Dan,
Check the archives from like 2 weeks ago there was a discussion on this very
topic.  Seems with your set up it can't charge the optima fast enough. I
think you need an isolator but check the archives for the brand people have
had sucess with for the optima.
Good Luck
Kevin
87 Westy
Burlington VT

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of -- Dan Roberts
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 10:40 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: auxillary battery losing charge in 89 Westy

I installed an Optima Yellow top deep cycle as an auxillary battery in my 89
Westy 4 speed. I followed wiring instllation instructions I found at a
Vanagon
FAQ at vanagon.com.

I toook the 2 red wires from the fuse box behind the drivers seat (fridge
and
cabin light) and attached these to the + terminal on the Yellow Top. I also
ran a 10 gauge wire from the + terminal on the battery to terminal #30 on
the
existing factory relay. This terminal is supposed to supply current to
charge
the auzillary battery when the van is running. I also connected a ground
strap
(#10 wire was used throughout this installation) for the auxillary battery
to
a screw I had inserted in the side of the battery box.

My fridge and cabin light work with this new source of electricity but the
auxillary battery seems to recharge very slowly when I run the engine. For
example, I turned the engine off and ran the refrigerator for several hours.
Then I
drove the van for an hour with the refrigerator still running. When I
stopped, I found that the  caution lights (above the fridge) that monitor
battery
power returned to a yellow condition as soon as I turn the engine off.
Shouldn't
an hour of driving be enough to fully recharge the auxillary battery or am I
expecting too much? I have no previous experience with deep cycle batteries
or
auxillary batteries.

I would appreciate your comments and experience.

Dan Roberts
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