Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > THE CHASSIS CLUB FORUMS > Freightliner Motorhome Chassis Forum
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-26-2014, 06:57 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apollo Beach & Key West , FL
Posts: 3,810
Battery Disconnect switch use

When should I use the rotary chassis battery disconnect switch ? Sometimes I have the coach parked in storage for a month or more and was wondering if there is a recommended interval when it should be used to prevent the chassis battery for draining due to parasitic loads. I assume some info is kept in volatile memory that is lost when the switch is used to disconnect the battery... what would that be ? Thanks
PanJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 01-26-2014, 07:14 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
palehorse89's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,309
Hi there, do you keep it plugged in? if so, I do not ever turn mine off or use them only when servicing the batteries(disconnecting them) and if no shore power, you would have to use them as they will get drained more than likely, as far as the important things, ECM, TCM modules, they stayed powered up all the time even when the disconnect switches are used. The only way to remove power from them is to disconnect the batteries.
__________________
2012 Essex 4544 2011 Jeep JK, M&G Braking, 2014 MTI 27' Hog Hauler, Wireless brake control, 2006 Ultra & 1989 Springer, 2003 Harley-Davidson
FLHR Road King Anniversary
palehorse89 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2014, 08:57 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Apollo Beach & Key West , FL
Posts: 3,810
No, I do not have power where I store it. When I went down yesterday to do some work, I had to start it to move it to get access to the bays and while it fired up fine, the light bar panel flashed up a Low Battery warning, which got me to thinking that maybe disconnecting the battery would be better
PanJH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2014, 09:25 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
palehorse89's Avatar
 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 10,309
Well....... Do you have 12 VDC disconnect? If so turn it off when you leave..........
__________________
2012 Essex 4544 2011 Jeep JK, M&G Braking, 2014 MTI 27' Hog Hauler, Wireless brake control, 2006 Ultra & 1989 Springer, 2003 Harley-Davidson
FLHR Road King Anniversary
palehorse89 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2014, 09:27 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
tomwalt's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,499
I turn mine off when I drop it off for service of if boondocking and going out for the day. A week or more of storage would also fit into this method.
So now you know how long it takes for your batteries to read 'low' based on this last visit. I would use one half of that time as a minimum for use of the disconnect (assuming fully charged at the start). Or just always disconnect when not in use.
Interesting: when I got the MH 4+ years ago the house batteries were low after 4 days. I used the disconnect switch to verify the batteries were good (held a charge) and troubleshoot the parasitic drag to the gas/elec refrig, then figured out how to shut off power to the frig control board - now I'm good for a month. So the disconnect switch is also good for troubleshooting.
Note: some refrigs tap in prior to the battery disconnect switch.
__________________
Tom and Amy from Northern Virginia.
2000 Allegro 454/Workhorse P32/TST/Crossfire
Life is a DIY project, so own less and live more
tomwalt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-26-2014, 12:36 PM   #6
Community Moderator
 
TonyDi's Avatar


 
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,305
I turn my coach batteries off everytime I park it when I'm not using it. I don't see the purpose in leaving it on.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
TonyDi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2014, 05:08 PM   #7
HHg
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 413
I always turn both of my disconnects off anytime I'm not using the RV.

Hhg
HHg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-09-2014, 02:50 PM   #8
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 4
Battery disconnect

My Z39 Bounder is running the chassis battery's while stored with the master off. When I take the neg. terminal off the battery post I read a 5 amp draw, something is not shutting off!
Bounder M20E is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2014, 08:18 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
TexasSprinter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kerrville, Texas
Posts: 402
I turn the rotary switch every time it is being stored for more than a couple days and I can't plug it in. My new storage spot has 110, so I've got to get a 50 to 30 and 30 to 20 adapter and try that route. Although I'm a little nervous about leaving something on that draws too much power. I guess if I shut off the inverter there isn't too much that can run.
__________________
Niel & Carol Powers
Entegra Qwest 24R
TexasSprinter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2014, 05:48 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
DeWat's Avatar
 
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,681
Quote:
Originally Posted by COTuscany View Post
...
My new storage spot has 110, so I've got to get a 50 to 30 and 30 to 20 adapter and try that route.
...
If you want to totally bypass the extra 30-20 adapter (the more connections, the more places for heat), here you go:

110 Volt Electrical Adapter for sale - PPL Motor Homes

I carry two of these for emergencies.
__________________
Dewey & Sharon
Southern Maryland suburbs of DC
2022 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40IP
DeWat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2014, 05:57 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
bruceisla's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Foley AL
Posts: 7,138
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bounder M20E View Post
My Z39 Bounder is running the chassis battery's while stored with the master off. When I take the neg. terminal off the battery post I read a 5 amp draw, something is not shutting off!
You might want to start a new post to get suggestions for your particular issue. That's a big load !!
__________________
2005 Newmar Essex 4502, 2013 Caddy SRX
1997 HR Endeavor 37, CAT, 1996 Geo Tracker
bruceisla is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
battery, battery disconnect



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Bounder: Battery disconnect knoby129 Fleetwood Owner's Forum 22 03-24-2018 08:13 AM
Confused About Use of Battery Disconnect Switch TrailerFool Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 8 01-07-2014 03:53 PM
Battery Disconnect switch eglhvn1 Class A Motorhome Discussions 4 01-03-2014 08:09 PM
Chassis battery disconnect switch 14 Cornerstone Entegra Owner's Forum 6 11-01-2013 08:59 PM
battery disconnect switch '06 Coachmen 1skatingrin Forest River Owners Forum 4 09-09-2013 06:46 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:46 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.