I happen to have four side by side large Trojan golf cart batteries
under my rear seat. They are very rapidly recharged by a tightly wound
customized
alternator which I had an alternator shop build for me. I connected them
with some very big, short and direct welding cable to assure the highest
flow rate of amps from my alternator to the Trojan deep cycle batteries.
My goal was to maximize the ability of the alternator to meaningfully
recharge the Trojans if the van is sitting a lot and going for short
trips, such as operating from a campsite for a week somewhere with trips
to special places. I also extended some terminals from those Trojans
under the rear seat, which stick out an inch from the "wall board" of
that rear seat. This makes it extremely easy for me to inter-connect
those rear battery to the starter battery for a jump, or for other 12
volt purposes.

I have such a large reserve of power in those long lasting Golf Cart
batteries that I run all my appliances and stuff from that, the roof
fan...everything.
This minimizes the risk of accidentally running down the starter battery
"too low".

I'll be happy to answer any questions.

James/California
1985 Westy.

Dennis wrote:
> What do you plan to use it for and for how long? After that, what space
> are you willing to give up, how much weight do you want to carry and how
> much do you wish to spend. Next, how, and how often will you charge it.
> Answer those and a system can be designed.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Larry Hinshaw
> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 5:18 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Auxiliary battery for 89 Westy
>
> What size deep cycle battery do you recommend for the Auxiliary Battery?
> Does anyone have have a "how to"
> instructions for connecting it up inline with the starter battery?
>
>
> Larry - Charlotte, NC
> 89 Westy - Gypsy Rose
>
>
>