Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2015 09:17:44 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject: Re: Need to add a switch to shut off my accessories while parked
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEuL1dw3RUt=nYpgxrHENn+0h7+j0P7bfgiSzKOTmKSqMNg@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
No don, you don't understand. I am isolating a particular circuit. The rest of my camping accessories are controlled by a blue seas ACR.
Alistair
> On Jul 27, 2015, at 8:43 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Ever considered a marine or race car total battery cut off switch? There are variously configured ones available that are installed into the battery cable and essentially function like removing one of your cables...One could mount it against the passenger seat pedestal to be within reach from the driver's side...in case of fire or shorts...also convenient to just jump in and reach over to "activate" the electricals of the van.....
> The marine type also has a selector capability for ......batt !, batt 2, or batt All...so you could isolate your starter battery manually if you wanted....etc...
>
>> On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 8:20 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> Jim,
>>
>> You measure the currents draw on that circuit yet? It's amazing the USB ports and voltmeter would draw much power.
>>
>> As an aside, I installed a switch to disconnect the power feed to door activated lights. I switch that circuit off when camping. One drawback I haven't addressed yet ( awaiting my cluster re wiring project) is that the door light circuit also powers the digital clock.
>>
>> Alistair
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Jul 27, 2015, at 8:14 AM, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> >
>> > I recently added some really cool accessories to my 83 diesel Westy. On the
>> > dash, I added one of the banged.com "motorcycle" combination USB/voltmeter
>> > outlets (just the dual USB port) on the dash by enlarging the hole for the
>> > factory eberspacher heater switch.
>> >
>> > In the rear, I removed the rear seat ashtray and created a brown blanking
>> > plate out of painted aluminum that precisely fits where the ashtray door
>> > once fit, making a flush surface across the base which of course still
>> > snaps into its hole as before. Into this I mounted the USB port and
>> > voltmeter combination so that passengers and campers will have charging
>> > access and I will be able to see what the voltage is at night and charge my
>> > devices while I sleep.
>> >
>> > All well and good, I love it that I can see the battery level from the
>> > driver's side of the car just by looking into it.
>> >
>> > Except that what I see is the battery dropping precipitously. This would be
>> > no big deal before I got a nice TDI jetta which has replaced the camper as
>> > my daily driver, giving it a well-deserved rest from roadwork. But now that
>> > I only drive the camper once a week or so, either the LEDs in the voltage
>> > indicator or the USB ports themselves are pulling it down say two volts
>> > every 24 hours. I was gone all weekend, so today I have about 8.5. It's
>> > nice that I don't have to get inside the car to know that, and because of
>> > the external Anderson Powerpole connector wired to the battery I do not
>> > have to open a door to remedy the problem, but it needs a solution.
>> >
>> > I never had this problem before the new additions, by the way. The batter
>> > is just a year old.
>> >
>> > Which, the USB side with its LED indicator, or the LED numeric display, is
>> > causing the problem? I would like to be able to switch the offender off.Or
>> > maybe something near the fuse block, to turn everything off when it's
>> > sitting in the driveway or not in use at a campground?
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> >
>> > Jim
>
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