The relay that is there now is used to control the 12v heating element
in the refrigerator. It is wired so that it is energized when the
alternator is charging and the starter is not being use. Seems a little
excessive as it is unlikely the alternator would be charging while the
engine is being cranked for starting. The blue wire is energized buy the
alternator light/filed circuit. The small red or red/black wire goes to
the starter solenoid. It actually uses the solenoid as the ground
circuit. I hope this explains what is there now.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Jim Felder
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2003 12:37 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: 2nd battery info, not quite there yet

I've look over the input I've gotten from several folks who answered my
question about how to set up a second battery. Here's what I know and
what I don't know:

The ideal place seems under the drivers seat. Since mine is a Westy,
there's already a silver relay under there with a part number ending in
9813, 12 v 30 a.

What does this do?

Into that relay, coming from the front of the car, is a blue wire, a
red wire and a red/black wire.

Out of that relay, heading to the fuse terminal and going back to the
camper stuff, are two larger red wires.

I've looked at the Bus Depot wiring diagram long enough to know that if
I know which of the two red wires to put on terminal 87 of the new
relay, and where to conveniently grab a wire that's only hot when the
motor is running (or the car is switched on is OK with me) then I can
complete this task.

Thanks,

Jim