Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 10:04:49 -0700
Reply-To: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: Battery connections
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Alan,
The answer is no, not if you want to hook up an auxiliary battery safely.
As I understand it, the relay in the Bentley that is called "auxiliary
battery" refers to the Weekender models: not the Westfalia campers.
Apparently the Weekenders came with 2 way fridges that did not operate on
propane. The expectation was that it would be used in 12 v mode when camping
so the Weekender came with an auxiliary battery (and larger 6 mm wire and
relay). Surprisingly (as far as I know) the Westfalia full camper never came
with auxiliary batteries in the U.S. It appears the reason is that they
expected the 3 way fridges to be used in the propane mode when camping. They
also apparently decided to skimp on the wire size (1.5mm) and relay size to
the point that it would be unsafe to just add in an auxiliary battery in the
campers (a discharged battery can draw over 50 amps while the fridge itself
only draws about 8 amps). So to do the job right you need to run at least a
#8 wire from the starter battery and change to a larger relay... 40 amp
would be marginal. We had quite a discussion regarding this last winter. I
did some extensive research measuring the draw of a discharged auxiliary
battery in order to get an idea of how to size the wire and relay. I will
repost that March 10 article.
Bill
90 Westy Syncro
-----Original Message-----
From: Alan J. Flint <ajflint@ITSA.UCSF.EDU>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Thursday, September 02, 1999 9:45 AM
Subject: Battery connections
>Hello Wedgers:
> I opened up both front underseat compartments on my "new" '87
>Syncro GL Westfalia last night. On the passenger side is a Diehard, all
>connected; fine. On the drivers side, no battery, but more electrical
>stuff than I expected. It looks like there is relay in there with several
>connections in there. I wonder . . .
> Is this the relay that accompanies the "Auxilliary Battery" in
>those Bentley electrical diagrams? for "Auxilliary Battery" vehicles? Do
>I need only a + cable to connect to the relay and a - cable to ground and
>then I have a fully fucntional Aux Battery set-up? Is it that simple??
>
>Thanks in advance?
>Alan.
>'87 Diehard
>
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