Community Forums

TXwannabe · 02-22-2015, 04:33 PM

Still learning the systems side of our first class A DP, before we go to Boot Camp in Tucson next month.
Had the coach serviced last week, Oil Change/Lube & Genset Oil Change, done at a local RV Dealer.

Visited the coach today & realized none of the interior lights will work. Slides go in & out, Generator started right up, TV & Satellite work, electrical outlets work, but no interior lights or water pump either off house batteries or generator. Checked the breakers in the panel below the refrigerator, and all breakers are on.

Seems reasonable to think something was done during service to impact the lights, but not sure what?

Bumps · 02-22-2015, 04:40 PM

Check your salesman switch (usu by the door) and your 12volt breaker panel. One of the two is turned "off." \ken

wa8yxm · 02-22-2015, 05:17 PM

Coaches are typically wired one of two ways.. on the 12 volt side of life.
First: NO or small inverter....

Batteries---Fuse or breaker-----Switch----Distribution panel---Rest of RV including converter

Now with a BIG inverter like my prosine 2.0

Inverter--Fuse--Battery---Breaker--Switch--Rest of RV

In the first case nothing 120 volt works without shore or generator power

In the 2nd case NOTHING 12 volt works unless the batteries (AUX) are connected (ON/USE/Connected swich may be labeled any of those)

Often the control switch (not the real switch) is just inside the door.

TXwannabe · 02-24-2015, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumps

Check your salesman switch (usu by the door) and your 12volt breaker panel. One of the two is turned "off." \ken

Yep! 12 volt cutoff switch, or as Ken said, "the salesman switch" was off.

Having had the coach only 5 months, had seen the switch but wasn't aware of just what its purpose was. NOW I know.

Gary RVRoamer · 02-26-2015, 10:28 AM

While salesmen use it as a convenient way to shut down all the lights they had on when showing the coach, it's real purpose is to disconnect [almost] all the house electrical system so that the batteries don't drain as fast while the coach is stored (not in use). The proper name is the House Battery Disconnect switch. You probably have another somewhere to disconnect the chassis battery as well.

lanerd · 02-26-2015, 12:11 PM

I use mine as a light switch. When ever we go someplace at night, I turn on a few lights and then when exiting the door, I turn off the salesman switch which will turn off all the lights. When we return, I simply turn the salesman's switch back on and viola, lights on inside. No fumbling around trying to locate a light switch in the dark!

Same thing during the winter months when i have the coach in storage. Removes most of the 12 volt drain on the batteries, but lights up the coach when I go in the door.

Really handy switch.

Ron

mel s · 02-26-2015, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanerd

I use mine as a light switch. When ever we go someplace at night, I turn on a few lights and then when exiting the door, I turn off the salesman switch which will turn off all the lights. When we return, I simply turn the salesman's switch back on and viola, lights on inside. No fumbling around trying to locate a light switch in the dark!

Same thing during the winter months when i have the coach in storage. Removes most of the 12 volt drain on the batteries, but lights up the coach when I go in the door.

Really handy switch.

Ron

lanerd
The "salesman switch" may be a "handy" light switch..... (but only if you don't care that the fridge, water heater, furnace, etc, are OFF while you are gone).

However, if you going to need a "cold fridge", "hot water" and/or "heat in the coach" when you return best leave the salesman switch on and fumble around for a light switch when you return.

BTW, my salesman switch has never been turned OFF during the 14 years I've owned my coach.

Mel
'96 Safari, 137k miles, (110k mine)

Mel
'96 Safari

Arch Hoagland · 02-26-2015, 01:01 PM

The "Salesman Switch" will also disable your power drivers seat, at least on my Monaco La Palma it does.

Picked my coach up from service provider and couldn't move the seat. Finally discovered they had turned it off.

I had it taped in the "On" position because we had to reset the microwave clock every time it was turned off. Taped that baby really good this time!

lanerd · 02-26-2015, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mel s

lanerd
The "salesman switch" may be a "handy" light switch..... (but only if you don't care that the fridge, water heater, furnace, etc, are OFF while you are gone).

However, if you going to need a "cold fridge", "hot water" and/or "heat in the coach" when you return best leave the salesman switch on and fumble around for a light switch when you return.

BTW, my salesman switch has never been turned OFF during the 14 years I've owned my coach.

Mel
'96 Safari, 137k miles, (110k mine)

Mel
'96 Safari

Mel, don't know what to tell you, but my fridge runs just fine with the salesman switch off (just checked it to make sure). As far as the water heater, don't really need it while we are gone unless we have the dishwasher going while were away (we have an endless hot water heater anyway so we get almost instant hot water when we need it). Also, no need for the furnace to be running if there is no one there (don't think that would be a good idea anyway).

Ron