Date:         Fri, 12 Nov 2004 10:05:55 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <felder@KNOLOGY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Cabin lights, aux battery, venting?
In-Reply-To:  <s1949431.029@mail.acponline.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

You've got to isolate the circuits at the fuse box, I believe.

If yours is 86 or newer, try pulling fuse #3 and leave it out. run a
wire lead from your aux battery positive terminal (the one you're
trying to use for your accessories) and run it to the bottom clip on #3
terminal with a spade connector to fit over the clip. Put a fuse near
the battery on the wire you ran.

I did the same thing on my 83 and it did what you say you want to do,
but the fusebox is different. If your car is that old let me know and
I'll send you what I did.  The above suggestion is from Mark Drillock,
if I recall correctly, and applies to the later model cars. I'm not
sure what to do on an 84 or 85. If someone does know, please post as
I'd like to add specific wiring/fuse panel information to my relay
installation instructions at my website
http://www.knology.net/~felder/Vanagons/.

Thanks,

Jim

> Hello all,
>
> I installed an auxilliary battery in my 88 Westy this weekend
> following the directions on the vanagon.com site. However, according
> to the directions, the cabin light (the one over the stove) would also
> be wired to the aux battery when the wires that were previously on the
> relay were attached directly to the battery. I noticed when I had the
> two red wires from the relay disconnected that the cabin light still
> worked. It would seem that if one of the red wires supplies power to
> the cabin light, and if it was unhooked from the relay and not
> otherwise provided with power, then the light would not work.
>
> Must I rewire the cabin light somehow to the aux battery? I'd really
> like the cabin light to run off the aux battery, as I'll probably use
> that more than the frig on 12v power. I'll probably also rewire the
> dash stereo and cig lighter socket to the aux battery at some point.
>
> On a related note, I'm currently using a regular (non deep cycle)
> battery mounted under the driver's seat as the aux battery. I had
> thought, though, about using the space in the cabinet next to the frig
> (just behind the driver's seat) to house a larger-sized deep cycle
> battery. Is there any problem doing this relating to battery gasses or
> the like? If so, perhaps a few carefully drilled holes in the side of
> the cabinet facing front would provide adequate ventilation? I'd
> actually like to open up the spare battery compartment for use as a
> "secret compartment" (well, for non-Vanagon owners!) for hiding
> valuables when parked.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts...
>
> Brian
>