What would it take to use a higher amp relay or = manual switch? How would these be set-up?
-----Original =
Message-----
From: harald_nancy [mailto:harald_nancy@EARTHLINK=
.NET]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 1999 7:33 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: =
Flash Alert! Dual Battery =
Relay
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.