Date:         Sat, 15 Jul 2023 17:31:45 +0200
Reply-To:     Vanagaudi <vanagaudi@GMX.DE>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Vanagaudi <vanagaudi@GMX.DE>
Subject:      Re: Charge battery but can't access it
In-Reply-To:  <BL0PR05MB4916CFC654375C1F309132E0A035A@BL0PR05MB4916.namprd05.prod.outlook.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

If you have a car cigarette lighter equipped and a small 8A charger it's
OK to connect the charger to that cigarette lighter socket. This socket
is connected to permanent +12V. A charger of 8A does not exceed maximum
current of that socket and it's fuse*.* This way you may use that socket
in reverse direction.*
*

Helmut, '80 Vanagaudi

-------- Message --------

My Vanagon got T-boned on passenger door, hard ($15K damage); step-in
area crumpled, seat pedestal compressed such that Passenger seat is
immovable, so no access to battery.  It has taken months to arrange
frame straightening & body work, and still might take a while longer
until work begins.  Meantime, Vanagon has been sitting in my garage; I
drive it about every 2 weeks (windshield is buckled and smashed about
1/3....so am always on lookout for cops).  If I have more bad luck and
battery discharges to the point of no-start, what would I do?  I have a
small trickle charger available.  Could I just hook the positive onto
the junction of big red cable at starter (I presume big red cable goes
directly to starter battery) and charge battery that way?