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Date:         Mon, 10 Jun 1996 19:08:05, -0500
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         TVCR50A@prodigy.com ( MICHAEL G BENTHIN)
Subject:      Re: Help installtion Aux.battery 1985 we

Re isolation of spare battery in camper...... All you need is a SWITCHABLE (hence the relay) wire going from the regular battery (+) to the the spare (+), and a GOOD ground for the spare battery. The relay simply detects when your ignition is on (why it's (+) goes to the ignition terminal on your coil), and then allows the heavier (+) from spare to head on down to the real battery so it will charge in parallel with the real battery charging. Those with GOOD memories and a desire to finish that movie on the portable VCR when voltage drops too low in spare when out in the boonies can install a $1.29 switch in a 12gauge wire running right between the two battery positives. The relay is more expensive, but any relay that will pass the charging current will work. Since it's ALWAYS ON when ignition is on, it's too late to know relay isn't working when your spare is run down- hence the good idea of some sensor across spare to tell you it's actually charging- You can use the simple colored diode thing that plugs into an aux. socket (from radio shack) and watch it when car is on and off, or use an aux. plug wired into a simple digital voltmeter. The latter gives better info, such as seeing charging voltage when battery is connected, vs voltage to real battery when you yank the wire to coil, showing if your regulator is doing its job or if alternator can handle it.... When my spare poops down at the campground and I don't want to run the car, I get out my handy jumper wire (a 12gauge wire with big alligator clips at each end and connect + to +, and wish I had put in the switch next to ignition keyhole to manually isolate or connect the spare!!! MB in NJ


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