Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 14:26:35 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Battery isolator question
In-Reply-To: <CAB2Rwfj=wuTV455TGrc7yB6CrG3LeS9OaHOk=35dp6NyA0QY+Q@mail.gmail.com>
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Hi,
Yeah I installed an aux battery system in my van. Couple of point though. The van was a seven pass model and I only installed a swivel sea to the pass side. So under the drivers seat there is clear access. Another thing, I currently (ha) am using a small 30 Ahr agm battery that fits in battery box under drivers seat. I'm in the process of upgrading to a big battery located where spare tire goes.
I like an automatic charge controller (ACR) over a simple relay/solenoid. And the older model blue seas ACR I have has worked flawlessly for years. One advantage is that it isolates the batteries based on voltage sensed. So it disconnects at a user set value, and reconnects at same value. Has over and under voltage adjustments too. One advantage of this is in the unlikely case of the aux battery being fully discharged, during starting the van that battery is not connected right away. So no juice from starting battery is bled off to fill the drained battery while you are cranking. This might be an unlikely problem, and really, the drained battery is probably not going to suck that much power due to internal resistance etc. but still, I like the feature.
I have schematic of my set up here
http://shufti.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/vanagon-auxiliary-fuse-panel-schematic-update/
Alistair
> On Jul 31, 2014, at 12:19 PM, Neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
> I can't point to specific examples, (check thesamba ?) but I'm sure
> some have installed a charger or similar, in the space under the
> driver seat. Didn't Alistair Bell do something similar? Just my .02,
> but if it were me, I'd want the charger display somewhere I could
> easily see it.
>
> I have 2 aux. batteries. For the cheap group 41 under driver seat,
> I've been using a "can" type solenoid isolator image:
> http://tinyurl.com/plgduwy
>
> w/o any issues. This battery typically sees low current draw.
>
> Neil.
>
>
> On 7/31/14, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>> ..... Anyone been able to install the battery (deep
>> discharge, Walmart standard serial warranty replacement, or golf cart), a
>> smart isolator, and a charger under the driver's seat? Or is it best to put
>> the charger under the sink where the now unused fridge outlet already
>> exists?
>
>
>
> --
> Neil n
>
> Blog: tubaneil.blogspot.ca
>
> '88 Westy http://tinyurl.com/c8rlw6p
>
> '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco" http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
> Vanagon VAG *Gas* inline-VR Engine Swap Group:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/d7gd5ej
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