If you connect your batteries with a relay that only bridges the two during charging you isolate the two batteries when the engine is off, This eliminates the possibility of accidently draining your start battery to the point where the van won't start.

Thanks, Tom Hargrave
www.stir-plate.com
www.towercooler.com
www.kegkits.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Loren Busch
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 4:10 PM
To: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
Subject: Re: Really Dumb Question About Aux Batteries Install.

 RE: Aux Battery
I made my original question way to long and complicated, let me re state it:
If I add an aux battery, with a relay that only connects the two batteries
when charging, and leave all else the same, what have I gained?  The aux
battery is connected to nothing and   the 'fridge is disconnected from both
batteries with the ignition off, same as before.  So what is gained unless
other wiring changes are made to utilize the aux battery?  What am I missing
or misunderstanding about the stock aux battery wiring using the diagrams in
Bentley?
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