Community Forums

Kxbronco · 12-03-2019, 08:35 PM

I want to be able to run my in-dash radio from the house batteries when I’m stationary. I want to use a switch to switch from ignition to house batteries. Is there anything in the dash of my rig that runs off the house batteries that I could tap into? I know I have at least 1 12v socket that is always hot, but I assume it runs off the chassis battery (although I have never thought to check when the 12v disconnect switch is off).

Any input would be appreciated.

bsedor · 12-04-2019, 04:42 AM

Are you sure that there is not one there already? Every coach that I have owned has had one on the dash and was installed by the manufacturer.

Kxbronco · 12-04-2019, 06:00 AM

Thanks for the reply bsedor. I’m not aware of one and I think I have identified all the switches. My rig is in storage at the moment so I can’t look. If there is one, where are they typically located?

Podivin · 12-04-2019, 06:23 AM

I gave a quick search through the manual (found here if you'd like a PDF of it https://tiffinmotorhomes-rcgarkskyk9...Bay-Manual.pdf )
If there is a switch changes input power from chassis to house I'm not finding a reference to it. I expected that there would be one also, both of my coaches have had one.

Kxbronco · 12-04-2019, 07:54 AM

Thanks Podivin. Where were your switches located?

Podivin · 12-04-2019, 09:25 AM

On my current coach it's on the dash, just under the radio, labeled 'Radio Eng/House'.
On my previous coach it was, somewhat oddly, in the bedroom mounted in the bottom of the cabinets above the head of the bed - so you could see/use it while laying in bed. I don't recall the exact label on that one but it was something like Radio on/off. It was labeled as an on/off switch, but what it really did was switch from one battery source to the other. Chassis battery was 'radio off' and house battery was 'radio on'. I only discovered that by accident when trying to turn off the radio while the engine was running. 'Off' didn't work in that circumstance, only the main radio control could turn off the radio when the engine was running. It was a bit of a head scratcher until I figured out what it was actually doing.

Note that neither of these are the same brand as what you have now.