Date: Tue, 16 Dec 1997 13:06:03 -0800
Reply-To: Ron Lussier <coyote@ZUNI.LIKEMINDS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.sdsc.edu>
From: Ron Lussier <coyote@ZUNI.LIKEMINDS.COM>
Subject: Re: Installing A Second Battery
In-Reply-To: <3496E351.B4DD25CA@aimnet.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
At 12:23 PM 12/16/97 -0800, Chris Uzzi wrote:
>Howdy Volks,
>
>I am about to embark on the task of hooking up a secondary battery to my
>'90 Westy. I have purchased an Optima deep cycle battery and it's en
>route. I have a couple questions that if addressed, I'd be most
>appreciative.
>
>(1) I will be following the instructions listed at
>http://www.vanagon.com/info/faq/. These instructions state "With this
>configuration, the aux battery supplies cabin power whenever your
>engine is not running." Does this include the 120V power sockets? For
>example, will I be able to plug in a heater or a laptop computer into
>the power socket and get juice as if I was hooked up to a external power
>source.
Nope. In order to do this, you would need an inverter. I've installed
one in my van, but it sits on the shelf under the sink. They're fairly
small and cost less than $100.
>(2) Referring to
>http://www.vanagon.com/info/vehicles/beethoven/electrical.html I'm a bit
>confused as to the purpose of "Getting a charge" procedure. Does the
>trickle charger simply monitor the secondary battery's charge? Can
>someone explain in greater detail this statement from the above
>procedure, "Another thing I wanted was to be able to plug my van into
>the power grid and have my heater run right off the grid." What is meant
>by "grid"?
Standard 120V power supplies, such as those found at developed
campgrounds. Using the trickle charger, I can leave my van plugged in and
heating for a week without draining the battery.
>Please excuse my ignorance when it comes to wiring a vehicle or anything
>for that matter. I can tear a car's motor down and rebuild it, but when
>it comes to fooling with the electrical system I tend to want to be
>precise. I have had one too many car fires ('71 Bug, R.I.P.).
>
>If anyone in the Bay Area can give me a call or email me privately
>(Ron?) I'd be obliged.
If you wish, you could come take a look at my van. It's currently in SF
at my new home.
Ron
-- /\_/\ ____
Ron 'Coyote' Lussier ( ) \ _/__ LikeMinds
(415) 284-6972 \ / \X / Every Individual a Market
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