Hi Bill.

Ok this is helping.

I assumed a relay was installed in aux batt box on all Westy's.

My 81 Westy does NOT have a relay under drivers seat. And.....

Pictoral in Bentley, p97.9a, shows pos from starter batt to "cut-out" relay (I would install) and though not clearly show, pos from cut-out relay connects to pos on aux. batt.

Is this pictoral for base model Vanagons that DON'T have the Westy interior?

The pictoral confused me since in my case, 12V constant is already present at red wire from fuse box.

In this case, would constant 12V coming into aux batt box, connect to a newly installed "cut-out" relay, then out to pos of aux batt? Thus negating the need for me to run a 10 gauge wire from pos. of starter batt?

Thanks much for info, I'll re read again,

Neil.

On 4/11/07, Bill Glenn <idahobill@gmail.com> wrote: > On Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:26:58 -0700, neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote: > > >Hi all. > > > >I searched, read Bentley, but can't wrap my head around wiring for > >aux batt. > > Neil, I'm not going to decipher the wiring that you have, but not too long > ago I conducted a search of the archives with an eye toward compiling a how- > to for myself when I get around to installing an auxiliary battery. I > distilled numerous postings/conversations into the following, which I have > saved as an MS Word document: (thanks to many listees who contributed) > > Description of Power to Camper Section > > "Always-on" power for the camper section (not controlled by the ignition > switch) comes from one of two places, depending on whether an auxiliary > battery has been fitted. > > In the absence of an auxiliary battery, power comes from the rear of the > fuse panel under the dash (current path 30 in Bentley) through a 2.5mm red > wire (un-fused), which runs to terminal 87 on the relay under the driver's > seat. > > If an auxiliary battery has been fitted under the driver's seat, the power > to terminal 87 of the relay comes from the positive terminal of the > auxiliary battery. > > The function of this relay is to energize the refrigerator for operation on > 12 volts only when the alternator is producing current, that is, when the > motor is running, consequently this relay is often referred to as the > fridge relay. > > When the engine is running and the alternator is producing current, a small > trigger current is sent from the alternator through a 0. 5mm blue trigger > wire to terminal 86 on the fridge relay, which causes the relay to close > (terminal 85 is grounded by means of a red wire with a black stripe). When > the relay closes, power is sent out through terminal 30, and is carried by > a 2.5mm red wire to the input end (bottom) of the black fuse block located > on the "B" pillar behind the driver's seat. > > This red wire supplies power, which flows through the red fuse (16 amp > rating) occupying the rear position in the fuse block, to operate the > fridge on 12 volts, again, only when the motor is running and the > alternator is producing current. > > Another 2.5mm red wire connects terminal 87 of the fridge relay to the > input end (bottom) of the fuse block, and supplies power, which flows > through the white fuse (8 amp rating) occupying the forward position in the > fuse block, to the LED panel above the fridge, the water pump, and the > camper lighting. > > Note: 2.5mm wire = #10 awg > 0.5mm wire = #22-24 awg >

-- Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.

http://web.mac.com/tubaneil