Volkswagen: Westfalia charging system, trickle chargers, original transformers

Question
Hi Ron, I am restoring a 1974 Westy. I am adding a battery for auxiliaries. The van comes with an original 120 VAc to 13 VDC transformer. I would like to permanently connect it to the battery charging from the grid, however I am afraid it does not know when to shut off and could boil the battery.

Do you know if the original transformers were also intended as trickle chargers? Mine was not connected to the battery... only to the fridge.

Thanks,
Ben

Answer
Hi Ben,

The original chargers came with a control panel that had a timer on it that you would turn and it would shut off the system.  Next, it had a button next to it that would let you know the condition of the battery (Low vs. Charged).

You will need to get this control panel to do the job right.

That is a great question.

Ron