Date: Fri, 3 Jun 2005 17:30:47 -0700
Reply-To: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: mark drillock <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject: Re: Adding a 2nd Battery; which relay terminal.. Now : ( long)
In-Reply-To: <BAY13-F28B807D8E64F7AE4B7120CDA070@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
One thing I would spell out more explicitly than you did is that this
arrangement allows the fridge to run off the aux battery even when the
engine is off. It will possibly fully drain the aux battery in a single
night of camping. Not what I would want to do, for sure. On my 87 Syncro
Camper I wired a separate red led next to the Westy LED panel and hooked
it to the 12 volt heating element in the fridge. This way I always know
for sure when it is running on 12 volts, without opening the fridge to
check the selector switch position, and while camped I notice right away
if I have left it on 12 volts after lighting the propane pilot. The
fridge will light and run on propane even if it is also running on 12
volts or 120 volts. This is a bad thing to do but because running on
propane requires no electricity VW could not easily lock out propane
mode when electric mode is selected. The operator must ensure that both
modes are not in operation at the same time.
Mark
Robert Rountree wrote:
> I just did this to my 87 westy... the simplest answer is..ya switch
> the wire
> on #30 to #87 on the relay... then make a harness for all aux. power
> together to the positive post on the battery and one heavy red wire
> from the
> positive post to #87 on the relay.
>
> or the longer explanation.
>
> disconnect the main battery 1st thing before doing any work
> (jot down your channels and any memories you'll lose before
> disconnection)
>
> on the relay under the drivers seat on 86-91westy campers (not regular
> vanagons)
> On that relay there are 5 wires plugged into it. One blue, one red and
> black, and 3 are red.
> 2 are red wires that run from the fridge area in a black sheath coming
> from
> that small fuse panel behind the drivers seat.
> of those 2 red wires. One is of larger gauge (fatter).
> Unplug that larger red wire from the relay.
> Now there are 2 remaining red wires plugged into the relay.
> One is fatter than the other, unplug it and plug it in were you just
> removed
> the other red wire.
> There should now only be one pin left open on the relay.
> That is were you are going to be plugging in your Aux. Battery's
> +positive
> input.
> That other red wire from the fridge will go together with any other wires
> you want to have aux. power.
> You can make up a harness or use a small fuse panel, combining those
> wires.
> All sources now needing aux. power should be connected to the aux.
> battery's
> +positive side.
> You also need a #14 black or brown Ground wire connect from the battery's
> -neg side to the body.
> You can now partly unscrew the relay and swing it down and more out of
> your
> way and retighten.
> PLEASE make sure all positive connections are covered or heavily taped
> so as
> nothing will contact metal and short out your battery.
> Now your fridge will work on the isolated aux. battery. And the aux.
> battery
> will recharge when the motors running. And you will not run down your
> main
> battery with the aux. system.
......................
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