I've been using a home-made version of the Prestone jumpstart battery for a couple of years now and have taken it on many trips in the Westfalia to power lights, radios, and whatever else so I wouldn't have to worry about draining the starting battery. I picked up several used 6 volt sealed lead-acid gel cell batteries from an electronic surplus store for only a couple of bucks apiece. These are pull-outs from applications like backup power for burglar alarms, but I tested each battery with a load (a taillight bulb) and a voltmeter to screen for good ones. I taped two of them together, wired them in series, put on my standard connector (the Radio Shack two-pin molex one) and have 12 VDC anytime I need it. Most of the cells are 10 amp-hour, but I have a couple of smaller ones, too. I bought an easy-to-build smart lead-acid charger kit for about $50 that won't over- charge the cells to prolong their life. It's a great setup that can provide a lot of versatility for those camping and road trips. - Scott former owner '91 Westfalia Camper |
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