My impression has been that when running the charge = gets "soaked up" (excuse my use of layman's terms) by the = battery that needs it (i.e. has the lowest voltage).  Is this not = the case?  My limited experience with electrical issues has been = that in most cases electricity behaves just like water, and will follow = the path of least resistance, as well as flowing into the "most = empty bucket"

I'd be interested to hear the electrical engineers = speak up on this topic...

Brent Christensen
'89 GL Syncro Westy
Santa Barbara, CA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark McCulley [mailto:transporter99@hotmail.c= om]
> Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 3:29 PM
> To: bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM; = vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Battery Under Back Seat
>
>
> A relay provides isolation only when the = alternator is not
> running. In this
> setup a drained aux battery will drain charge = from the main
> battery when you
> start the engine and the relay closes.
>
> There is a solid state battery isolator that = works well with
> Vanagons--I've
> been using one for over a year now.
>
> Mark McCulley
>
> >From: BRENT CHRISTENSEN = <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM>
> >Reply-To: BRENT CHRISTENSEN = <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM>
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Re: Battery Under Back Seat
> >Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 13:27:33 -0700
> >
> >Yes - you need to isolate the two batteries = from each other,
> otherwise one
> >will drain the other if there is even the = slightest
> difference in voltage.
> >(They will try to equalize each = other).  This can have
> catastrophic effect
> >due to the amount of current that can = suddenly surge through
> the wiring.
> >
> >Traditional "battery isolators" = don't work well in a Vanagon
> due to the
> >voltage drop.  (Didn't work well in my = old Jeep, either -
> wish I'd thought
> >about the relay trick back then).  You = need to separate the
> two batteries
> >with a stout relay (I have a 75 amp relay) = that is only
> switched on when
> >the
> >alternator is kicking out juice.  Then = power all your
> accessories from your
> >aux. battery by shunting to the hot side of = the #3 fuse terminal.
> >
> >Takes a bit of crawling around and snaking = wires, but well
> worth it.  I
> >wish
> >I'd been willing to give up the space under = the seat for a
> pair of golf
> >cart
> >batteries!
> >
> >Brent Christensen
> >'89 GL Syncro Westy
> >Santa Barbara, CA
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vanagon Mailing List
> [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.C= OM]On Behalf
> > > Of Jay L Snyder
> > > Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 10:08 = AM
> > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > Subject: Battery Under Back = Seat
> > >
> > >
> > > I am thinking about installing a = battery under the rear
> seat by simply
> > > running a heavy wire to the starter = (which would in turn
> > > connect it to the
> > > existing battery) and grounding to = engine or chassis.  Would
> > > I need fusible
> > > link/fuse on this wire?  What = gauge wire?  I realize this
> > > will only give me
> > > additional power when cranking or = with ignition switch
> on.  This setup
> > > seems too easy--am I missing = something?
> > = >           &n= bsp;           &n= bsp;           &n= bsp;           &n= bsp;         Jay
> > >
>
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