Date:         Sat, 4 Apr 1998 18:44:14 -0800
Reply-To:     "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@CONCENTRIC.NET>
Subject:      Re: Deep cycle battery replacement for Eurovan 92
Comments: To: Les perceptifs <pinardmi@ERE.UMONTREAL.CA>,
          vanagon List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

The best palace to go is probably a marine battery shop or supplier.  If
you do not liver near the ocean, try searching the web for a company
with a web page.  The battery that can be used for a vanagon is limited
by the size of the under thr drivere seat compartment, which limits the
max amp to about 65 amp. hours.  There are numerous marine application
batteries that put out over twice as much amperage...and they may fit in
the EV.
steve

Les perceptifs wrote:

> Does anybody know what's the best battery to replace the original
> dryfit
> battery in an Eurovan 92 ?  We leave for Mexico and our auxiliary
> battery is dead.  We bought the van in october and tried it during a
> short trip (3 days).  The battery would charge (at least the computer
> was saying it was fully charged) but it couldn't keep its charge for
> more than a few hours with the fridge on or even only the lights on.
> What is the normal autonomy for this battery, with normal use of
> lights
> and fridge?
>
> Last week, we tried to plug it overnight, but it didn't work.  No sign
>
> of life.  The charger below the fridge outputs about 2 amperes.  Could
>
> it be that the battery needs to be plugged for a much longer time ?
> Or
> maybe I should remove it and use (buy) a stronger charger.
>
> We will buy a battery anyway since we need one for the trip to Mexico
> and this wouldn't leave time to fully charge the battery (if I'm right
>
> and it needs a long charge).  I was told a Delco battery would do it.
> What's my best bet ?  May be I should buy one that is no bigger than
> the
> original one since, if the original still works, they both could fit
> in
> the battery area and I could plug them in parallel.  Or is it better
> to
> buy a bigger one and use only one battery ?
>
> Any model to suggest me, at a reasonable price ?
>
> Thank you,
>
> Michel Pinard