I may be misinterpreting what you did but what I described is not much different than the VW error of the high beam switch energizing all the accessory loads if it is pulled back with the ignition off and the headlight switch on. Try it.

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Alistair Bell Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 2:36 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Re: Overhead Westy light

Dennis,

been thinking over your criticisms about my electrical set up and I still disagree with you. If my relay which separates the house from starting battery fails during driving then the house battery takes over supplying juice to all but the starter.

The car doesn't know the difference, the electrical path is the same.

Alistair

On 28-Jun-06, at 9:27 AM, Alistair Bell wrote:

Dennis,

I don't see the problem you envisage.

All aux lines i run from battery at rear up to stock fuse box are fused in the little ux fuse box at battery. The house battery is connected to main battery by realy when ign on (as is the standard practice) and the connection line is fused.

There are no "cross connections".

If the relay fails when driving, as you outlined below, then the fuses in the aux fuse box will blow, and or the inline fuse in the house battery line.

Alistair

On 28-Jun-06, at 9:01 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:

The problem with your idea is that you end up wit a bunch of cross connections that not only make troubleshooting a problem, but should something go wrong, make for a great fire starter. For example, your headlights, through the ignition switch are powered from the original battery, but the running lights are now on the auxiliary. When the headlights are on, both batteries are effectively tied together. So, if the charge relay or isolator r whatever stays open, (off), the headlight switch and wiring is now the charging circuit. Run the fridge 12 volts and few other loads plus the charge current for the battery and you can easily put 40 amps or more through this circuit designed for 15 and there is not a fuse anywhere. Make sure the comprehensive insurance with fire is in place. Add a defctive cell in the auxiliary battery and you can finish it quickly. Sounds drastic but it has happened.

Dennis

----- Original Message ----- From: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA> Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 11:40 am Subject: Re: Overhead Westy light

> Hi, > > I've often wondered why more owners don't do as I do with my aux > battery and that is relay it so it supplies the "entire electrical > system" (actually supplies just to fuse panel under dash) when the > ign key is off. Entire that is but for starter motor. > > In practice that means the running lights can be left on (but not > headlights for that does require the key to be on the on position), > but I haven't had any occasion where I have accidentally knocked the > headlight switch on when camping. > > The advantage is that one can wire accessories straight into the > stock electrical system. > > One other thing, I have a small aux fuse box wired into the battery > (the cool little unit from late model Beetles/Golfs). This box has > fusable links which I use to run : 1. additional wire to stock fuse > panel, 2. additional wire to headlight relay, 3. wire to driving > light. The box also has some spade type fuses for more take off > points. > My relay is mounted next to it and switches from starting battery to > small gel cell house battery. The starter cable is not switched. > > This system has worked for me for a few years now. > > Alistair > > > '82 westy, diesel converted to gas in '94 > http://www.members.shaw.ca/albell/ > > On 28-Jun-06, at 7:56 AM, Loren Busch wrote: > > You may find it easier to simply move ALL interior electrical stuff > to the > aux battery, including the radio, cigar lighter, etc. Check the > archives > for instructions on this. It involves running one wire from the aux > battery > to the fuse block. Where it attaches to the fuse block depends on > what year > Vanagon you are driving. > > On 6/27/06, Gilles Turmel <gilles.turmel@sympatico.ca> wrote: >> >> Hi, >> I want to connect my overhead Westy light to the fuse boxe powered >> by my >> auxilliary battery. Where is the best place to intercepted the > power> wire feeding that light? >> Best regards. >> Gilles Turmel >> >