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03-26-2020, 05:48 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Florida, originally Michigan
Posts: 1,577
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Two battery disconnects?
On our first MH, we had a single switch to cut the batteries when we were storing. Simple enough.
In our new rig, there are two switches, side by side. One is AUX, the other is MAIN. The AUX is the one that cuts power to everything (lights, radio, etc.), but I can't figure out what the purpose of the MAIN switch is. I am assuming it has something to do with the chassis batteries as opposed to the house batteries, but can someone tell me specifically what happens when I push that switch to off as well, and whether I should even be touching that button at all?
Thanks for your enlightenment!
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03-26-2020, 05:52 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: NY State
Posts: 3,089
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimmyB
On our first MH, we had a single switch to cut the batteries when we were storing. Simple enough.
In our new rig, there are two switches, side by side. One is AUX, the other is MAIN. The AUX is the one that cuts power to everything (lights, radio, etc.), but I can't figure out what the purpose of the MAIN switch is. I am assuming it has something to do with the chassis batteries as opposed to the house batteries, but can someone tell me specifically what happens when I push that switch to off as well, and whether I should even be touching that button at all?
Thanks for your enlightenment!
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Don't. Touch. That. Button. ;-)
OK, where are the switches? On our MH, one is for the chassis, one for the coach.
__________________
John
1976 Southwind 28', '96 Winnie 34WK,
2006 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40QDP
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03-26-2020, 06:01 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Florida, originally Michigan
Posts: 1,577
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Quote:
Originally Posted by n2zon
Don't. Touch. That. Button. ;-)
OK, where are the switches? On our MH, one is for the chassis, one for the coach.
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But, WHY would I need that button is my question. It doesn't really seem to "cut off" anything. Mine are at floor level, right by the entry steps so you can lean in and push them when you open your door to get the stairs to pop out.
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03-26-2020, 06:31 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
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What year, make model of motorhome do you have?
My 1999 Southwind also has two switches, "AUX" and "MAIN"
The AUX connects/disconnects the coach battery. The MAIN connects/disconnects the chassis battery.
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03-26-2020, 06:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Florida, originally Michigan
Posts: 1,577
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Waiter21
What year, make model of motorhome do you have?
My 1999 Southwind also has two switches, "AUX" and "MAIN"
The AUX connects/disconnects the coach battery. The MAIN connects/disconnects the chassis battery.
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2020 Fleetwood Bounder 35P. So, assuming that ours is the same, when do you use the main switch and what does it accomplish?
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03-26-2020, 06:40 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 7,114
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If I'm storing without shore power, I disconnect both the MAIN (chassis) and the AUX (coach). If I have shore power, I leave them both connected.
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03-26-2020, 06:42 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 277
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimmyB
On our first MH, we had a single switch to cut the batteries when we were storing. Simple enough.
In our new rig, there are two switches, side by side. One is AUX, the other is MAIN. The AUX is the one that cuts power to everything (lights, radio, etc.), but I can't figure out what the purpose of the MAIN switch is. I am assuming it has something to do with the chassis batteries as opposed to the house batteries, but can someone tell me specifically what happens when I push that switch to off as well, and whether I should even be touching that button at all?
Thanks for your enlightenment!
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We have a 98 Holiday Rambler with two but they are labeled "House" & "Chassis"
__________________
Larry & Sherry
w/Bug the Beagle
98 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 35WDS (Maybelline)/ 5.9 Cummins ISB / Allison / 2019 Chevrolet Equinox / Demco Commander 2 / Air Force One
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03-26-2020, 07:28 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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Common battery disconnect switch functions.
House
Inverter
Chassis
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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03-27-2020, 05:15 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Rendon, Texas
Posts: 1,455
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Our coach has 2 cut off switches. One is for the house batteries. The other is for the chassis batteries. When storing the coach, I shut off both switches.
__________________
May your smiles be many and the miles be plenty.
Karen & Allen Van Zandt
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03-27-2020, 09:39 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,805
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When I was calling around for places to store my RV, most storage centers would require a main battery disconnect. The facilites did the actual storing. You drop off, and they park it. Was told had to have the switch because when the facilities retrieve your rv, they would have less likely a dead battery to jump do to sitting. There always seem to be some type of small current draw, and with RVs sitting a lot unused= dead battery. A battery can only last so long when ran down
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2017 Fleetwood Bounder 36Y
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03-27-2020, 10:10 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 336
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Same Unit
Quote:
Originally Posted by TimmyB
2020 Fleetwood Bounder 35P. So, assuming that ours is the same, when do you use the main switch and what does it accomplish?
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I have the same Unit and the same question. You have to wonder at the lack of proper labelling. I also note that there is no way to tell which direction is On/Off. I found I have to leave a light on just so I know that I have pushed the switch in the right direction.
Now that it is a little warmer out I plan to get the label maker out to make my life a little easier.
As to what to switch off... For the winter I was switching both to avoid any parasitic draws. A dead battery costs money no matter which devices it runs. I do now need to figure out if the Solar panel maintains both the house and the chassis or if it only tops up the house batteries.
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"Life is a Misadventure"
2020 Fleetwood Bounder 35P / 2015 Chevy Sonic
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03-27-2020, 11:10 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Florida, originally Michigan
Posts: 1,577
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OK, thanks for the responses. Basically, it just is a cutoff to make sure there are no draws on your chassis battery when you are parked long-term. THAT is what my question was! I do appreciate the willingness to educate!!!
t
__________________
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2020 Fleetwood Bounder 35P, Blue Ox Avail towbar, Blue Ox Patriot II brake system, EezTire TPMS system, 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor (toad)
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03-27-2020, 11:12 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Florida, originally Michigan
Posts: 1,577
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Griswald One
I have the same Unit and the same question. You have to wonder at the lack of proper labelling. I also note that there is no way to tell which direction is On/Off. I found I have to leave a light on just so I know that I have pushed the switch in the right direction.
Now that it is a little warmer out I plan to get the label maker out to make my life a little easier.
As to what to switch off... For the winter I was switching both to avoid any parasitic draws. A dead battery costs money no matter which devices it runs. I do now need to figure out if the Solar panel maintains both the house and the chassis or if it only tops up the house batteries.
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Nice! What colors did you get and where did you purchase? I am going to do the same with my label maker, especially with my basement storage. I hate it when I have to open up doors to remember what I put in there, but that's a sign of being 100 years old, I guess!
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2020 Fleetwood Bounder 35P, Blue Ox Avail towbar, Blue Ox Patriot II brake system, EezTire TPMS system, 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor (toad)
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03-27-2020, 11:15 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 436
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TimmyB,. Since it is new to you, turn the main off and try to start the coach to confirm that it is still in play and disconnects the chassis batteries.
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