Community Forums

TNBased · 01-06-2019, 06:43 PM

I’m sure this has already been addressed but I can’t find the answer. My Coach is winterized and plugged into a 30 amp circuit to charge the batteries, etc. I switched on the battery disconnect switch (disconnected batteries) for the coach, but not the chassis and left town. Will the batteries still charge while the house batteries are disconnected by the switch? Thanks.

Kjlunda · 01-06-2019, 08:01 PM

It would help if you said what year and model coach you have.

iluvuk · 01-06-2019, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TNBased

I’m sure this has already been addressed but I can’t find the answer. My Coach is winterized and plugged into a 30 amp circuit to charge the batteries, etc. I switched on the battery disconnect switch (disconnected batteries) for the coach, but not the chassis and left town. Will the batteries still charge while the house batteries are disconnected by the switch? Thanks.

Depends on how it is wired! I think my inverter/charger is off if my battery switch is off and it wont' charge.

Luv2go · 01-06-2019, 09:36 PM

In general Newmar coaches that are hooked up to power of any type should have their batteries connected (normal mode, not the mode where you don't have lights). This allows the coach batteries to be kept charged and the BIRD or BIM to keep the chassis battery charged. Depending on how long you will be gone you may be unpleasantly surprised when your coach won't start

C.Martin · 01-07-2019, 07:30 AM

The VTDP and DSDP have a similar layout...

If you look at the blueprint...in the lower right corner above the self-resetting breakers (whichnare behind a plastic panel in the back of your cord reel compartment). Newmar designates some as continuous battery power and others as non-continuous battery power...Same with the two fuse blocks in the compartment...one continuous, one non-continuous. The B2 and B3 self resetting dc breakers feed the fuse panel in the 1/2 bath cabinet. So all of that is non-continuous as well.

Read the list of breakers and you will see exactly what is powered down with the switch.

The only time I touch it is to reduce loads before taking my batteries out for cleaning and maintenance...or as a trick to reset the Bluetooth transmitter in my See Level panel.

C.Martin · 01-07-2019, 07:40 AM

Here's the locking relay that is controlled by the switch...

The wires on one side are always battery powered...and the other side, switched on/off to your liking.

Of course...it shows up upside down on this site for some reason...

vsheetz · 01-07-2019, 09:32 AM

The inverter/charger is typically wired directly to the batteries. Thus, the battery bank discinnect switch does not disable the inverter/charger. Some coaches will have an additional disconnect for the inverter/charger.

You can easily check this. Enable the battery bank disconnect and check if the battery charger is still charging the batteries.

GaryKD · 01-08-2019, 04:38 PM

Hi TNBased,
You are connected to shore power. Why turn off the disconnect switch? I turn off the disconnect switch only when servicing the batteries. For me I see no other reason to turn off the disconnect switch.

"007" · 01-08-2019, 07:44 PM

So with all these answers you should by now realize the BCO switch needs to be on so battery charging systems can do their job and keep all your battery's charged, 110 power can do the same thing with BCO switch on.
Its all covered in this link.

TNBased · 01-09-2019, 06:34 PM

Thanks to all for the help. I checked the system yesterday and the batteries showed to be at 12.1 for the coach, and the chassis was at 11.9. I understand that is low but not as I would have expected if it wasn't receiving any charge for 9 weeks. As suggested by VSheets, I engaged the disconnect switch and saw that the monitor showed the system was in float charge.

This is a 2015 Ventana 4369.

Again, thanks for the help and I'll be discriminating in my use of the disconnect switch in the future. It just seemed like a good idea at the time.