>I was really referring to vehicles with an existing aux. gas heater. > >Also, I've got a mechanic replacing the (burnt out) aux. gas heater with >another one he has. When I asked him to wire the 12V to my second (Optima) >battery, he went on and on about how it can't (translation: he doesn't want >to - more work I guess) be done, and it has to go to the main starting >battery. "Why bother anyway, since running the aux. gas heater without the >engine on would kill ANY battery very quickly anyway". > >Here's the big question: How long can you run the aux. heater on battery >only, before it kills it?? That depends on how much current it takes. I'm remebering 4 amps myself (I put a bi-metalic household thermostat in the westie so it didn't run all the time) Your Optima will last about 12 hours at 4 amps. You should be running a yellow top. Don't try this with a red top, you would kill it in short order (50 cycles/RT vs 500 for a YT) An Optima doesn't have a lot of reserve capacity, A group 29 marine battery will last longer (almost 2X) but is also heavy and messy. -Otmar- ------------------------------------------------------------------- Electric Vehicle Components Ltd. Otmar Ebenhoech mailto:Otmar@EVCL.com (650) 494-9255 http://www.evcl.com/ Ban SUVs! http://www.howard.net/ban-suvs.htm Energizer Bunny arrested, charged with battery! ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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