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Date:         Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:36:48 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: fridge wiring question
In-Reply-To:  <86476e250910281056m38ad8f2fl67aad5aceebca393@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I think that Loren's advice about being cautious about wiring dissimilar batteries in parallel is worth considering. it is Received Wisdom and one should not go against it without accepting potential ugly outcomes.

But . . . not much is likely to go wrong if they are the same technology (e.g., sealed, AGM, gel, deep-cycle, whatever); and considering that folk routinely connect different tech batteries in parallel with their fancy Surepower 1315 or similar separators for charging which driving (starter battery + deep cycle, for example) then discharging, esp. at the low rates that one typically sees in normal Westy Life, should not cause much trouble, either.

The one area I might be cautious about is leaving dissimilar battery types connected together and running off one "smart" charger. This could flummox the charger's smarts which might lead to one battery being less happy than the other. Or two unhappy batteries.

Is my seat of the pants guess, anyway.

-- Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana") 74 Westrailia: (Ladybug Trailer company, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) Bend, OR KG6RCR

On 10/28/2009 10:56 AM Loren Busch wrote:

> On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 10:43 AM, Timmy Evens <monkey_lips@yahoo.com> wrote: > >> i'm installing a DC 0400 Norcold fridge in my 83 westy. t >> > > The way you put that it sounds like you are planning a second aux battery > under the back seat in parallel with an existing smaller battery already > under the drivers seat? If so most wisdom regarding batteries says not to > parallel batteries that are not identical. For my Norcold I have just one > aux battery, a Group 31 AGM, under the back seat. The Norcold is wired > directly to the aux battery and so is an inverter and other stuff. I have > not been aware of any problems with the Norcold because there are other > items running from the aux battery. >


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