Date:         Wed, 8 Nov 2006 08:49:44 -0500
Reply-To:     Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jake Beaulieu <jbeaulie@ND.EDU>
Subject:      connecting aux battery to radio

Hello,

I am in the process of wiring an auxillary battery in my 1982 air cooled
westy.  I am using the GoWesty kit.  Last week I asked some questions
about wiring the solenoid, thanks for the input.  Now for my new question.

I am trying to figure out how to connect the auxillary battery to the
radio.  The GoWesty instructions say to connect the positive terminal of
the auxillary battery to the red and white striped wire on the top of fuse
9, but according to the wiring diagrams (Bentley 97.21 track 61) this wire
runs to the emergency flasher switch.  The power for the radio comes from
a 16g red wire running from the bottom of fuse 9 through the instrument
light dimmer switch (97.20 track 61).  I am thinking that this is the wire
I need to connect to the auxillary battery.  The thing I don't understand
is how the power to the radio is related to the ignition switch.  The red
wire at the bottom of fuse 9 is always hot, yet the radio only turns on if
the ignition switch is turned on.  Can anyone clear this up?  Also,
shouldn't there be two power wires running to the radio, one that is
always hot (for memory) and one that is only hot when the ignition is on.
I only see one in the Bentley (track 46 Bentley 97.20).

Ok, thanks