Date: Fri, 22 Jan 1999 12:32:41 -0800
Reply-To: harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Isolator, where to put it?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Mitch,
With the isolator setup, there is no other way but to run another
wire from the isolator to the aux. battery.
I guess that is the reason most use a relay.
The relay:
If I would use a relay I would still run a # 6 ga. wire from
the main batt. to the aux. batt. with a marine 40 amp. relay
or something like that.
The VW relay:
I am probably going to get flamed for this, but I believe the factory
relay under the front seat that most westies have is designed
by VW to only power the refrigerator 12 volt heating element.
There is a possibility that, if one is using that to also charge a
second battery, that the relay or the wiring could be damaged.
It is fuse protected, but still....
That setup works for a lot of people, but it is good to at least
keep an eye on it. Imho.
Back to the isolator.
The isolator is kind of neat, because both batteries are always
isolated. It does not matter if they are being charged or discharged.
One battery could be totally dead and the other strong, it would not
matter.
On the setup I am using, the deep cycle battery is under the drivers seat,
and I
mounted the isolator in the engine compartment behind the right
rear wheel well. In that space by the rear light, and the air intake.
The isolator should be mounted as close as possible to the alternator.
To run a # 6 ga. wire from there to the left front batt. box was not
all that difficult.
I ran the wire inside some clear vinyl hose that I got
from the local hardware store, as added insurance against chaffing.
There are lots of places under the van that one can fasten the
vinyl tube to with cable ties.
Some tips for wiring:
Have lots of cable ties handy.
Use rubber grommets when routing through a bulkhead etc
Install a small fuse panel for the accessories you run from the
aux. battery.
Route critical wires in conduits (like clear vinyl hose) under
the van.
Buy a small block of electricians putty for sealing off openings,
protecting exposed contacts from moisture, etc. That stuff
has hundreds of uses around a vanagon.
Invest in a strong crimping tool. They sell some better ones
in the electrical section in the hardware stores.
When routing wires, give them some extra slack.
And of course, there are many different ways to do anything.
Have fun.
Harald
90 westy
Mitch wrote:
> I'm installing a second battery in my 84 Westy and would like to
> do it right the first time.
> My question is where is the best place to install the isolator so
> that I don't have to run another wire up to the extra battery from the
> isolator (if it were mounted in the engine compartment) is there another
> place?
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated Mitchell 84 westy
> mmiller@neteze.com
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