On Apr 21, 2010, at 3:36 PM, Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" wrote:

>> On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:11:51 -0700, mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
>> wrote:
>>> Today I was able to fire up my 3 battery system for the first time. A
>>> dedicated 125 amp hour deep cycle was added......
>>> ....I don't know how it will be in practice. Anybody know?
>>> Suggestions?
>> -----------------
>> Phil Z. ably typed:
>> Hi Mark,
>> Wow... now thats a dedicated aux battery for an Italian Gelato
>> Refer....
>> ....Might be worth the time and effort to put a temperature probe on
>> the battery
>> to measure its temperature while Underway and Charging. See what the
>> temps are?
>> -----------------------
> Mr Buddy Squirrel Mike Elliott typed:

> Your top-shelf chargers have a temp probe you screw to a battery
> terminal so they can compensate for temperature.
> ----------
Gads Mike, you been reading the same battery porn I have.
A temperature compensated Battery Charger.
I'd sell my Westie for one!
Wait... then I wouldn't need one....  Forget that Idea. They are in the
$4-500 range anyway.

Anywho, I assumed Mark would have a Thermister/Thermocouple for his VOM
that he could hook-up to measure the temps
back at his new cool Auxiliary Battery next to that even cooler Ford
Four-Banger Zetec engine in the Stretch testmobile.

  Did a quick look for battery charging temperatures not to be
exceeded..... Optima says: 125 F.
Which, in my less than stellar recall, is about the average engine-room
temperature of an average Westy on an average day,
while running down an average highway. Slow down entering a City or hit
a Stoplight and the temperature spikes up big-time.

Think this will be salient to Marks question.  Did you install a DC to
DC Charger on your Rig to top-up your Aux Batteries?
The ones I looked at were far less $$ than the so-called 'smart
chargers' for an Alternator Charging System.

regards

Phil Z.
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