I thought the comment was about the 'magic eye' on some batteries..
it's not a diode I don't think.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 11:52 AM
Subject: Re: Dead (almost) in the garage

> ---- Eric Ley <eric_ley@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>
>> 5. just a note the green diode on the battery is just one cell of 6 that
>> is
>> good and doesn't always mean full charge.
>
> You are speaking of the green lamp on the cabinet face under the stove,
> right?  So, that can be lit green, top lamp, and the battery not be topped
> up adequately to start the engine?  I thought that was why the thing was
> there, so that when running the house off the battery, one did not deplete
> the battery so as to be unable to start the engine.  Not so?  Then what is
> it for?
>
> mcneely