Date: Tue, 1 May 2012 12:53:11 -0400
Reply-To: Derek Drew <derekdrew@DEREKMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Derek Drew <derekdrew@DEREKMAIL.COM>
Subject: Another Monster Battery Option For Stock Locations
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I chimed into the thread at
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6013002#6013002 the
following information.
I am probably among the first to have fit such massively long-lasting
and powerful batteries into the front two underseat locations so I am
passing it along that it can be done:
Derek wrote, in the thread:
I installed under the drivers seat the Sears Platinum deep cycle
PC31, group size 31, similar in size to Odyssey PC 2150. This battery
has 205 Reserve Capacity, unlike the group size 65 / PC1750
batteries, which have more like 135 reserve capacity. The group size
31 also beats the group size 65 with 100amp hours vs. 68 amp hours
for the Group 65. The front seat still swivels. The battery sticks up
higher than it normally would, but is hidden behind the grey rug. In
order to do this installation, you have to trim the corner of the
seat swivel (which doesn't look bad) and also trim some metal from
the area under the driver's seat. Would I do it again? Yes.
The battery under the drivers seat is Sears Item# 02850131000 Model# PM-1.
Under the passenger seat, I am using the Sears group 65 size, the
same one discussed in this thread, but I did not lay it on its side.
And yes, you ideally should to upgrade your voltage regulator,
preferably to a 3-stage regulator, not a simple fixed voltage type.
For the actual specs to use, see the technical documentation for the
Odyssey even if you are using a Sears battery since the charging
voltages called for at various stages are very specific. I was able
to program the exact 3-stage charging algorithm into my onboard
Prosine 2.0 Inverter/Charger, but have not yet determined how to
upgrade the alternator/regulator of my subaru 3.0L engine.
-------------------
All of the batteries discussed here utterly destroy the capacity of
the group 41 batteries that were original to these locations.
Because of the demands of the Inverter and the winch and warnings in
the inverter instruction manual, I decided to use 250MCM size wires,
(roughly 5/0 ["five aught"] size wire).
The factory OEM wire showed black discoloration corrosion inside the
jacket, so for the new wire I got marine grade tinned wire so it
would not happen again.
_______________________________________________
Derek Drew
Washington DC / New York
derekdrew@derekmail.com
Email is best normally but...
PHONE: 202-966-7907 (Call the number at left normally)
(alt/cell for diligent calling only): 703-408-1532
