Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2016 08:47:27 -0400
Reply-To: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "kenneth wilford (Van-Again)" <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: Auxiliary battery recommendations
In-Reply-To: <BAY405-EAS3360F11B51239E8067D20BEA0580@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I have been having good luck with the wheel chair deep cycle batteries as
long as you have a good charger attached and you plug it in when the van is
in storage.
I use these
http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Power-Group-85952-Battery/dp/B001G8FY38?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00
You can link them together in parralel and do up to 66 amp hours (3
batteries). I also like this charger:
http://www.amazon.com/Mariner-Sport-Bank-Charger-Multi/dp/B00F5EBQ36?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00
You set it up to charge both batteries and it not only charges but
conditions them so that they last much longer than without a charger. I
really think this is one of the big problems with the 2nd battery system in
a Vanagon. Most folks just rely on the alternator to recharge the 2nd
battery and that is a mistake. Yes it can charge the battery, but it is
made to charge a starting battery which takes a surface charge instead of a
deep recharge that the deep cycle batteries need. RVs have a battery
charger built in that does all of this automatically when you plug in and
those batteries can last for years and years and give great service. A
Vanagon westy is a small RV and once you start thinking about it that way,
it helps you think about things in a different light.
The batteries go under the driver's seat like they are made to go in there
and the charger I usually mount either under the seat (non swivel) or under
the sink on the wall (Westy). Either way you want it some place where you
can see the lights and see that everything is charging and fine since the
charger actually tests the system to see if there are any electrical or
battery faults.
Hope this helps,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
On Wed, Jun 1, 2016 at 10:12 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> In my opinion the best bang for the buck is to use the standard group 41
> starting battery and if possible take advantage of the warranty that comes
> with these. If you need more capacity you will have to give up space
> someplace else.
> For a charge control relay there are a lot of options but even more
> important is to provide a good charge source. I now typically run a
> dedicated #8 charge line from the alternator to the relay of choice and
> then to the battery. This approach works out well. That charge line needs
> to support charging the battery along with any loads that will be connected
> such as the refrigerator along with your entertainment system and anything
> with minimal voltage drop in order for the battery to get a good charge.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Andre Fiedler
> Sent: Wednesday, June 1, 2016 12:33 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Auxiliary battery recommendations
>
> The auxiliary battery in my Westy no longer seems to be holding a charge.
> Any suggestions as to what is the largest deep cycle battery currently on
> the market that I can get that will fit in the spot behind/below the
> drivers seat? Also any suggestions as to a good battery combiner/separator?
> Thank you.
> Andre Fiedler
> 89 Westy
>
--
Thanks,
Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com
