Date:         Fri, 19 Jul 2002 15:12:50 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: Second Battery Question
Comments: To: Harmon Seaver <hseaver@CYBERSHAMANIX.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

On full Westys this relay is for the fridge element when it is on the 12
volt setting. I use a second wire from pin 87 of this relay to control a
separate relay for the second battery.

On Diesel Westys the second battery can (and should IMHO) be put under
the front passenger seat for better access and weight distribution. As
you noted, the main battery is in the very back on the diesel models.

Group 41 batteries fit fine as that is the stock size.

To avoid adding wiring under the less accessible driver's seat you can
connect the control lead for the second battery relay to the fuse box
behind the driver's seat. One of these is run directly from pin 87 of
the aforementioned fridge relay.

Mark

Harmon Seaver wrote:
>
>     Okay, finally figured out that I can slide the drivers seat right
> off the tracks, then turn the swivel around so I can open the trapdoor.
> Now that it's open, I see what looks a lot like a relay there -- is this
> the relay for dual batteries? It's grey, sure looks like the one
> described in the FAQ, so I'm thinking that I can put a battery in here
> (if I can find one that fits and then put a bigger one in back with a
> second relay to isolate that one as well.
>
> Harmon Seaver wrote:
> >    On my '82 westy, I can't get the little trap door under the drivers seat to
> > open because the seat doesn't go forward enough. What's with this? On my '81
> > vanagon (non-westy) it was no problem. It seems the swivel seat doesn't move on
> > the regular tracks, just on it's own tracks. Is there something I'm missing here
> > (don't have a bentley yet, it's on it's way tho), or do you have to unbolt the
> > whole seat to get in there?
> >    And, IIRC, the battery for my '81 was in there under the front seat, while
> > the battery for my '82 diesel westy is in the back. It also looks like you could
> > put two batteries in side by side in the back, has anyone done this?
> >
> >
>
> --
> Harmon Seaver
> CyberShamanix
> http://www.cybershamanix.com