Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2011 17:56:19 -0800
Reply-To: Tim Englund <tim.englund@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tim Englund <tim.englund@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Newbie question about auxiliary power
In-Reply-To: <CAH32RNZHJt9BGFvGK2mXK3T0DcMVmL=Mpv-7whb5M3ksSCse1A@mail.gmail.com>
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Thanks, Loren and Dennis,
Yes, I did mean the interior lights, not the headlights. I'll be more
clear in the future. Nothing electrical works when I turn off the
engine.
I put a test light (my voltmeter died) on the aux battery when the
engine wasn't running. Nothing.
Tried again when the engine was running and it lit up. So, my first
guess is that the aux battery is shot. Is there a type/brand of
battery people like for these?
The van is now stored for the winter in my garage. We have snow and
highs in the 20's. This makes it hard to test the fridge. Guess I
thought I'd hear it "pop" on like the mini fridge in my office. In any
case, the fridge is the least of my worries....
My biggest worry: I've got gas leaking like crazy from the end of the
plastic piece in the firewall by the engine. It definitely wasn't
leaking when I drove her up from LA the other week. I'm wondering if
the cold has anything to do the problem. I'll change out the fuel
lines completely come spring, but I just filled the tank for winter
and 16 gallons is a lot of gas to dispose of! :)
Thanks again!
-Tim
On Sun, Nov 20, 2011 at 10:01 AM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
> RE: Aux Battery Mystery
> Tim, what lights are you talking about when you say the lights don't come
> on? I talking about the headlights they do turn off when the ignition is
> off. The side marker/turn signals stay on though and will still run your
> battery down over time.
> The interior lights should work all the time. That includes the light over
> the storage behind the stove. In many cases when an aux battery is
> installed the interior lights, radio and cigar lighter wiring is changed to
> be on the aux battery.
> A properly installed and working aux battery is connected to the starting
> battery and being charged when the engine is running. When the engine is
> off the aux battery is disconnected from the charging circuit and starting
> battery.
> The refrigerator should work when set to AC and there is shore power plugged
> into the van. It will cool slowly so give it some time. It should only
> work on 12v when the engine is running. 12v shouldn't be avialable to the
> refrigerator when the engine is off. It will kill an aux battery in about 2
> hours.
> As you suggested put a meter on the aux battery and see if it has a charge.
> Then check it with the engine running and you should see about 14v at the
> aux battery if the charging circuit is working,
>
>
>
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