Date:         Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:44:04 -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:  <bbb34d60910281159q527b06f9v36c84b6c4c634178@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Pshaw on noise filters for wires running sensitive devices.

Anything set up to run on the 12VDC in an automobile can certainly handle
the noise and rubbish on the line caused by a refrigerator, inverters,
windshield wiper motors, blowers, window openers, headlamps being powered
on and off. Unless one is putting in medical equipment or something
designed for 12VDC operation but NOT for automobiles or boats, one needn't
worry about baking normal car stuff.

I've run all kind of gadgets in my van,* like a little DVD player, an
amateur radio handy-talkie, the radio, laptop, iPod -- these things would
be powered off the aux battery while the refrigerator is running.

Noise filters an unnecessary complication. IMHO.

==============
* Yeah, yeah, I know not everyone camps like this, and truth be told I
seldomly use these things myself. We will leave arguments about what
constitutes "real" camping for the larger world where many folk camp out
of the back of a station wagon, out of a backpack, while boating, and even
with RVs. Try to get a consensus about what "real" camping is out of that
group. I bet that to many people, camping in a Westy isn't "real camping"
at all. The take-home point here is that the power in the van is plenty
clean for everyday 12VDC appliances.

--
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 11:59 AM Janne Ruohomäki wrote:

> On Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 7:43 PM, Timmy Evens <monkey_lips@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> i'm installing a DC 0400 Norcold fridge in my 83 westy. the manufacturer recommends not having any appliances wired between the auxiliary battery and the fridge as to avoid some fluctuation electrical phenomenon that i don't understand. i have a large gauge wire coming off an isolator in the engine compartment coming to an auxiliary battery under the front seat. i have an inverter wired off of the aux battery and was thinking of placing another larger deep cycle battery under the bench seat to boost total amp hours out of my auxiliary system. can anyone think of a reason why this wouldn't work?
>
> This fluctuarion is probaly disturbances caused by high reactive load
> by the engine in fridge and same thing that someoldtimes made
> disturbances on television when fridge started. Very bad for digital
> appliances. Battery can filter some of these and good one probably
> resists them better.
>
> Assuming You are connecting this exta auxiliary battery in parallel to
> the first auxiliary one (+ to + and - to -). Maybe check the max amp
> rating of Your isolator and also keep in mind that if You have 3
> batteries in Your van it is quite a load for Your alternator. Be
> careful with the wiring thou, max currents from those batteries will
> fry any wire (and the van) faster than ... . well.. faster than
> something alot faster than Your van. I would also avoid connecting
> other appliances to the same wire with the fridge and install a couple
> of noise filters anyway on wires that have sensitive devices.
>