Best set-up for Aux Battery

[gmasterv]

After reading through years of posts/debates on the best way to configure (i.e. connect, isolate and charge) your aux batteries, I'm actually more confused now than ever? relay? Voltage sensing relay? Autmatic Charging Relay? separator? Isolator? manual switch? heck, I'm not even sure what all these mean and I know some overlap...

I just want to know how to keep the on all night and drive away in the morning!

Anybody have any experience with this relay made by Blue Sea Systems? A boating enthusiast friend of mine swears that this is exactly what I need?

http://www.bluesea.com/product.asp?Product_id=53476

[sc-surfer]

For light duty use (anything in your camper is most likely light duty compared to a boat with a large bank of batts and heavy current draws) the relay system is just fine. I have mine that way and have never had any trouble. Also much cheaper and simpler to set up.
_________________
'89 Syncro Westy
Catalog of Vans at SDM 2010
Westfalia, Syncro & Tristar Reproduction decals here.
* * * Coming Soon: Washable seat covers for westy bench seat...keep the pets off the upholstery! * * *

[northwesty]

I agree with surfer. Keep it simple. No need to complicate and waste time/money. I would DEFINITELY put in a manual switch though.
If you're driving in the boonies and it's late, raining, cold, yada yada. You should at that point shut off the aux batt charging relay manually, to help avoid alternator failure. It's quite a load to run the healights, stereo, windshield wipers, heater fans, and charge two batteries at the same time.