While I was at GoWesty a few months ago, Chris showed me a larger house battery installed under the sink. I didn't look at it closely, other than to note that they cut down the lower shelf so the battery can sit on the floor. I would have bought the battery from GoWesty, but I haven't been back there lately. They sell it for the same price, $135, as my local Interstate dealer, who had mine ready to be picked up 24 hours after I ordered it. This weekend I adapted that idea to my Westy: http://mira.sbw.org/photos/20110808/P1000399/ I used the jig saw to cut down the little shelf and the drill to mount the battery hold-down bracket I whipped up from hardware store parts: http://mira.sbw.org/photos/20110808/P1000394/ The bracket is attached through the particle board to the sheet metal of the former battery box under the driver's seat using four AN bolts. A U bolt in the floor next to the battery lets me tie the battery down with a strap: http://mira.sbw.org/photos/20110808/P1000392/ The battery cables pass through a hole I drilled into the former battery box, which is now the wiring closet: http://mira.sbw.org/photos/20110808/P1000397/ Yes, it's a mess, but it's far better than before. I used a fuse block and a ground block from B&C Specialty Products. The ammeter shunt came with a nice Westach aviation volt/ohm panel meter that I haven't hooked up yet. There's lots of room for expansion. The battery is an Interstate SRM-29, about 100 amp-hours, more than twice the capacity of the worn-out SLA-1161 I installed over two years ago. Dig the bulge in the worn-out battery: http://mira.sbw.org/photos/20110808/P1000385/ I added two 12V outlets by the back seat, in place of the vent for the (removed) fridge: http://mira.sbw.org/photos/20110808/P1000387/ A tiny USB adapter goes in one 12V outlet, so I can charge my phone or batteries while I work or sleep. My laptop charger is now hard-wired into the battery, so it's easy to charge the laptop on the road. I also hard-wired the Engel fridge into the battery. I'm writing this from the Anthony Chabot campground in the East Bay hills, where the Verizon signal is surprisingly good. My laptop is charging, and my Samsung Charge phone is my internet connection, plugged into the new USB port. It's all much more convenient than just a few days ago. Thanks to GoWesty for the idea. |
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