I really appreciate all of your help.  I wouldn't know what to do on my
own.  I charged the battery and hooked up the voltmeter.  There's a 1.3 A
draw on the battery.  It was too dark to go further and start pulling fuses,
but I'll do that tomorrow.

I guess things like this just happen all of a sudden.  As I said, it worked
perfectly for 10 days, and it came out perfect on a pre-purchase mechanical
checkup on April 14.  About 2 days ago I had turned on the stereo with the
motor off for about 10 minutes.  The dead battery occurred the next day, so
I would think it has something to do with that.   The stereo has a 6 cd
changer, and a giant amp and woofer that take up the whole underseat
compartment in the back.  I'll be checking into downsizing the sound system
because I would really like to have some, if not all of my storage space
back.  I don't know how much the stereo is pulling from the battery.  I
guess I'll have to look up the specs.  Tomorrow I'll pull the stereo fuse
first.
Patti
***********************
On 4/28/07, Jack <john.cook58@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Patti,
>
> 6 amps is a safe charge rate for a Vanagon starting battery, the one under
> the
> passenger seat.  If the auxiliary battery is roughly the same physical
> size,
> then 6 amps should be ok for it also.  Keep the windows open or cracked a
> bit
> during charging.
>
> I haven't been following the thread closely but I think Dennis did warn
> you
> that deep discharging of starting type batteries will eventually damage
> them.
> Consider disconnecting the negative terminal (black or smaller of the two)
> of
> each battery when you aren't using the vehicle and until you get to the
> bottom
> of the problem.  (Disconnecting either terminal will work but there's less
> chance of an accidental short with a wrench with the negative terminal.)
>
> If you aren't comfortable working around batteries, try to get someone to
> help
> until you are.  Or just be very careful with wrenches & stuff.  Shorting a
> battery with a wrench is not a pleasant experience - at best.  Feel free
> to ask
> more questions.  There is nothing about Vanagon electrics that can't be
> answered by the experts on this list.
>
> //Jack
>
>
> Date sent:              Sat, 28 Apr 2007 21:09:15 -0400
> From:                   Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
> Subject:                Re: Battery dead AGAIN!!!!
> To:                     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Send reply to:          Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
>
> > If "excessive" current is applied to a lead acid battery, the
> > electrolyte (sulfuric acid) will bubble. What's actually occurring is
> > that the extra electricity is splitting the water portion of the acid
> > into hydrogen and oxygen. Since most batteries are "sealed" it isn't
> > easy to add water back to replace that which has been split (and the
> > vapor vented.) Hence, you can consider this "harmful" to the battery.
> >
> > If enough of the water is converted to vapor (and hence lost) the
> > lead plates are exposed. Lead can oxidize pretty easily, and lead
> > oxide can act as an insulator, reducing the capacity and
> > effectiveness of the battery.
> >
> >
> > On Apr 28, 2007, at 7:07 PM, PB wrote:
> >
> > > Matt,
> > > Thanks very much for instructions that even I can understand!  I'm
> > > charging
> > > the battery on 2 amps now and will let you know how the test goes.
> > > (I'm
> > > using 2 amps because somehow I think that 6 amps would be harmful.
> > > Is that
> > > right, or can I use 6 amps?)
> > > Patti
>