TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:56 am

My 1977 Westy Deluxe seems to be all wired for an auxiliary battery and I'd like to install one. However, I am not really sure what kind of battery to buy - there are so many different ones out there! I saw http://www.type2.com/library/electrip/batfaq.htm
but that was a bit to deep into the matter and mostly talks about batteries that start my engine etc., which my aux battery will not have to do.

On that note, since my bus is already prewired, can I assume it has a battery relay kit installed so that listening to my radio with the engine off still allows me to start the bus afterwards? Will I need to rewire my radio once I have installed the aux battery so it does run off the aux battery while not driving?

Thanks, Marius

Fri Nov 21, 2008 11:14 am

Alot of People will tell you to get an Optima or some fancy one,

But I got an Everstart DeepCycle Marine Trolling motor Battery from Wal mart/
and it works good. I think it was 60$. It lasts for two days camping.

I run lights and a fan in my bus, while camping.

Whatever you get, make sure it s a deep cycle Battery

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:03 pm

Kosmo wrote: I got an Everstart DeepCycle Marine Trolling motor Battery from Wal mart/
and it works good. I think it was 60$.
Whatever you get, make sure it s a deep cycle Battery

X2.........................I got the 27DC-6

Quote: On that note, since my bus is already prewired, can I assume it has a battery relay kit installed
I wouldn't assume anything is stock on a 30 year old unit.

Quote: Will I need to rewire my radio once I have installed the aux battery so it does run off the aux battery while not driving
Probably, run it off the aux batt all the time. Figuring that out will be a good bonding experience.
GL

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:05 pm

I'm using an interstate battery 29 series (SRM-29) Deep Cycle battery. I chose Interstate because we use them at work on a fleet of 400+ Ready Mix trucks and they last! That & the fact I got a discount on them because we buy alot. At the time it was $60 a few years ago. Now I'm sure its alot more $$.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:05 pm

This has been covered, you really should do a search. However quick and dirty, you want a proper deep-cycle battery and the biggest you can fit in there (I think group 31 is the biggest that will fit, but a lot of people use a group 27 which is still pretty big). If you have the stock relay it should be right in your face if you stick your head in the engine compartment and turn your head to the left. It's attached to the body just inside the door.

The advantage of the Optima batteries is that they're totally sealed and won't rust out the battery tray. Otherwise I think they're a waste of money (IMHO).

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:16 pm

WhirledTraveller wrote: This has been covered, you really should do a search.

True.

FWIW, I just use whatever battery I happen to have laying around. Right now I have the old Duralast battery that I took out of my Jetta.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:34 pm

I just installed a Duralast 24MD-DL in my '78 bus. This is the same size battery that my local VW shop would install and it has excellent specs compared to Optimas. It was $70 from Autozone and was a tight fit, though nothing had to be removed in order for me to install it.