Battery Disconnect Switch

[max49]

This is my first MH with a battery disconnect switch. When and why do you use it? To keep your batteries from discharging when not plugged in? or to keep them from over charging when plugged in for a length of time? Does it hurt to disconnect the batteries when plugged into shore power?
Thanks

[max49]

This is my first MH with a battery disconnect switch. When and why do you use it? To keep your batteries from discharging when not plugged in? or to keep them from over charging when plugged in for a length of time? Does it hurt to disconnect the batteries when plugged into shore power?
Thanks

[RV Wizard]

Max49, first let me say welcome to the website & forum. You would use the battery disconnect swutch when you go to store the unit to prevent the battery from discharging. You should have the battey(s) on when you are using it. If you will give us some more info on year, Make & model of unit you have we can be of better help.

[Cruzer]

Welcome to IRV2, Max. Mike's info is correct. There are many small phantom loads on your coach's electrical system that will draw down the batteries over time if you are not plugged in. At any other time, just leave them "on".

[max49]

Thanks Rv Wizard and Cruzer.
It's an 05 Damon Daybreak. I park it next to the house when we're not using it and for what ever reason I've gotten in the habit of plugging it in from the the house power. I s there any chance of over charging the batteries, leaving it plugged in?

[RV Wizard]

Todays converter charger and inverters are not as bad at overcharging as the old ferroresonant and switch mode converters were. Do keep the water level at the proper height in the batteries and the post and tops of batteries clean. Following is a few links to good battery info: www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/12volt.htm Mark Nemeth's "12 volt side of Life"

http://www.dcbattery.com/faq.html#1
http://www.usbattery.com/care.htm
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Bat...ery%20Charging



http://www.rvsolarelectric.com/sources.htm

[rayw]

max49

To give you a feel for battery usage I'll cite our experience in snowbirding for three months this past winter in the Florida Panhandle.

We have 4 batteries - 2 12 volt sealed maintenance free coach and 2 6 volt golf cart open cell house batteries which must be topped off with distilled water from time to time. Before we left on December 15, I topped off the 6 volters; during the following three months (ending March 15) I had to top off 2 cells only once. At no time was any of the cells at or below the plates.

I you travel/camp in very hot climates, you may have to top off your batteries more often. The best way to prevent dfamage to your batteries is to establist a "battery check schedule." While not in use, I use the main disconnects to shup off ALL batteries. So far so good.

[royboy]

For those who have one, the allison trans. uses elect. all the time to keep it from losing its memory. The other thing most RVers do not think about is that the Main Batt. kill switch is usually in a locked compt. If you turn it off when stored or when parked in "shady" neighborhood, it is a ANTI THEFT device!! When the insurance company ask if you have an anti theft device, say YES! You will get a discount on your premium!!

[Gary RVRoamer]

In many rigs the Battery disconnect switch controls only the house battery circuits - the engine (chassis) batteries remains live and the engine & transmission function normally.

There may well be some powered items that bypass the battery disconnect switch. This is particularly true of items installed by dealers or previous owners, wired direct to the batteries rather than the terminal block located downstream from the disconnect switch. However, things such as smoke or LPG detectors may also be wired so that they are never disconnected, as a matter of safety. These items are called parasitic loads.

[wilanddij]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">For those who have one, the allison trans. uses elect. all the time to keep it from losing its memory. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

How do you know if the transmission has lost any information? Reason I ask is that I have the M1000 on my coach, I always disconnect both chassis and house batteries when I store it, and I have never noticed any problem with the trans. Maybe it's just that I don't know how a forgetful tranny works, or doesn't.

[Gary RVRoamer]

At worst you may find the shifting a bit rougher than usual. The primary thing that is 'remembered" is how you normally accelerate from a standing stop and the shift points are tuned to that style of driving. It will re-learn fairly quickly. Chances are your normal driving habits aren't far off the default shift profile, in which case you won't even notice the difference.