Date:         Mon, 8 Aug 2011 23:02:36 -0700
Reply-To:     Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
Subject:      Under-Sink Battery Installation
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

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.