I like the sound of this set-up.  Richard, could you p-mail me with more
information.  What kind of switch are you talking about.  What guage thin
positive wire, etc.  I know a PO did the set up but anything you could
supply to me (a complete novice) would be much appreciated.  This set-up
would be fine for my family since we also only camp a few days at a time.  I
have searched the archives but the posts reveal bits and pieces of DIFFERENT
types of set-ups so it's hard to understand how to follow through on one
particular type.

I would appreciate anyone's input on this.  I think Dawn would too.  Thanks
for bringing up the question Dawn.

90 Multivan
Debra Clark
Santee, California
clark10006@cox.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard A. Jones" <Jones@COLORADO.EDU>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2002 8:34 AM
Subject: Re: Auxilary battery

> Dawn:
>
> Congrats on your new Westy.  Enjoy it!
>
> Indeed aux batteries have been beaten to death.  Fat wire, thin wire.
> Relays, isolators.  Optima, starting.  This topic is like religion or
> politics--or tires--go with what you believe and call all the others
> wrong.  ;-)
>
> As Chuck pointed out, marine electricals are where the real deep-cycle
> stuff is.
>
> To give another alternative, I'll describe my setup, which I did not
> design or install.  It was done by a PO.
>
> I have a battery switch behind the driver seat and a second battery
> under
> the driver seat.  The positive wire to the electrical system is
> switched.
> Only the main battery under the passenger seat has the BIG wire going to
> the starter.
>
> Operation:  normally the main battery is selected and drives everything.
> To charge the aux battery, "both" is selected.  When camping, the aux
> battery is selected and drives everything.  In my case, the aux battery
> is a regular group 41 starting battery like my main.
>
> Drawbacks: It is a manual system and I have to remember to turn the
> switch; I have forgotten a time or two.  Because the wire to the starter
> comes from only the main battery, it starts the car unless the switch is
> in "both" in which case, both do.  When running, charging comes back
> only
> to the main battery, so "both" is the only way to charge the aux
> battery.
>
> Advantages: the battery fits under the driver seat with no mods so no
> space
> is lost anywhere else.  The switch switches everything--lights, stereo,
> etc
> --with no wiring mods other than the switch.  The battery switch is "on
> before off" so there is no loss of power when switching and my stereo
> doesn't forget anything.  I switch to charge while driving--unless I
> forget!
>
> I don't consider a starting battery as the aux a drawback.  It doesn't
> go
> down much in 3-4 days, which is about the max I camp without driving
> (and
> charging.)  It will probably last several years this way.
>
> If I didn't have this setup, I'd probably wade into the archives and web
> pages, pick my religion and swear it is the best--and the others can't
> really work.  [There is plenty of that in the archives....]   As I say,
> I didn't design or install this system but inherited it.  I like it.
>
> Good luck!
>
>                                 Richard A. Jones
>                                 Boulder, Colorado
>                                 '81 Vanagon   Mr Bus
>                                 '87 Syncro Westy   El Jefe