Community Forums

mjbrown46 · 02-09-2017, 08:35 AM

Just purchased an old 1998 Fleetwood Pace Arrow in excellent condition. Most original manuals were included. But no good info on the battery disconnect switches located over the entry door. Two rocker switches, one labeled "main" one labeled "aux". Switches will rock up, spring back to middle, and rock down, spring back to middle. Which direction, up or down, connects the batteries? All batteries are dead at the moment so no clue there. Thanks for any help! mjbrown46.

69Stang · 02-09-2017, 08:41 AM

Down is off on both switches. Unless mine are upside down

Old Bounder · 02-09-2017, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjbrown46

Just purchased an old 1998 Fleetwood Pace Arrow in excellent condition. Most original manuals were included. But no good info on the battery disconnect switches located over the entry door. Two rocker switches, one labeled "main" one labeled "aux". Switches will rock up, spring back to middle, and rock down, spring back to middle. Which direction, up or down, connects the batteries? All batteries are dead at the moment so no clue there. Thanks for any help! mjbrown46.

'UP' connects the batteries and 'DOWN' disconnects them. Here is some information that you probably did not receive with the coach that you may find useful.

bob_5297 · 02-15-2017, 07:53 AM

Yes down is off. I always turn mine off when not plugged in or in storage.

gateaux01 · 02-16-2017, 05:04 PM

It is normal for them to spring back. Just push them and let go. You should hear a click

gateaux01 · 02-16-2017, 05:07 PM

Mine has another in the front engine compartment installed by the previous owner. This is definitely not standard equipment though. It is like a main breaker that disconnect all the negative wires. Actually kind of handy though.

bob_5297 · 02-16-2017, 07:53 PM

Mine are just rockers. They go back to the middle when I take my fingers off. I don't have any more.

ga traveler · 02-18-2017, 04:57 PM

Both switches are powered by 12 volts. They will not work if your batteries are not charged. If you turn off all power before connecting or disconnecting, they will last a long time. Mine are both 1998 and are still working great.

**NLOVNIT** · 02-18-2017, 05:08 PM

The rocker switches Fleetwood uses for these return to center. As others have stated, UP connects / DOWN disconnects. You won't really know if the switches are good or bad until you get charged up batteries installed. Our switches have been replaced once before.

Lori-

mjbrown46 · 02-19-2017, 08:14 AM

Again, thanks to everyone for the responses. I am learning new things daily about this rig! As soon as the batteries were charged just a teeny bit, I could hear the "click" with the disconnect/connect switches.

Another question along the same line: I will be leaving the coach parked for a few months - with electricity connected from the pedestal. Should I leave the batteries connected, or should I disconnect them? I'm a little concerned about water depletion in the two 6 volt house batteries. (The engine battery is sealed).

Thanks in advance - -

Mary Jo Brown
1998 Pace Arrow 34J

**NLOVNIT** · 02-19-2017, 02:35 PM

We leave ours plugged in the entire winter storage period. We top off the house batteries when we winterize & check the battery levels each month while stored. The only time we had an issue was when the power went out, it came back on but the breaker to the receptacle tripped, phantom draws depleted the batteries & then came a severe, extended-below-zero cold spell that split the batteries. All that happened in the month between the last time & next time we checked them. A freak incident when everything aligned just right to screw up.

If you are concerned about water depletion, disconnect from shore power & engage the battery disconnects via the switches & take the batteries with you.

Lori-

ga traveler · 02-20-2017, 06:22 AM

I also have a 1998 Pace Arrow. I don't like to keep the motorhome plugged in because as a service manager I replaced several converters because of lightening strikes. By leaving your motorhome plugged in, you are subject to lighting damage. I use battery tender maintainers. They are $25.00 to $45.00 according to which one you get. I use 2 chargers. One for the house batteries and one for the chassis battery. The charge is so low, it does not cause the batteries to gas and use water. My batteries were all changed in 2007. This past summer they were all tested and tested good. Ten years on batteries is excellent. I disconnect the batteries by pushing the switches and plug the two chargers in and don't have to worry about the batteries.