On Mon, 18 Mar 2013 21:53:33 -0600, Richard A Jones <Jones@COLORADO.EDU> wrote:

>I believe Karl Mullendore figured out that the max amp-hours you could
>fit under the driver seat was to put 4 UB12220 batteries there.  I can't
>find anything on his site now--he's moved on to bigger things under
>other places.  (westyventures.com)
>
>Here's a pix of the setup--4x22 amp/hour batteries:
>http://jones.colorado.edu/VW/UB12220.jpg
>
>Hmmm....  I wonder what he has under his driver seat now?
>
>Richard

Actually, I never installed a set of those in my own van (only in a couple
customer vans), since I had one Interstate MTP-91 under each front seat and
a 4D under the rear seat. But that was my 'old' Syncro, now rusted to
pieces. :-(
In the 'new' Syncro I cut out the original battery boxes and fabricated new
boxes 2-1/4" deeper, allowing the use of group 27 100-ah Lifeline AGM
deep-cycle batteries, some of the best on the market - at $270 each. These
are connected in parallel so basically one large 200-amp-hour battery. Since
the TDI fires up a a touch of the key, I don't worry about a separate
starting battery. No relays or separators needed, really simplifying things.
I did add a Victron battery monitor gauge which helps tremendously in
keeping track of usage and remaining capacity. Details and photos here:
http://www.westyventures.com/rigs.html

Karl
Westy Ventures
Propex USA