Hi Phil,
Hey are there any good battery options for limited use as aux battery power?
I am wondering specifically about ni-cad or similar for the vanagon.
There are many power tools today that use the rechargeable 12 battery packs.
the price seems to be coming down quite a bit.

I am thinking with LED technology for lighting and low draw laptops for DVD
players etc, that most accessories are beginning to be very low draw, and
frankly, I have had a deep cycle battery in my 2nd compartment and it went
bad after about 3-4 years, I believe it was because of non use and that I
really didn't cycle it well, Thus, my question for using nicads.

I am thinking about 1/3 to 1/2 of the normal capacity and hopefully weight
savings as well.  I am thinking Nicads can cycle thousands of times and can
easily be recharged with a small solar panel.

Doug

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Zimmerman" <phil.zimmerman@MAIL.CRCN.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, March 09, 2004 11:54 PM
Subject: Re: optima batteries

> On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 00:20:37 -0500, Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU> wrote:
> >If Optimas are definitely better, I'll get one - but I'd like to know why
> >I'm doing it!
>
> Hi Joy,
> Hope you are enjoying your journey.... sounds like it, from your posts???
>
> Aaah, to buy an Optima or something else? Many opinions, quite a few
> experiences from the list-members and lots of battery voodoo too.
>
> My biased opinion. I use one. Satisfied with its performance but my set-up
> is not under the drivers seat. I am assuming here that you are considering
> installing a second battery in the 'stock' 2nd Battery position under the
drivers
> seat?
>
> One of the best recommendations for Optima's is from Larry Chase in
Roadhaus.
> Most evenings Larry draws both his Optima's down to below 10.5Vdc. Has
done
> this for a year.... night after night and day after day... if you catch my
drift here?
> The Optima's in this case, proved their worth. Not that other Batteries
couldn't or
> would not perform as well.
>
> A couple of points to ponder. The second Battery Location in most Vanagons
is not vented to the
> outside. Meaning, most installations will utilize a sealed battery for
reasons of safety... no
> hydrogen out-gassing during most moderate, safe recommended, rates of
charge. But, some will
> say.... by the nature of the Vanagon charging system..... most 2nd
Batteries will never see a high
> rate of charge and not out-gas! See, here starts Battery Voodoo 101. Have
I lost you yet Joy???
>
> To simplify the task. The Optima is a high quality sealed battery
(AGM-Optima calls itself). Will not
> out-gas under MOST charging conditions. Other, meaning less expensive
sealed lead-acid
> batteries, will perform equal to the Optima (do not listen to Optima's
marketing Bla, bla..bla) But
> most sealed lead-acid batteries that will fit into the Vanagon have less
Amp-Hour capacity than
> the Optima. Not a whole lot less but significant. Something on the order
of 35-45 Amp-Hr for the
> average sealed lead-acid's and around 55 Amp-Hr for the Optima's that will
fit into the Battery
> Box.
>
> So, is the Optima worth its premium price? Could probably buy two 'other'
sealed Batteries for the
> price of one Optima..... possibly even three. Unless you are going to put
extreme stress on your
> second battery for an extended period of time the Optima is probably more
Battery for the dollar
> than one needs. Most, run of the mill, sealed batteries that will fit into
the Vanagon's small
> compartment will satisfy most lighting, moderate sound system and moderate
12 to 110 converter
> needs of the average user. I am generalizing here so take this as "advise"
and not for the
> non-average camper that is attempting to dry camp for a week and run a
27-inch TV six hours a
> night. Hell, a dozen Optima's wouldn't even do that!
>
> Hope i have not added further confusion to your question. I will post this
and then duck for the
> flame I may have started. Happy trails Joy..
> Phil Z.