Look in both Camping World and E+B Marine catalogues.  They will have the
proper equipment for your task.  The marine industry has excellent battery
chargers that will charge and maintain multiple banks of batteries and still
keep them isolated.  The RV converters  will supply a load directly from the
converter and provide a small charging current to 1 bank of batteries.  A
relay or switch can be used to charge the engine battery.  These chargers
have excellent filters to power TV's and computer equipment.  A 30 amp unit
should be more than adequate for the Vanagon.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Y Tada <tada_y@AKW05.KHI.CO.JP>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Tuesday, April 14, 1998 2:08 AM
Subject: AC-DC converter and battery charger question

>tada_y
>98/04/14 15:01
>Hello folks,
>Does anyone have experience to install an AC-DC converter?
>Two months ago, I purchased a converter/battery charger named
>"40 RAC" Newmark products CA though domestic RV parts vendor.
>After installed, it doesn't work well.
>This device can change the power source if AC is not supplied, DC from
>sub-battery
>will be supplid to each applications(lamps, DC type TV, radio, FF heater).
>Then AC is supplied, AC-DC converted power will be supplied both battery
>charge and applications automatically.
>For mine, AC not supplied, it works well. But when AC is supplied, the
>voltage at
>application load terminal rises up to 20VDC. So TV and radio do not work
>well.
>When I asked to domestic vendor, they said that this converter's output DC
>includes
>ripple wave (maybe 20V peak). So I'd better not to connect any electronic
>application.
>I can use only lamps, pumps and so on.
>
>I'd like to watch TV and use radio at camp site without any worries of
>battery power.
>Your commemts and suggestions will be highly appreciated.
>Thanks in advance.
>
>
>Yuji
>'91 camper Japan
>