Yikes!  That's the problem I was describing earlier in this post.  When I
first got the camper, I was not told about the stereo kill switch. * **This
was apparently installed to kill the equalizer, which drains BOTH batteries
every 10 days, even if the stereo is turned off*.  With the equalizer killed
each time I turn off the stereo - no problem at all.  So, what you just
described, about the batteries being wired in parallel, is probably
accurate.  and they are definitely NOT a matched set.

How would one correct this problem, or what would one say to an auto
electrician? * I wouldn't TOUCH anything electrical in the van, unless it
was a direct replacement.*  I have recently found an EXCELLENT VW mechanic
near where I live, and I know he could fix the battery wiring.  He would
probably figure it out the problem on his own, but that would take more
time.

I would probably not ever run electrical devices with the van parked for
more than 1 day without driving it. * If I had a decent fridge, that would
probably be the only thing continuously drawing power while parked, so what
would happen if I left the parallel wiring as it is for a while?*

Thanks again.
Patti
*******************************
On Sat, Aug 30, 2008 at 9:40 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> The concept of an auxiliary or house battery is that some load will be on
> the house battery and the loads needed for driving remain on the chassis
> battery. If everything is still working including the ignition circuits
> with the chassis battery disconnected tells me that the two batteries are
> simply wired in parallel. All this does is give you more time before you
> are stranded with two dead batteries. Also, if wired this way, both
> batteries should be a matched set.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> PB
> Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 3:02 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Aux. Battery Works! Yay!
>
> I was just about to have my auxiliary battery wired to power the interior
> lights, fridge, and stereo when hubby told me to test it by disconnecting
> the main battery.  What a great surprise to see everything working,
> including the ignition - with the + battery cable disconnected!  Now I can
> invest that money in poptop shocks and a sunroof!
>
> My current aux. battery is an "Orbital" Deep Cycle, but I couldn't see any
> specs on it (it was already dark and I was using a flashlight.)  The
> battery
> is a little too tall and sticks above the cavity, but the previous owner
> built a neat little cover for it.
>
> I left the Dometic on for over an hour to see if it worked.  The battery
> light on the side of the stove was green, but it didn't get cold at all,
> so
> I turned it off.  Will the Vitrifrigo start getting cold right away on 12
> v?  And how long will it run from the aux battery if the van is parked?
>
> Another thing I noticed - with the poptop up, right above the rear door,
> after the upper bed is folded down, there is a fairly large rectangular
> pocket of space available for storing soft goods.
>
> I'm glad hubby told me to check out the battery situation.  When I first
> got
> the van, I had several weeks of battery problems because I didn't know
> that
> I had to use the kill-switch to turn off the radio.  I actually thought I
> had checked out the aux battery at that time, but I guess I didn't.
>
> Patti
> 90 Westy Automatic
>
>