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The Vanagon Dictionary

Get to know your Volkswagen.

Look up Vanagon, EuroVan and Volkswagen Bus terms, then follow the definitions to their sources.

About the Dictionary and its data

Definitions and source records come from the shared Dictionary, which remains available at dictionary.vanagon.com.

API and data details

Results for “BATTERY”

34 public entries · page 1 of 2

  • BATTERY

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Device for storing electrical energy

    • battery
    • electrical
  • Battery mounting

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    System for securing the battery in place

    • battery
    • mounting
  • Dual/Aux Battery

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    A secondary battery installation in a vehicle

    • battery
    • electrical
  • Battery cable

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    A cable that connects the battery to the vehicle's electrical system

    • battery
    • cable
    • electrical
  • Active battery isolator

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    A device that actively manages the charging and discharging of multiple battery banks

    • electrical
    • batteries
    • isolator
  • Battery bank

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    A group of batteries connected together

    • batteries
    • configuration
  • ground cable

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    cable connecting battery to vehicle chassis

    • battery
    • electrical
  • Deep Cycle Battery

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    A battery designed for repeated, prolonged discharge and recharge, rather than chiefly for the brief high current used to start an engine. In camper discussions this distinction helps explain a leisure battery’s role. “Deep-cycle” is a duty description, not permission to drain any battery completely; chemistry and manufacturer limits still matter.

    • battery
    • type
  • Camper 12-volt battery

    VW Bus and camper parts

    English · source definition

    The 12-volt battery supply used for camper electrical loads such as interior lighting, the water pump, and controls on the documented Vanagon Westfalia. Whether a particular vehicle has a separate auxiliary battery depends on its model and later modifications.

    • camper
    • electrical
    • battery
  • maintenance free battery

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    A lead-acid battery sold as requiring reduced routine servicing, often with no user access for checking or topping up individual cells. The name does not mean that charge, terminals and overall condition need no attention. Gerry’s 1995 FAQ discusses this older automotive usage; it does not describe every modern sealed battery.

    • battery
    • design
  • electrolyte

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    In the lead-acid batteries discussed in Gerry’s battery FAQ, the liquid mixture of sulfuric acid and water in contact with the plates. Its density changes with charge state. This meaning is specific to that battery chemistry; it is not a generic name for every camper battery’s contents.

    • battery
    • chemistry
  • Parasitic load

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    An electrical load that continues drawing battery current when the vehicle is switched off. Gerry’s FAQ mentions clocks and other key-off equipment: some draw is intentional, while excessive draw reduces parked starting reserve. Camper appliances deliberately powered from a leisure battery should be distinguished from an unexplained starter-battery drain.

    • battery
    • load
  • State-of-charge

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    An estimate of how much charge remains in a battery, commonly expressed as a percentage of full charge. It differs from battery health: a worn battery can be fully charged yet store little usable energy. The voltage and electrolyte-density table in Gerry’s 1995 FAQ concerns lead-acid batteries, not a universal camper-battery gauge.

    • batteries
    • maintenance
  • Tapered current charger

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    A charger whose delivered current decreases as charging progresses. In Gerry’s lead-acid battery FAQ this contrasts with a constant-current charger. The term describes charging behaviour, not a guarantee of automatic shut-off or compatibility with a particular camper battery chemistry.

    • battery
    • charger
  • Sulfated

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Describes a lead-acid battery affected by persistent lead-sulfate deposits on its plates. Gerry’s FAQ associates this condition with prolonged discharged storage and reduced serviceability. This is different from corrosion visible on external terminals, and the label alone does not establish that a battery can be restored.

    • battery
    • condition
  • Electrolyte level

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    The height of the liquid electrolyte relative to the plates in a serviceable flooded lead-acid battery. It describes liquid quantity, not state of charge or specific gravity. Gerry’s battery FAQ discusses accessible cells; this term must not be read as an instruction to open a sealed battery.

    • batteries
    • maintenance
  • Deep discharge

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Discharging a battery to a low state of charge. It does not necessarily mean zero charge or zero terminal voltage. In the lead-acid context of Gerry’s FAQ, repeated deep discharge can shorten useful life. A “deep-cycle” label does not remove the battery manufacturer’s discharge limits.

    • battery
    • discharge
  • Amp-hours

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Unit of measurement for battery capacity

    • batteries
    • capacity
  • engine-starting

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Battery type for starting vehicle engines

    • batteries
    • vehicle
  • deep-cycle

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    Battery type for frequent discharge and recharge

    • batteries
    • camper
  • Equalization charge

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    A process to balance battery cell voltages

    • batteries
    • maintenance
  • Specific gravity

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    The ratio of a liquid’s density to that of water. In the flooded lead-acid battery context of Gerry’s FAQ, electrolyte specific gravity helps estimate charge and compare cells. It is different from electrolyte level; temperature and battery design affect interpretation. It is not a measurement for a sealed lithium camper battery.

    • batteries
    • specific
    • gravity
  • Self-discharge

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    The loss of charge in a battery over time

    • batteries
    • storage
  • Depth of discharge

    Electrical systems

    English · machine-assisted draft

    The percentage of battery capacity used before recharging

    • batteries
    • lifespan