Auxiliary Battery in Conversion B250 Classic
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Auxiliary Battery in Conversion B250 Classic
Hey all, I've been looking through these forums for awhile, but am a first time poster. Thanks for all the great help so far!
I recently bought a 1989 B250 318 Hi-top conversion Van, and came across a 700 watt Power Inverter for running my laptop etc. The guy who sold me the van showed me a compartment behind the Fold out Bench where a 2nd Auxiliary battery was supposed to be kept, but instead contained a rusted out compartment with a bunch of wires. I remember seeing a white wire with a metal loop on it, like it attached to the battery, and I figure the rest of the wires travel to the rear cigerette lighters where the TV used to plug in.
My question is - has anybody installed an Auxiliary battery on a B250, or, how could I check to see if the Alternator is still sending a charge through the wires the I would connect to the battery? If a picture would help I can post one in a few days.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Michael
I recently bought a 1989 B250 318 Hi-top conversion Van, and came across a 700 watt Power Inverter for running my laptop etc. The guy who sold me the van showed me a compartment behind the Fold out Bench where a 2nd Auxiliary battery was supposed to be kept, but instead contained a rusted out compartment with a bunch of wires. I remember seeing a white wire with a metal loop on it, like it attached to the battery, and I figure the rest of the wires travel to the rear cigerette lighters where the TV used to plug in.
My question is - has anybody installed an Auxiliary battery on a B250, or, how could I check to see if the Alternator is still sending a charge through the wires the I would connect to the battery? If a picture would help I can post one in a few days.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Michael
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Joined: Aug 2007
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You will need a digital multimeter to continue.
Even a harbor freight cen tech cheapo will allow you to figure out some basics.
You are looking to find 13.5 or more volts at the wires with the engine running. You should compare voltages at the wires in the Aux box, with the engine battery.
12.8v is about what what one should expect on a fully charged battery. Anything above that and that battery is being charged.
How well it is being charged is another matter. My '89 will do upto 14.9v steady and briefly above that, and other times decide 13.7 is plenty, even if the batteries are still thirsty enough where 14.8 would be better. I have a beefed up charging circuit.
Most people wire up Aux batteries with overwhelmingly undersized wire. It really needs to be fat if the aux battery is large and it is depleted a good amount. Otherwise it is like trying to drink through a cocktail straw.
low and slow does little good unless one is driving for hours and hours, and then some more on top of that. No matter what, the last 20% of charge takes a long time. and achieving that last 20% is crucial, every so often(weekly, if cycled daily) for battery longevity.
One should not rely on the alternator for that last 20%. It is probably the poorest choice.
Even a harbor freight cen tech cheapo will allow you to figure out some basics.
You are looking to find 13.5 or more volts at the wires with the engine running. You should compare voltages at the wires in the Aux box, with the engine battery.
12.8v is about what what one should expect on a fully charged battery. Anything above that and that battery is being charged.
How well it is being charged is another matter. My '89 will do upto 14.9v steady and briefly above that, and other times decide 13.7 is plenty, even if the batteries are still thirsty enough where 14.8 would be better. I have a beefed up charging circuit.
Most people wire up Aux batteries with overwhelmingly undersized wire. It really needs to be fat if the aux battery is large and it is depleted a good amount. Otherwise it is like trying to drink through a cocktail straw.
low and slow does little good unless one is driving for hours and hours, and then some more on top of that. No matter what, the last 20% of charge takes a long time. and achieving that last 20% is crucial, every so often(weekly, if cycled daily) for battery longevity.
One should not rely on the alternator for that last 20%. It is probably the poorest choice.