Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 23:21:45 -0700
Reply-To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@thegrid.net>
Subject: Re: dual battery? hobigesuss!/Lets try this again!
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> Regarding the suggestion that it is "inferior" because you could buy a
"more > robust" system, you only need to read Beckett's post again, since he
has > shown (speaking as an electrical engineer) that the Hella may indeed
be > _safer_ than a "more robust" system
Ron,
Reread Beckett's post... he said nothing of the kind about it being safer
than a more robust system... he only said it was safe... [implied as safe as
(a properly designed) more robust system].
Ron,
You must be up late back there in PA!
I think Beckett's insights were truly enlightening on this subject of
auxiliary batteries. And I retract all my concerns about the safety of the
Hella Kit based on the information that he provided. Most of it seems
logical it explains why, on the one hand, I had measured such high amperage
using a #4 wire and, on the other hand, the Hella 15 amp fuse had not blown
using much smaller wire. The Battery/Passive Device theory seems to hold.
However, Ron, you do seem to go to some length to spin a little extra out of
Beckett's input. He never implied that there was anything unsafe about a
more robust system.
He did imply that a deeply discharged auxiliary battery could drain the
starter battery at start up... I questioned that in a previous post earlier
this evening by using his own theory of the battery as a passive device to
suggest that the starter at start up, being an active device, would surly
draw the starter battery's power and not the auxiliary battery which is a
passive device.... Beckett did not respond to this, but since I am using his
own theory of the battery as a passive device, and since my rosbust system
has no problem starting with a deeply discharged auxiliary battery, I will
assume that I am correct until he or someone else can show otherwise.
In sum, if Beckett's reasoning is correct (and it seems to be) there is no
apparent problem with the Hella Kit or the more robust systems available on
the market.
But the less robust Hella Kit that you sell will take significantly longer
to charge the auxiliary battery. AND the components can be had cheaper at
you local FLAPS.
Okay, if someone wants the convenience of ordering your kit and they don't
care how long it may take to recharge the battery.... great. I just like it
when people know what they're getting before they buy it and go to the
trouble to put it in.
Bill
Bill
