Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (April 1998)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Thu, 9 Apr 1998 10:21:34 -0700
Reply-To:     Björn <bratjen@DIRECT.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Björn <bratjen@DIRECT.CA>
Subject:      Re: Where is the best place for battery cut-out relay?
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

At 07:50 AM 09/04/98 -0400, you wrote: >Ok Volks, I'm confused. > >Bently hints that the 2nd battery cut-out relay should be located >somewhere near (under?) the fuse box. However, the archives reveal that >many Vanagonians have their cut-out relay under their driver's seat. > >So who is right? Were the relays in different locations for different >years? > >Just a bit curious. > >Michael J. Sullivan

The battery and the relays are best put together as closely as possible (as someone else already wrote). In my Syncro I have one battery under the drivers seat and another one under the passenger seat. I installed a manual switch ("nightswitch") behind the passenger seat in a cabinet/seat/fridge which I installed there. I like the manual switch because it gives me full control, is unlikely to break down, and I can preserve the second battery longer.

The heavy duty battery cable just runs across under the heat vent, hidden by flooring to the main battery. I drive usually with only one battery connected and charge the second one occasionally on longer trips. When I am camping I will charge the second one while driving and use it for starting when needed. The second battery is switched off when stationary so I can draw all electricity needed from the main battery. When the main battery starts to fade I put the second battery under the driver's seat, get an identical new one which becomes the second battery. This seems to be the easiest overall plan.

For installation it requires a battery (same as main battery), a bracket to hold down the second battery, a ground strap, a switch, about 1m (3 feet) of battery cable, connectors.

Björn Ratjen

1987 Syncro Est Alia (self camperized) 1995 Passat TD (1982 Vanagon Diesel) 1979 VW Bus (self- camperized)


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.