> Date: 98-09-13 14:11:29 EDT
> From: maxjoyce@IPA.NET (Max/Joyce Wellhouse)
>
> Have any of the list members bought the $95 Prestone "sealed" lead acid
> baterry w/ built in jumpstart cables and charger? ...

I considered getting one of those sealed portable battery packs.
Since my camper had no auxilliary battery, the camping gear
(lights, etc.) ran off the starting battery, and I thought it would
be awfully easy to accidentally run it down and get stuck.  The
portable battery would solve that problem.  As I thought more
about it, though, I decided that what I really needed was a true
auxilliary battery.  It seemed to make more sense, for the following
reasons:
    - Cost of aux battery plus wiring, relay, etc. was not a lot
      more than the portable battery would be.
    - Aux battery takes less storage space - it's smaller, and tucked away
      into otherwise unusable space.
    - Aux battery has greater capacity - mine's a 31 amp-hour.
    - Aux battery can be used to jump starting battery, just like
      portable battery can.
    - Aux battery runs all the camping equipment, making it much less
      likely that starting battery would ever be run down.
    - Aux. battery recharges automatically when engine is running,
      and (if a charger is installed too) when camper is plugged in.

The advantages of the portable battery are:
    - It's portable - you can use it away from the van.  (I didn't have any
      need for this capability.)
    - It's much easier to "install" - buy it and you're all done.  The aux.
      battery is a fair amount of work.
    - It's somewhat cheaper.

So, I went with the permenantly installed aux. battery.  It was more work
than I thought, but I'm pleased with the result.  I wonder sometimes about
getting one of those portable batteries for my Honda wagon, though - for
some reason I keep leaving the headlights on.

                                                 -Steven Sittser