Joy Hecht wrote:

 > My friend Steve (who's very mechanically minded) and I got together to
 > install my second battery.  We ran into some trouble, and we're
looking for
 > advice.
 >
Joy & Steve,
     Since you have the Sure Power Isolator, you need to follow their
Installation Instructions for the Group #3 Alternators. You need to
remove the voltage regulator from the alternator and bend the connector
prong of the alternator down so the regulator will no longer connect
with the alternator. Then connect the regulator tab the previously
connected to the alternator, via a (soldered) wire to the R terminal of
the Isolator.

Please see http://www.surepower.com/pdf/180012p.pdf for full illustrated
details.

If this sounds like too much modification, You should get Sure Power's
Battery Separator. No alternator hooudoo required. Good results reported
to the list...

Let me know how this turns out...
John Meeks - KC8ZFN
Vanagon Rescue Squad
http://www.vanagonauts.com/?catid=74