Electrical questions

[Lordlumpybody]

Hi I'm new to this forum and new to my rv. I picked up an 88 ford econoline 250 Fiesta recently for 800 dollars. I'm not sure on a model. It just says Fiesta. Anyways I'm curious about the batteries. The battery in the engine and the battery in the side compartment toward the rear of the van are linked together all the time. Is this normal? I figured the compartment battery would be a deep cycle and run everything other than the engine and what not. Instead it's a 24f battery that is directly linked up with the starting battery. If I disconnect the compartment battery all the lights and water pump still work off the starting battery and vice versa if I just disconnect the starting battery. I feel like this shouldn't be the case. It makes me nervous running lights and what not off the starting battery. I'd hate to get stranded somewhere with a dead battery. I appreciate any help. I'm a little out of my element and I've googled to no avail. I'll include a picture to help identify what exactly I have. Any useful information on my rv regardless would be really appreciated.

[mkguitar]

Most would use a battery isolator ( such as a sure power 16023a- which is what i have), many are a blue box with 3 or 4 terminals mounted in the engine compartment

as you guess this supplies power from the alternator to the deep cycle "coach" battery when the motor is running and the "chassis" battery is isolated from the coach lights, pumps etc.

an older vehicle is more likely to have had "owner modifications"- I'm sure you will have a good time poking around and discovering what has been done and what needs to be redone.

Mike

[BBQ]

[BBQ]