Ron's right! We ended up using a 10ga wire due to a diagram that showed the
installation since we didn't have a westy... and the hella diagram was
pretty cryptic until we understood it's intent. We had to start from
scratch with the dual battery system, since our Bess wasn't originally a westy.

At 12:24 PM 12/13/2001 -0800, you wrote:
>We used it..... and this happened to us too! We ended up increasing the
>fuse size to 20 amp, now it appears to be working fine.
>
>
>
>
>
>At 11:44 AM 12/13/2001 -0800, you wrote:
>>Hi Ron & all,
>> I am wondering if anyone other that Sean B & myself
>>have tried the Hella battery relay from Bus Depot &
>>found it to be worthless?
>>
>>I installed exactly like the instructions & when you
>>turn on the ignition, the fuse pops immediately. Sean
>>had the exact same problem & he feels it's the tiny
>>little wires can't handle the load. I feel the same. I
>>went with Sean's solution of using a large relay from
>>Newark Electronics, (idea originating from Mark
>>Drillock) & have had no problems.
>>
>>I was wondering if anyone had the Hella actually work
>>& if they can explain their installation? Ron, any
>>comments or complaint stories?
>>
>>I am afraid of the starting battery being effected by
>>a low aux. But am considering adding a toggle to
>>disconnect the aux for starting after heavy usage.
>>
>>Any insight appreciated.
>>Thanks,
>>
>>David K.
>>
>>
>>Ron Wrote:
>>
>>Date:    Wed, 12 Dec 2001 07:15:05 -0500
>>> From:    The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
>>> Subject: Re: Battery isolator
>>>
>>> Just a reminder for those interested in adding a
>>second battery, that
>>I
>>> sell
>>> a genuine Hella dual-battery relay kit designed
>>specifically for this
>>> purpose. The kit includes a fused relay, wiring, and
>>instructions.
>>When
>>> the
>>> van is running, the two batteries are wired in
>>parallel and the
>>alternator
>>> "trickle-charges" the camping battery; when the van
>>is shut off the
>>two
>>> batteries are separated so you cannot kill your
>>starting battery even
>>if
>>> you
>>> completely drain your camping battery. The use of a
>>relay for this
>>> purpose,
>>> as opposed to an isolator, eliminates the intrinsic
>>voltage drop
>>caused by
>>> the diodes in an isolator. Also, in my experience it
>>is more reliable
>>than
>>> an isolator, and less likely to leave you stuck with
>>a dead starting
>>> battery
>>> in the event of failure (which has happened to me
>>several times with
>>> isolators in VW vans)  The third advantage is cost -
>>just $18.95 for
>>the
>>> kit.  Part # 1738.
>>>
>>> - Ron Salmon
>>>   The Bus Depot, Inc.
>>>   (215) 234-VWVW
>>>   www.busdepot.com
>>
>>=====
>>David Kelly
>>1990 Syncro Vanagolf 15"
>>1963 Comet Convertible
>>Seattle
>>
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