Just as a heads up, be aware that some editions of the Vanagon Bentley have
errors regarding early wiring.  I believe that this has been addressed in
the current edition.  You might poke around the forums on Bentley's website.
Stan Wohlfarth and I had a conversation about it a few years ago.
http://tech.bentleypublishers.com/thread.jspa?forumID=49&threadID=1125&messageID=2952#2952

Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: "neil" <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 10:13 AM
Subject: Re: Elec. Questions. YES it's about Aux Batt. NO, please don't
shoot me.... ;^)

> Hi Bill.
>
> Ok this is helping.
>
> I assumed a relay was installed in aux batt box on all Westy's.
>
> My 81 Westy does NOT have a relay under drivers seat. And.....
>
> Pictoral in Bentley, p97.9a, shows pos from starter batt to "cut-out"
> relay (I would install) and though not clearly show, pos from cut-out
> relay connects to pos on aux. batt.
>
> Is this pictoral for base model Vanagons that DON'T have the Westy
> interior?
>
> The pictoral confused me since in my case, 12V constant is already
> present at red wire from fuse box.
>
> In this case, would constant 12V coming into aux batt box, connect to
> a newly installed "cut-out" relay, then out to pos of aux batt? Thus
> negating the need for me to run a 10 gauge wire from pos. of starter
> batt?
>
>
> Thanks  much for info, I'll re read again,
>
> Neil.
>
>
>
> On 4/11/07, Bill Glenn <idahobill@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:26:58 -0700, neil <musomuso@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>
>> >Hi all.
>> >
>> >I searched, read Bentley, but  can't wrap my head around wiring for
>> >aux batt.
>>
>> Neil, I'm not going to decipher the wiring that you have, but not too
>> long
>> ago I conducted a search of the archives with an eye toward compiling a
>> how-
>> to for myself when I get around to installing an auxiliary battery. I
>> distilled numerous postings/conversations into the following, which I
>> have
>> saved as an MS Word document: (thanks to many listees who contributed)
>>
>> Description of Power to Camper Section
>>
>> "Always-on" power for the camper section (not controlled by the ignition
>> switch) comes from one of two places, depending on whether an auxiliary
>> battery has  been fitted.
>>
>> In the absence of an auxiliary battery, power comes from the rear of the
>> fuse panel under the dash (current path 30 in Bentley) through a 2.5mm
>> red
>> wire (un-fused), which runs to terminal 87 on the relay under the
>> driver's
>> seat.
>>
>> If an auxiliary battery has been fitted under the driver's seat,  the
>> power
>> to terminal 87 of the relay comes from the positive terminal of the
>> auxiliary battery.
>>
>> The function of this relay is to energize the refrigerator for operation
>> on
>> 12 volts only when the alternator is producing current, that is, when the
>> motor is running, consequently this relay is often referred to as the
>> fridge relay.
>>
>> When the engine is running and the alternator is producing current, a
>> small
>> trigger current is sent from the alternator through a 0. 5mm blue trigger
>> wire to terminal 86 on the fridge relay, which causes the relay to close
>> (terminal 85 is grounded by means of a red wire with a black stripe).
>> When
>> the relay closes, power is sent out through terminal 30, and is carried
>> by
>> a 2.5mm  red wire to the input end (bottom) of the black fuse block
>> located
>> on the "B" pillar behind the driver's seat.
>>
>> This red wire supplies power, which flows through the red fuse (16 amp
>> rating) occupying the rear position in the fuse block, to operate the
>> fridge on 12 volts, again, only when the motor is running and the
>> alternator is producing current.
>>
>> Another 2.5mm red wire connects terminal 87 of the fridge relay to the
>> input end (bottom) of the fuse block, and supplies power, which flows
>> through the white fuse (8 amp rating) occupying the forward position in
>> the
>> fuse block, to the LED panel above the fridge, the water pump, and the
>> camper lighting.
>>
>> Note: 2.5mm wire = #10 awg
>>       0.5mm wire = #22-24 awg
>>
>
>
> --
> Neil Nicholson. 1981 Air Cooled Westfalia.
>
> http://web.mac.com/tubaneil