Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
VanagonEuroVan
Subject:Re: Adding a Deep Cycle Battery and heavy duty relay
From:Mark Drillock
Date:Wed, 8 Nov 2006 06:43:40 -0800

What you are doing is very dangerous if not done properly and you can
burn up your whole van if you make a mistake. You can't just pick and
choose parts of how others have done things without understanding the
issues involved in their choices. 10 gauge wire is not heavy enough
unless you design the system right. Connecting the batteries together
with such small wire should not be done while the starter is operating.
Using a "hot while ignition on" wire to control the relay is a bad idea
because of this but Matsuwesty says that he used battery cable to
connect the relay. Battery cable is not 10 gauge.

Mark

listmember wrote:

 > hmm, honestly, I don't where the other end of this blue wire is
 > supposed to go. the hella relay I have now isn't set up that way.
 > I have 10 guage wire now.
 >
 > I just read
 > http://home.earthlink.net/%7Ematsuwesty/page14.html
 > and it covers a four post relay... and that the fourth wire should be
 > wired to a hot wire... that is only hot when the ignition is on... So
 > since I'm puttiing my second battery under the rear seat... I assume
I > will want the relay also under the rear seat.. so the quesiton
arises > where will I find this hot when igition is on wire...

Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »