"Are these deep cycle shore batteries what is most commonly used as aux.
electric power source installations in Vans and Westies?"

Can't speak for most people.

A real deep-cycle battery is purpose-designed for applications just like
providing power for "cabin" use. So that's what I use. The alternator
can't charge it properly, being set up to charge the engine starting
battery which is of a different design and has different requirements.

For charging the deep-cycle battery I use a Powerstream PST-BC1212-15
DC-to-DC charger <http://www.powerstream.com/DCC.htm>, an early version
which is set to provide 15 amps peak charging current, about perfect for
my 130 A/h battery.

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
Bend, Ore.

On 08/07/2012 07:41 AM, JRodgers wrote:
> Are these deep cycle shore batteries what is most commonly used as aux.
> electric power source installations in Vans and Westies? I had a motor
> home once and it had four of these big puppies in parallel as aux
> electric power. Those suckers were awesome for the length of time they
> would run without having to recharge. Had a charger installed that
> charged the batteries any time the alternator was running or anytime the
> vehicle was connected to external AC power. There were two heavy duty
> standard vehicle batteries for normal vehicle operations and starting,
> along with a gas generator for Aux Electric as well. It too would charge
> the batteries. But mostly I found I never needed thing. Didn't like it
> anyway. To noisy. New gens are pretty quiet in comparison, but still,
> nobody likes generator noise in a quiet campground.
>
> John
>
> On 8/7/2012 8:38 AM, Rocket J Squirrel wrote:
>> I run a Trojan 130 Ah deep cycle battery.
>>
>> --
>> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
>> 1984 Westfalia, auto trans,
>> Bend, Ore.
>>
>> On 08/06/2012 09:00 PM, Kim Brennan wrote:
>>> Okay. I'm curious about alternative batteries that people may have
>>> used for an aux (shore) battery in their Vanagons. I know Karl's used
>>> a few different types. I just read about Lithium-Iron batteries (and
>>> I've been using Lithium Ion batteries in yard tools).
>>>
>>> (yes that>IS< IRON, and not ION).
>>>
>>> What (other than lead acid/gel/AGM) batteries have folk tried?
>>