Date:         Sat, 27 Mar 2010 13:04:57 -0600
Reply-To:     gneiss9 <gneiss9@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         gneiss9 <gneiss9@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      91 Westfalia aux battery wiring problem?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Anyone with an Auxiliary battery installed, could you tell me if this
wiring situation is normal?  I've still got a major problem with my
battery drain;  with either the Main battery or Aux battery hooked
up, my isolator gets warm.  My limited knowledge about electrical
tells me that this is not normal and also my Amp draw is huge!  The
following picture shows my camper equipment wire coming up from the
left and the other bundled wires that come up from the floor on the
right.  The plug that I'm holding is the one i've assumed as the
fridge and have labeled it as such.

http://s1003.photobucket.com/albums/af155/onsight2003/?
action=view&current=DSCN6786.jpg

What I'm suspicious about is the fact the blue joining-crimp has been
put in that may be causing a problem.  I've gone over the
instructions again for the Aux batt kit and as far as I can see I've
done everything accurately and correctly.

The black relay after the kit install now has a vacant spot at the
bottom (#87).  This is the one thing that sends me alarm bells that
perhaps the crimped join should not be there and this post should be
occupied...

I seem to get variable readings every time I do these tests:

In all cases below my Main batt power cable remains hooked up but
starter cable is experiemented with (and is the one that activates
the Aux batt isolator).


-With Aux batt hooked up (to both isolator and long red wire to main
fuse box) I get a draw of only 0.02Amps off of starter wire pair (1
red and 1 red/white wire).

-With Aux batt hooked up (to only isolator) starter wire shows draw
of 0.12Amps.

-With Ammeter hooked up to Aux batt and both isolator and fuse box
wires, draw is 0.02Amps then Main batt starter wire pair hooked up,
isolator clicks and draw starts at 0.45 and gradually climbs! Once I
take off the starter wire pair, the draw then jumps to 0.65 Amps.

-With Aux batt hooked up (to only red wire to main fuse box) starter
wire gets hooked up, isolator clicks and starter wire shows draw of
0.65Amps.

-With Aux batt not hooked up, and Main batt hooked up, starter wire
shows draw of 0.62Amps.

-With Main batt not hooked up, Aux batt shows draw of 0.01 - 0.02Amps
to fuse box and zero draw to the isolator.

Please help if anyone knows what step to do next.
Thanks in advance,
Trevor

'91 GL Westfalia 2 wheel drive Auto Trans.