I connected my two batts with a 1315 separator. It has a cool little
feature of being able to connect the two batts together using a simple
SPST switch. I found a BIG red push button switch that I mounted to
left side of my steering column plastic. Since the switch just acts to
open a circuit on the 1315, you can use 16 or 18 gauge wire. The PP
connecters are a good idea for making jumper cables though...

Jeff

On Nov 14, 2009, at 12:16 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:15:28 -0800
> From:    Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: A Current Question of humor
>
> RE:
>
>> So I reckon that if I find myself with a discharged starter battery
>> and a
>> charged house battery and hope the start the engine I'll jump the two
>> batteries together with a jumper cable, sit and watch the hills for
>> a few
>> minutes, then crank 'er over.
>>
>
> In fact BTDT last January coming out of Borego Springs when the
> brushes in
> my alternator gave up the ghost. Even though it took a couple of
> minutes at
> the side of the I-8 freeway (had to move 'stuff' to get to the house
> battery
> under the rear bunk/seat and dig out the jumper cables from the
> back) with
> the jumper cables in place between the house and starter battery I
> started
> right back up and drove another 30+ miles to my brother in laws
> place in
> Chula Vista, put in the spare regulator/brush pack, and was back in
> business. Since then I've thought about doing what would be needed
> to just
> throw a switch to accomplish the same thing but given how often such
> a setup
> would be needed I think I'll keep it elegant and simple instead of
> complicated and wonderful.
> BTW, I use Anderson Powerpole connectors for anything that I wire up
> and
> needs to be able to be 'unwired' at some point.  And they are also
> 'elegant
> and simple'.  The big ones can handle most anything you'll ever be
> able to
> plug into them when dealing with a Vanagon and it's needs.