this awhile ago; what are you building-up here, where
you require 4 batteries in your Van...... sez one who already has three
in his (1-cranking and 2-55 amp/hr Optima deep~)?
regards
Phil Z.
----------------------
On Jun 3, 2008, at 1:50 PM, M'obeechi wrote:
I have to point out an error. There are three blue tops, one of which
is not for deep cycling.
As far as the upgrade of the alternator regulator to 14.2 volts, it
would be sensible to simply get two blue tops and use one as the
starting battery. Then you don't have to worry about boiling the
regular type. But you seem to prefer the 14.5 Sure Power Isolator
option. (I guess this means an exterior regulator can't be taken to
14.5 volts). So changing to 14.2 or 14.5 doesn't cause problems with
any of your other electronics (like cigarette plugs and such, inverters
et). I'm only considering these two battery types for under the rear
seat placement - so size is not an issue (though I do plan on having
two smaller deep cycles under the front seats per Frank's citation of
an oem type AGM).
The out-gassing possibility of the standard automotive battery, coupled
with use a propane heater like the Propex is enough to give me pause.
Is this gas flammable?
