Date: Thu, 28 Jan 1999 13:25:06 -0500
Reply-To: L&A Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: L&A Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@SYMPATICO.CA>
Subject: Re: Flash Alert! Dual Battery Relay
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Harald, we use a small 1"x1"x1" cube relay rated for 30 amps that was
intended for use with high intensity driving lights. These can be
purchased for about $10. To be on the safe side, I added a 30 amp fuse
and 6 gauge wire in the circuit.
Larry
-86 Syncro Westfalia
harald_nancy wrote:
> To all westfalia camper owners, and especially those
> using a dual battery. If you bought a used camper with a "dual" batt.
> setup, it would be a good idea to check this out.
> I did some research at my VW dealer today about the different relays
> used in VW vanagons and campers.
> We came up with the following.
> 1.)
> The vanagon westy camper with the 3 way refrigerator
> (propane, 110 and the 12 volt while driving only)
> does not have a factory installed auxiliary batt. system.
> It is equipped with a small shutoff relay located under
> the driver's seat in the empty batt. box. It is a small
> 1" by 1" cube. This relay is called a :
> Refrigerator 12-volt heater relay.
> Part Nr. 231 069 555 price: 32.72
> This relay is not designed to be used to charge a second battery.
> To do so could damage your camper. In addition the wire to the
> relay is only a 2.5 mm wire routed through the fuse panel.
> This factory setup was not designed to handle the load to
> repeatedly charge an empty battery.
> Reference, Bentley 80-91 page 97.32b, 97.33b
> 2.)
> Some vanagons did come equipped from the factory with a
> dual battery system. Some of these are also called campers
> in the Bentley, but appear to be weekenders. (no 3 way fridge)
> VW does list a relay called:
> Relay for 2 batteries.
> Part Nr. 411 915 511 B Price a hefty 60.39
> ( maybe someone with a weekender camper with a factory
> dual batt. setup can verify this part number.)
> If the vanagon was factory equipped with a dual batt system, the
> second battery is shown in the Bentley diagram for that vehicle.
> The second battery is always conected via a
> 6.0 mm2 cross section wire, to prevent overheating and insure
> efficient charging.
> Reference, Bentley 80-91 page 97.34a, 97.222, 97.225
>
> In summary: If one wants an efficient dual batt. system in
> a full westy camper with the 3 way refrig., it is necessary to
> install a new system.
> You have your choice, one of the following:
> 1.) install a manual switch, or 2.) install a 30 or 40 amp relay
> or 3.) install a batt. isolator.
>
> Also note: Bentley sometime shows wire sizes in standard
> (awg) gauge, and in the later Bentleys mostly as mm cross-section.
>
> Harald
> 90 westy with a dual batt system.
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