I lined the battery box and underseat area with
not-metallic Dyna-mat for noise suppression and to
protect from shorting to the body.

Tom

--- Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM> wrote:

> In a message dated 08/07/2005 12:10:50 AM Eastern
> Daylight Time,
> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
> Here's  what I did on one  install:
>
> http://www.californiavan.com/battery/Battery.html
>
> 1)  Remove the upper turntable if the van has Westy
> seats then chop
> about 1 1/2  inches away from the rear section of
> the lower turntable
> base.  (see  photo) I used a Dremel cutting wheel to
> remove the
> section.
>
> 2) Use  the Optima without side terminals, the way
> nothing can short
> to the battery  cover tin.
>
> 3) Shim the battery compartment with wood blocks to
> keep the  battery
> from moving about.
>
> 4) Cover the positive terminals with an  old rubber
> inner tube just to
> be extra safe.
>
> 5) Use a Surepower  model 1315 battery separator
> instead of the wimpy
> VW relay.  While the  Surepower is a tad expensive
> at $70, it's the
> best possible way to hook up  two batteries in a
> Vanagon.  Intelligent
> charging, automatic  separation when engine is off
> and automatic 2nd
> battery starter assist for  those times when you
> left the park lights
> on....it's also compatible with  Subaru alternators
> and the VW
> alternator idiot light without having to do  any
> extra wiring.
>
>
>
> This is pretty much how I do them here except in
> Westys I keep the Optima
> standing up and cut holes in the cover for the
> terminals to clear.  A thin
> layer of insulating material on top of the  battery
> will allow the seat to swivel
> and not make contact with the positive  terminal
> without any modification to
> the seat swivel base.  Covered with  the carpet that
> is there the slight rise
> in height above the original is not  noticeable and
> causes no inconvenience.
> I've done an install in a CARAT  and laid the
> battery on its side as youv'e
> explained and that works just fine  with no mods
> needed.  The Sure Power 1315 is
> certainly the right way to  install an Optima Yellow
> top in a Vanagon.  Works
> perfectly and that Optima  is always charged right
> up quickly when the engine
> is started.  A couple of  other options I often
> include when I do these AUX
> battery installs: a  second 12 volt outlet on the
> dash connected to both
> batteries with a transfer  switch with a digital
> volt meter plug in so one can keep
> and eye on the charging  of both batteries by a flip
> of the switch and give a
> second 12 volt power  outlet when needed and a 300 ~
> 400 watt power inverter
> hardwired to  the AUX battery.  This set up will
> give you all the power options
> you'll  ever need unless you want the micro wave
> oven option ;-)
>
> Cheers,
>
> Frank  Condelli
> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> _BusFusion_
> (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW
> Camper
> camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
> '87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
> Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) ,
> _LiMBO_
> (http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_
> (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
> (http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
> Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa
> Valley
> _STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> _Frank Condelli &  Associates_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
> or  http://frankcondelli.com
>

http://www.TomSinclair.com

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