At 11:03 PM 7/28/2008 -0700, Thomas Jefferson Kitts wrote:
>Is there an easy way to determine if they are separate power systems,
>one for the engine, and one for the living space, or wired in-line or
>in parallel? And here's the really stupid one: In the case of having

The one on the passenger side is the engine battery.  As to the rest,
if it's a factory setup the left one will be paralleled to the other
by a relay and a comparatively light wire when the engine is running
and not otherwise.  IIRC it will be wired to run the fridge and nothing else.

If it's not factory, could be set up almost any-which-way.

The *easiest* way to see if they're paralleled is to drop a crowbar
across one and see what happens.  If they both catch fire they're
paralleled with a big heavy cable.  If the floor catches fire they're
paralleled with a skinny wire (or were...). Sorry...didn't say it was
a *good* way.  You're probably going to have to do a combination of
meter/test-light testing and just plain following wires around.  If
the PO is available to say whether it's a factory setup that would be
a big help, because the factory setup is documented in Bentley.  If
not, see what's under the driver's seat forward of the battery,
follow wires as much as you can,  then check back in here with description.

:-)
d

--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage," '85 GL "Poor Relation"