David, I mussed about a bit on that relay. What I determined may be pretty
non-specific but I think it points out the basic function of the white wire.
When the relay is activated (thru the white wire) it adds voltage to the refer
system rather than taking it away. I suppose that was predictable given the
usual function of a relay, but hey, I'm an amateur. Definitely more pins of the
relay are hot with power to the white wire/relay when it's inactive. Does this
mean that the likely function was to insure that the refer runs only ran when
the car is running (alt charging)?

This is where I'm leaning, but I'm unsure of where this would mean I should
hook up too.  Are there wires in this ignition that are only hot when the car
is running? Me thinks the answer is yes, yes? What might these look like :)

So, if this is all correct, the simplest way would be to hookem both up to a
fused 12 (using the refer switch as the only switch) and just make sure I don't
run the refer on 12 unless the van is running. Later I get more sophisticated
and proper when I hook up a second batttery with isolater.

If I'm off base here "somebody stop me"!

mark...

David Beierl wrote:

> At 09:00 PM 4/6/2001, radish150 wrote:
> >Ok, the red (of the red/white pair) is for 12V and when connected the
> >battery indicator lights up. The paired white wire is connected to a relay
> >on the back of the refer, but that's all I could ascertain about that wire.
>
> Say more, doesn't sound standard, i.e. there is no relay on the back of the
> (Dometic RM182B) reefer.
>
> >Of the green/black pair I found that these are connected to the water
> >level indicator and varying finger pressure using my body as a resistor I
> >guess, results in the full range of water levels. What's wierd tho is the
> >water level indicator only lights when the switch is pointing to the
> >"battery" position (I get both readouts as the same time this way) but
> >nothing lights when it's pointed to "water" position????
>
> That would be the "On" and "Off" position...
>
> >Hope this helps someone smarter than I figure this out (or maybe someone
> >with a wiring schematic)
> >
> >I'm stalled  till I get this figured out.
> >mark...
>
> David Beierl - Providence, RI
>   http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
> '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
> '85 GL "Poor Relation"