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Date:         Wed, 1 Nov 2006 11:12:13 -0500
Reply-To:     Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU>
Subject:      GoWesty extra battery wiring kit

Howdy,


I picked up the Go Westy wiring kit for an auxillary battery in my 1982
air cooled westy.  I have been comparing the instructions that came with
the kit to several informative posts in the archives.  First, for anybody
interested in learning more about this subject I reccomend reviewing the
following three posts:


Post 1: Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 10:49:32 -0800
        Sender: harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
        Subject: Re: Flash Alert! Dual Battery Relay
Post 2: Date: Sun, 31 Jan 1999 12:41:51 -0800
        Sender: harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
        Subject: Dual Battery Relay - Part 2 (long)
Post 3: Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 17:27:26 -0800
        Sender: Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
        Subject: Auxiliary Battery Madness (looong)


Ok, so the Go Westy kit comes with a solenoid that runs between the
starter and auxilllary battery.  The instruction recomends running a wire
from one side of the solenoid to the bottom of fuse 8 (power from starter
battery).  The other side of the solenoid runs to the positive terminal of
the auxillary battery.  This seems to contrast with the reccomendation of
the above posts to connect one side of the solenoid directly to the
positive terminal of the auxillary battery and the other side directly to
the positive terminal of the starter battery.  I guess the rational is
that there is a voltage loss between the starter battery and the fuse
panel and that this will reduce how much the auxillary battery can get
charged.  Any ideas on why Go Westy reccomends tapping into fuse 8 rather
than directly to the starter battery?


My second question regards the trigger wire for the solenoid.  Go Westy
suggests tapping into a blue wire that can be found running behind the
fuse panel for the trigger circuit.  They don't identify this wire, but I
believe it comes from the alternator.  The posts I referenced above
suggest tapping into the trigger wire circuit already wired to the fridge
relay under the drivers seat.  I suppose both methods work as long as they
only trigger the solenoid when the van is running (and NOT while the
starter in engaged).  Any thoughts the relative merits of these two
different trigger circutis.


I love this listserve,
Jake
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