Hi Brent,

Thanks for the response. The stock 30 amp relay works fine and does
switch with the ignition. I just think the $40.00 wheel chair battery I
bought was it's time to dye. I have tested the theory of the relay
working with the ignition on as I have tested the charging rate of the
aux battery while the engine is running.

I may anyway just replace the stock 30 amp relay with a 40 or 75 amp
relay. I have no intention of using this Optima battery as a second
starting battery, even in a emergency. If I do need it, I'll just use
jumper cables instead of wiring something in-line.

I'm looking for simplicity for what I already have. I just want to drop an
Optima in in place of the 32 amphr battery in nnow without any relay or
wire upgrade whatsoever. At the most, I just want to get a new relay. I'd
really like to find out if anyone has used the 30 amp relay with this size
battery

Thanks -steve

 >
> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
> this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
>
> ------_=_NextPart_001_01BF941E.5BBDAC30
> Content-Type: text/plain;
>         charset="windows-1252"
>
> The problem with the relay is not that it will cause charging problems, but
> rather that it is undersized to safely handle the potential current flowing
> to/from the battery.
>
> Your problem is possibly due to chronic over or undercharging, or perhaps
> the relay has failed completely, and therefore the battery is not charging
> at all.
>
> BTW,  these gel-type batteries are very picky about charge voltages.
>
> Brent Christensen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Manning
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Sent: 3/22/2000 8:27 AM
> Subject: Optima Batteries
>
> Hello list members,
>
> I have a question on installing an Optima Battery for anyone who already
> has one installed. Checking the archives, I noticed on list member
> stated
> you need to replace the 30 amp relay under the drivers seat with a
> bigger
> relay as well as a #8 wire from the alternator to the relay.
>
> Right now, I have a 32 amp hr battery with the standard westy 30 amp
> relay
> and would like to know if anyone is still using this relay/wire setup
> with
> an Optima without upgrading. I follwed the instructions from the Vanagon
> site and had no problems until this year when the battery just won't
> hold
> a charge anymore.
>
> TIA
> -steve
>
> ------_=_NextPart_001_01BF941E.5BBDAC30
> Content-Type: text/html;
>         charset="windows-1252"
> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
> <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
> <HTML>
> <HEAD>
> <META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
> charset=3Dwindows-1252">
> <META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version =
> 5.5.2448.0">
> <TITLE>RE: Optima Batteries</TITLE>
> </HEAD>
> <BODY>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>The problem with the relay is not that it will cause =
> charging problems, but rather that it is undersized to safely handle =
> the potential current flowing to/from the battery.</FONT></P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Your problem is possibly due to chronic over or =
> undercharging, or perhaps the relay has failed completely, and =
> therefore the battery is not charging at all. </FONT></P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>BTW,&nbsp; these gel-type batteries are very picky =
> about charge voltages. </FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Brent Christensen</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>-----Original Message-----</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>From: Steve Manning</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Sent: 3/22/2000 8:27 AM</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>Subject: Optima Batteries</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Hello list members,</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>I have a question on installing an Optima Battery for =
> anyone who already</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>has one installed. Checking the archives, I noticed =
> on list member</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>stated</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>you need to replace the 30 amp relay under the =
> drivers seat with a</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>bigger</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>relay as well as a #8 wire from the alternator to =
> the relay.</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Right now, I have a 32 amp hr battery with the =
> standard westy 30 amp</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>relay</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>and would like to know if anyone is still using this =
> relay/wire setup</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>with</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>an Optima without upgrading. I follwed the =
> instructions from the Vanagon</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>site and had no problems until this year when the =
> battery just won't</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>hold</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>a charge anymore.</FONT>
> </P>
>
> <P><FONT SIZE=3D2>TIA</FONT>
> <BR><FONT SIZE=3D2>-steve</FONT>
> </P>
>
> </BODY>
> </HTML>
> ------_=_NextPart_001_01BF941E.5BBDAC30--
>