Date:         Thu, 15 Jul 1999 13:09:54 -0500
Reply-To:     Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Auxillary battery alternative
Comments: To: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi Volks,
     At the risk of opening this thread / debate  again, I think it is
possible to use the circuit as described in the archives with one
modification.  Add an interrupter in the 20 - 30 amp range between the
primary battery and the westy relay. Interrupters  are available in many
current ranges. They are commonly used on battery chargers. With this set up
when the current gets too high the interrupter will open for a bit and then
reset.  If the aux battery is completely drained it will take several
interrupts of the interrupter but since they are now  solid state devices no
harm done. I had used 30 amp inline  fuses and now have changed 2 vans to
interrupters. I have tested 1 with a completely dead aux battery ( fridge on
all night) and it recovered ok even with the fridge left on after start up.
    Circuit interrupter pro and con information is probably a good  idea at
this point. I have very little working knowledge of them. By best info is
they work as a fuse with an automatic reset.
Darrell
----- Original Message -----
From: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 1999 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: Auxillary battery alternative


> "I'm still wondering why not set it up
> as outlined on the Vanagon.com website:
> http://vanagon.com/info/faq/#electrical.  No wires running under the
> body to the starter battery, new relays, etc.
>
> It seems this is how VW intended it to be done."