Ok, it sounds like nothing is still connected to the starting battery
except a main cable to the starter and a cable to the relay you use to
connect the batteries together. And since you have an 82 that used to be
a diesel, you have the much simpler charging wiring and the starting
battery in the engine compartment? I was confused by your original post
as I think Dennis was, as it seemed to say you have headlight power
coming from the starter battery but those other connections were really
referring to the house battery.

Mark

Alistair Bell wrote:

> Mark,
>
> the set up is such that when key off then the car works just like it
> normally does except that the juice is coming from house battery  not
> the starting battery.
> no other voodoo or complication, just as if one had one battery.
> but when the key is turned on it connects the starting battery and
> the starter and the house battery are all connected (and fused)
>
> Alistair
>
>
>
> On 28-Jun-06, at 6:53 PM, mark drillock wrote:
>
> I am curious whether you ever thoroughly checked during darkness to see
> what would work and not work with just one battery and then just the
> other.
>
>
> Mark