Totally weird tools category.
When we attended formula races we used a standard alternator coupled to a
Weed Eater engine to charge batteries, it charges at whatever your
portable alternator regulator is, normally 15 amps.
This resolved the problem of *no electricity* in the pit areas. Think its
different now, the electric in the pit area I mean.

Stan

On Tue, 6 Aug 2002 14:15:03 -0600 Michael Blackbun
<mtblackburn@QWEST.NET> writes:
> I have set up solar panels on a couple vans now.  You mentioned
> setting up a
> solar panel instead of getting a second battery.  This really won't
> solve
> your problem and it is probably cheaper to get a dual battery setup
> with a
> charging relay to your alternator.
>
> The reason people put in second batteries is to have a deep cycle
> battery
> they can discharge, without fear of not being able to start the van.
>  If you
> had just a solar panel charging the starting battery and you
> discharged it
> all the way, it would still take some time to recharge it... This
> could
> potentially leave you stranded for some time until the battery
> recharged.
> Also, with a standard battery if you fully discharge it several
> times it is
> generally trashed and won't take a charge again.
>
> One advantage of dual battery with a solar panel is there is no need
> for a
> battery isolator or relay.  The solar panel batteries can be
> totally
> independant of the vehicle charging system.  But, a solar panel can
> be quite
> expensive an 80 watt panel and charge controller cost around $600.
> The
> other route is much cheaper...a relay is only around $20 from
> BusDepot, or
> an isolator is something like $80 from surepower.
>
> I got my setup from RVSolar in Bend, OR.  I am using two trojan
> T-105
> batteries.  They have a kit available for the Vanagon, so I decided
> to go
> with them and have a little support after the sale for a van
> application.
> There web site is http://www.rvsolar.com/vanagon.htm.  If I were to
> do it
> again I would probably just buy the parts myself individually.  The
> "kit"
> wasn't really made just for the vanagon and I had to do a
> considerable
> amount of customizing and the instructions they provided where for
> an RV.  I
> ended up just making up the installation.  It was nice to have all
> the
> components pre-sized for each other.
>
> Michael Blackburn
>
> 1990 Syncro Adventurewagen
>
>
>
>   From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On
> Behalf Of
> peter hargreave
>   Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 1:07 PM
>   To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>   Subject: Solar panels and curtains
>
>
>
>   Wondering whether anybody has setup a solar panel on there westy
> instead
> of hooking up a second battery - If so where did you get it - how
> much was
> it - difficult to install?
>
>   Also I am wanting to install a curtain behind the front two seat
> to use
> instead of the front window button-up. Does anyone know where I
> could find
> one or do I need to build it myself.
>
>   Thanks for the help,
>
>   Peter Hargreave
>
>   Long time admirer, first time owner - '85 Westy
>
>
>
>
>
>
>   >From: James B Robinson
>
>   >Reply-To: James B Robinson
>   >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>   >Subject: Re: Revisiting the Catalytic Converter...
>   >Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 11:44:59 -0700
>   >
>   >Your point here being that only the perfect may speak? Or perhaps
> that if
>   >one cannot do everything one should do nothing? Or maybe you're
> saying
> that
>   >if you do some damage you may as well do a lot?
>   >
>   >Maybe you just feel defensive because you ripped all of that
> enviro crap
>   >out of -your- Vanagon.
>   >
>   >Oh, and if I find somebody taking a dump in my back yard I don't
> really
> have
>   >to ask myself anything before I ask them to knock it off.
>   >
>   >On Tue, Aug 06, 2002 at 08:33:00AM -0700, kevin obrien wrote:
>   > > I didn't say I didn't want to preserve it....I was
>   > > implying that a person should ask himself/herself if
>   > > they are doing everything possible to limit the use of
>   > > our enviro-damaging Vans BEFORE they post a message
>   > > suggesting the measures another member should take.
>   > >
>   > > We love our Vanagons...but they are NOT the perfect
>   > > vehicle for enjoying the natural world...or preserving
>   > > it....catalytic converter or none. I think our feet
>   > > do alot less impact....
>   > >
>   > > Kevin
>   >
>   >--
>   >[ Jim Robinson -- System Administrator -- ratwerks.com ]
>   >I am a boomer. My generation looked nuclear annihilation
>   >in the eye and said "No thanks, I'd rather drive a BMW."
>
>
>
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