diode for backcurrent protection

Damn, we're hijacking.... No - you are the OP... COOL! And Yay!

shirker wrote: There must be some serious vested interests in...

Shirly not! Shirly you must be joking? There must be other reasons people (here) sell $400 40A dc-dc converters so you can properly charge your auxiliary battery(s), or "smart" and diode isolators. Surely? Fine, whatever they tell me I then "prove wrong", but maybe I'm not dealing with the right people. Maybe I need someone that actually understands their product instead of the mere designers, manufacturers, sellers and users that I deal with...??? Vested interests everywhere. The problem is, it's at our expense - even health. Tobacco companies are far from being unique in that area! As to 3 batts etc to get around, IMO brilliant! Alas these days I (we?) have the knowledge to repair, and probably the wisdom not to go cheap short-term... (eg, forget reconditioned batteries for $20 when a new $100 battery will last 10-20 times longer - AND without the hassle!) Mind you, today will be the first day I have bought NEW tyres for a while, but that was money shortfalls giving way to hassle.... And wonder if the Volvo issue was a bad engine to body/chassis ground? Who cares - it's NOT a problem with "integral" units. Problem solved! But do kids of today appreciate that? Nah - they can go out and buy solar chargers....

We had welded that old volvo up with so much heavy plate that the body earth must have been an inconsistency of nightmarish proportions....plus the several engine changes.Back then we would just lift an engine out of a scrapper vehicle,drop it in and drive it away,a days work and no fancy testing. So the fact that ANYTHING worked for long was a blessing....had that car for years,best I ever had. And stop calling me Shirly !!!!

Since we're doing old school film quotes here I just want to get "flux capacitor" in somewhere with apologies to Mr. I

So nice dealing with people that understand ... er, mature references! (Though I did write somewhere Back To The Past about a (its) flux-gate capacitor... something about it being superseded. I probably didn't mention a capacitor's flux - whether its plates' electrical intensity, my soldering remnants, or my faulty caps which apparently were totally fluxed.) And I'll Roger your request shirker. (Again - re your ovlov 145 - well done. I not only admire, but also totally understand!)

So....not content with calling me Shirly,now you plan to Roger me ? I must say australian hospitality is proving to be all that I had heard.......

HOSPITALity? What is it? Shirker, at least I'm improving and following requests. Besides, shirley you can't deny my good taste? (Not that I have yet been tasted.) And I can't deny that you are on the right vector regarding Aussies, though be aware that it may be limited to my state - namely Victoria, and maybe high. [Caveat - not flying high - I am quite grounded (no pun - we earth down here), but having had a couple of unusually fruitful days, I am somewhat elated. But having had new tyres fitted today Or tires in your language?), maybe I should re-tyre from this thread too. I suspect others may be also be tired.]    And speaking of Julie Hagerty and "flying" fish, did anyone ever see Rude Awakening? A lovely reflection of life's and social twists (maybe the Julie's exchanges with the typical advertising agent rings a Bell?).