TC,
I know its nice to have everything automaticly controlled, but, 
45 pounds ? wow!

I currently have the Xantrex 1000 w inverter I picked up at costco for 
$69 it weighs about 6 lbs. Installed under the drivers swivel seat. 
With the addition of a small good quality shore power charger I think 
its possible to stay well below the 45lbs, and perhaps that kind of cash. 
Where will you install it in the vanagon?

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: TC 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 1:44 PM
  Subject: Inverter converter/charge system for $500-1000 ??

  So it now time for me to get down to the
  2nd battery install that has been waiting for me

  I was thinking what I would like was the full monty but at $ stores prices
  What I want
  -AC charge system
  -seamless ac/dc supply from the 2nd battery *OR* the external ac supply
  -battery discharge regulator so that current is stopped if the 2nd battery
  is at less that
     some percentage (say 50%) as measured by voltage, to protect the deep
  cycle
     battery from large dischrage conditions that tend to shorten any battery
  life

  So it seems the ideal magic box would would be both a converter to take the
  external ac & send it to either ac or dc circuits and it would also do the
  reverse
  take the dc from the 2nd battery & send it to either ac or dc circuits at
  the same time.
  This way the standard vanagon ac outlet would work any time & same with the
  devices on the dc circuits (light, stereo, cig lighter)..

  It would also act as regulator to stop draw on the battery of it was to
  discharged
  to protect the battery life

  I could also use the external ac supply to trickle charge the 2nd battery

  I would also want to add a solar charge system later to trickle charge
  during outback camping

  I think this is the type of device to handle these demands
  xantrex call it an inverter / charger
  http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/49/p/1/pt/8/product.asp
  but it is over 3000 watts I dont need that much  power / price

  I am open to any solution with attention to price/function :)