At 07:50 AM 09/04/98 -0400, you wrote:
>Ok Volks, I'm confused.
>
>Bently hints that the 2nd battery cut-out relay should be located
>somewhere near (under?) the fuse box. However, the archives reveal that
>many Vanagonians have their cut-out relay under their driver's seat.
>
>So who is right? Were the relays in different locations for different
>years?
>
>Just a bit curious.
>
>Michael J. Sullivan

The battery and the relays are best put together as closely as possible (as
someone else already wrote). In my Syncro I have one battery under the
drivers seat and another one under the passenger seat. I installed a manual
switch ("nightswitch") behind the passenger seat in a cabinet/seat/fridge
which I installed there. I like the manual switch because it gives me full
control, is unlikely to break down, and I can preserve the second battery
longer.

The heavy duty battery cable just runs across under the heat vent, hidden by
flooring to the main battery. I drive usually with only one battery
connected and charge the second one occasionally on longer trips. When I am
camping I will charge the second one while driving and use it for starting
when needed. The second battery is switched off when stationary so I can
draw all electricity needed from the main battery.
When the main battery starts to fade I put the second battery under the
driver's seat, get an identical new one which becomes the second battery.
This seems to be the easiest overall plan. 

For installation it requires a battery (same as main battery), a bracket to
hold down the second battery, a ground strap, a switch, about 1m (3 feet) of
battery cable, connectors. 

Bj�rn Ratjen

1987 Syncro Est Alia (self camperized)
1995 Passat TD
(1982 Vanagon Diesel)
1979 VW Bus (self- camperized)