Date:         Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:31:20 -0700
Reply-To:     Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Daniel Rotblatt <d.rotblatt@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Is my Aux Battery Charging - YES IT IS!
In-Reply-To:  <B7A284F0-BB77-483D-89B5-3D6884A0F895@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Well, I hooked it up the new relay and it seems to work.  0 volts ignition off, 13.7V ignition on.  Got a yellowtop battery locally and sweated my ass off in the heat yesterday getting it to fit - cut off the posts and put it in sideways.  I'm considering putting a wooden plate over the battery instead of the metal one - those contacts are close - but I don't know if there is 1/4" to spare below the seat.  I put some packing foam and a piece of silicone rubber I had laying around between the posts and the top, and raised (hammered) some domes up on the metal battery cover plate over the posts to give them some more room...but I'm still a little nervous.

Dan
Los Angeles, CA
'85 Westy Weekender

On Jul 15, 2011, at 1:07 PM, Daniel Rotblatt wrote:

> Just stopped at an RV place and picked up an identical relay for 6.95!  Need to pick up a battery that will fit - can get a yellowtop locally.  I'll see aboutthe price.
> 
> I'll let u know if the new relay works asap.  If there are problems I'll let u know.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Jul 15, 2011, at 11:06 AM, mark drillock <mdrillock@cox.net> wrote:
> 
>> That stock aux battery charging system is better than some of the ones sold by vendors. It is simple enough to get working and there is no need to replace it unless you find it doesn't meet your needs after it is working. We can get it working if you will follow along.
>> 
>> 
>> Unplug the wires and measure the voltage on all of the wires with the engine off and then again with the engine running and the alt led off.
>> 
>> The blue wire controls the relay, turning on the relay only during charging. What part number is on your relay and does it have a diagram marked on it?
>> 
>> Mark
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Daniel Rotblatt wrote:
>>> OK - my aux battery is not charging.  It looks like the relay (description of my examination below).  I know there are better options for a relay then the original one.  Suggestions? I'm going to Mammoth Lakes on Thursday next week - I'd like to get this working for then so I can hook up an inverter and the kids can play with computers, watch videos and such.
>>> 
>>> My examination:
>>> 
>>> From what I could see, the relay is under the drivers seat.  The only wiring diagram I could find for the aux battery was for an '86 camper on page 97.138 (I have an '85 weekender).  Wires look right, 4 of them into the relay (red, blue red/black) but the wire to the aux battery is red rather then red/white (just to make this harder to describe).
>>> 
>>> Also there is a second red wire that runs from the aux positive down under the seat with the one that goes from the relay.  I would assume that that goes to the plug on the passanger seat (which is no longer connected).
>>> 
>>> When the car is running, the red wire from under the seat to the relay shows 13.8 V, when off it shows 12.8 volts or so - it's obviously the wire from the starter battery.  No charge with the Aux connected (12.8v with or without the car running), and with the pos disconnected I got .08 v coming to that lead in the relay, but after trying to shift the connectors to see if it was a contact problem I got no power at all from it.
>>> 
>>> There is also another red wire (fairly heavy duty size) laying near the relay that seems to be attached to nothing (the end is corroded green with a connector sitting on the ground next to it).  It shows 12+v with ignition on or off - don't know what it is for.
>>> 
>>> Thanks again all!
>>> 
>>> Dan
>>> Los Angeles, CA
>>> '85 Westy Weekender
>>>