Is this normal? No, but it's not abnormal either.
I would just monitor the charging system for awhile before spending
money on repairs.
You might consider getting a voltage gauge. They're cheap and
easy to install, but actually you already have one on the sink.
What might have happened:
It was really cold, too cold to get up. So you kind of leaned over
from the back of the vanagon, still wrapped in your sleeping bag,
and cranked the starter key. The second the engine started, you
went back into bed, huddled up, waiting until it was warmed up inside.
That's why you didn't push down the accelerator or notice that the
red charging light was on.
If your system or battery would be bad, your battery would still be
dead now after driving home.
Harald
'90 westy

Steve wrote:
I was out this past weekend to Eastern Oregon, in 87 Westy with Tiico
conversion with 2500 miles. Lows at night were 15 to 20. One morning, in
order to start melting the frost off the windows, I started her up, and
let her idle for 30 minutes or so, with heaters going, then turned her
off after the windows were clear and interior warm.
An hour later, when we were ready to go, the battery was dead. A push
start was needed. Clearly the alternator at idle rate was not charging
the battery while running the heaters (front and rear).
Is this normal? Advice to keep charged up when idling?
Thanks,
Steve Firebaugh

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