Something is draining my battery

[LiveonJG]

I think the deluxe ones also had that fancy electrical meter/electrical outlet/circut braker doohicky under the rear bench seat, rather than the base Campmobile (just an outlet and breaker).

Interesting. My '79 parts bus has an electric fridge, the gas heater (at one time) and an extra battery, but no stove or propane. So maybe the fridge was the deal breaker. BTW Blotto I have a fridge in working condition if you are interested.

That sounds right, same setup here. I think the fridge is the key component, wired straight to the aux battery. It would drain the starting battery very quickly. Chitwn, do you have the 70 amp alt as well?

-John

[Westy78]

I think the 70amp alternator was dependent on whether you had the BA6 belly furnace.

[tristessa]

I think the 70amp alternator was dependent on whether you had the BA6 belly furnace.

So did I, but OTOH I thought the fridge/stove/propane was a package deal -- can't get one without the other(s).

[Westy78]

I think the 70amp alternator was dependent on whether you had the BA6 belly furnace.

So did I, but OTOH I thought the fridge/stove/propane was a package deal -- can't get one without the other(s).

Yeah me too. I thought you either got the P22 with sink and ice box or the P27 Deluxe with stove/sink/electric fridge. I believe that's what is shown in the owners manual.

Edit:
Ah here is where I think the confusion is coming from. The stove was not available in Canada. So if the Bus originally came from there you would have the sink and electric fridge only.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/man ... lia/30.jpg

[bretski]

^ Yep. Stove was never available in Canadian models. In the US, the max alternator size was 55amps, 70amp was the max for Canadian models. Although, many P27 owners swapped out to a 70amp alternator later on (including the original owner of my bus).

[chitwnvw]

^ Yep. Stove was never available in Canadian models. In the US, the max alternator size was 55amps, 70amp was the max for Canadian models. Although, many P27 owners swapped out to a 70amp alternator later on (including the original owner of my bus).

And the Canadian did have the 2nd battery.

[LiveonJG]

All I was asking was if chitwn had a 70 amp alt in his parts bus.

Thanks to all who answered anyway!

-John

[bretski]

It's a Faulkner thang, John...

[chitwnvw]

All I was asking was if chitwn had a 70 amp alt in his parts bus.

Thanks to all who answered anyway!

-John

Yes, I do. But am I parting with it?

[LiveonJG]

All I was asking was if chitwn had a 70 amp alt in his parts bus.

Thanks to all who answered anyway!

-John

Yes, I do. But am I parting with it?

Now this is getting deep.

-John

[Mr Blotto]

OK - back on topic. Today I replaced my "original" voltage regulator (Bosch - made in Brasil???) with a new Bosch (made in Spain), and notice a few things.

1 - Instead of getting 12.6V @ idle, I am now getting 13.4 (I didn't check it while reving but 13.4 seems more like what it should be).

2 - The old one is weighs a lot more than the new one

3 - They have managed to get the same electronics to fit into a smaller space

[twinfalls]

Batteries have evolved since original VW stuff.
Most todays batteries are at a higher voltage using Calcium plate technology.
The original regulators are a bit too low for best charging of these.

I think the 14v is right for Calcium technology, while 13.6V was the right voltage for plain lead plates. Please verify these figures.

[RSorak 71Westy]

Thats because the old one is a mechanical relay and the new one is a circuit and power transistor.

[twinfalls]

Car Batteries Are Not 12 Volts.

Battery technology evolutions and their optimum charging regulator voltage.

http://www.landiss.com/battery.htm

[Hippie]

I don't think .064A wiould drain your battery that fast.
Likely, either your battery has an internal short and is draining itself, or the alternator has a bad diode and the meter isn't picking it up. Maybe over range of the meter.
I'm leaning toward a defective battery.