Secondary / Auxiliary Battery Question

[robertgriner]

Can someone explain to me what "else" I need before my Vanagon is ready to cruise with a second battery?

1 - Maybe an explanation of what needs to be connected to what (in the picture) would be hugely helpful to aid in my ignorance.

I've taken a photo of what came in my van when I purchased it last year. I'm ready to get another battery for accessories, etc., but want to make sure I have all I need.

2 - Also...anyone know what this extra harness is?

Thanks in advance !!
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"Maxx" - 1988 Westy || Tiico Conversion
- 286K+ and going strong!!

[MacLeod Willy]

It looks like the short harness just hooks to the battery and the white plug is a quick disconnect.
They used a constant duty solenoid to disconnect it in the off position. Red looks + White -
Little miffed what the single blank term is for. Better trace that one!

[Vinzanto]

I personally like the advantages of the Yandina C100 battery combiner.

As stated on their website: "The Combiner 100 is a precision voltage-sensing relay (13.0 volts) which connects two batteries together when
either is receiving a charge. When the charging ceases, it
disconnects so that each battery operates independently
and prevents accidental discharge of the starting battery."

I use it in conjunction with the GW aux kit.
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1984 Vanagon Westfalia Wolfsberg

[MacLeod Willy]

This does the same thing, when the ign is on, the selonoid pulls in and simply connects the aux battery to the main for charging.

I took it one step further, I used a toggle switch so I could use it to jumpstart if the main battery went dead

[MarkWard]

Not much room left for a battery. I would try to move the pictured components to get more room for a bigger battery.
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☮️

[Dave Wood]

GoWesty has a install kit and some helpful videos to explain what you need

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=2418&category_id=&category_parent_id
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Dave
87 Vanagon GL

[singler3360]

[SCM]

[thatvwbusguy]

I usually encourage people to ask a themselves a few questions when they decide that they want an auxiliary battery in their van.

1 - How do I plan to use the auxiliary battery?

2 - Where do I want to mount the auxiliary battery?

3 - How can I be as efficient as possible to ensure that the auxiliary battery is being used to maximize both my enjoyment and the lifespan of the battery?

4 - Will I be adding a solar panel at some point?

5 - How much money do I have to spend?

6 - Do I need an inverter (this is an easy one, the answer is "NO" unless you need to run medical equipment or accessories that can't possibly be powered via 12VDC with the proper charger).

Once you have sorted out the answers to all of these questions, it is much easier to identify what your actual needs will be and start designing a system that will serve your needs well.

The unit shown in the first photo is a simple Solenoid used to combine the batteries via the blue alternator exciter circuit wire when the alternator is producing a charge, then separate the batteries when the van is turned off.

It looks like a new dedicated feed wire from the starting battery may have been run up through the floor of the battery compartment (inside the corrugated loom) to power the solenoid. This is a much better approach than pulling the power through the long run of old/thin stock wiring like the GoWesty kit encourages, since it presents a sorter wiring run, with less inherent voltage drop and will improve charging performance.

It might be a good idea to replace (or at the very least label) the black wires that appear to be used as positives that are shown on what I assume is a circuit breaker with all of the yellow and blue connectors. I often tell people that wires don't care what color they are, as long as they are labeled well if they don't follow traditional color coding.

At any rate, if robertgriner can answer the questions that I listed at the top of this post, it should be a lot easier to help to get him set up with just what he needs for his auxiliary battery system.
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Jay Brown
'85 Zetec Westfalia
Newmarket, NH


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