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09-19-2019, 09:31 AM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 18
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Where to put battery disconnect switch
I have a 2003 Sunflyer (Gas) with 3 house batteries and an engine/start battery. All located under the entry steps.
I want to install a battery disconnect switch to both my house batteries and start battery. any suggestions on where to put the disconnect switch for either of these??
Also, there is an Aux on/Off switch at the entry door. It chirps when turned on. What is this for??
Thanks for the assistance the past year on this post forum,. A lot of good info. Thanks......
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09-19-2019, 10:00 AM
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#2
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Sarnialabad, Peoples Republik of Canuckistan
Posts: 1,251
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The Aux On/Off switch function will be described in your Owner's Manual. It is likely the "battery disconnect" switch for the house batteries. Your CO or propane detector may be or are probably connected to the coach batteries, and they "chirp" when power is enabled.
As for the chassis battery, no opinion. You can put it inline at the negative or positive battery cable under your steps. Others will advise you on this one.
__________________
2018 (2017 Sprinter Cab Chassis) Navion24V + 2016 JKU (sold @ ????)
2016 Sunstar 26HE, V10, 3V, 6 Speed (sold @ 4600 miles)
2002 Roadtrek C190P (sold @ 315,000kms)
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09-19-2019, 10:01 AM
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#3
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 3,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by terrylogan
I have a 2003 Sunflyer (Gas) with 3 house batteries and an engine/start battery. All located under the entry steps.
I want to install a battery disconnect switch to both my house batteries and start battery. any suggestions on where to put the disconnect switch for either of these??
Also, there is an Aux on/Off switch at the entry door. It chirps when turned on. What is this for??
Thanks for the assistance the past year on this post forum,. A lot of good info. Thanks......
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The Aux on/off switch (aka "salesman's switch") disconnects your house batteries, so no need for a separate house battery disconnect switch.
As far as the chassis/start battery, I'd install a simple knife switch on the negative battery terminal. There are other options but this is simple, reliable and doesn't involve any re-cabling: https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Disco...8908606&sr=8-4
If you want something more accessible, you can always install something like this in a convenient location but additional cabling will be necessary: https://www.amazon.com/Ampper-Batter...CY5BQIU&sr=8-5
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Bob C
2002 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
Workhorse Chassis
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09-19-2019, 08:02 PM
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#4
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 120
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I installed the simple knife switch Bob C mentioned. An easy install (under the hood, that is) and it has been working just fine for several years now. I must have some pretty good-sized parasitic loads on the chassis battery cuz it was down more than I like after just 4 or 5 days .............. so opening the disconnect (and cycling the coach battery disconnect switch to "Off" as well) are the last things I do before leaving the coach at the storage facility.........even for a few days.
FWIW, I'll attach a pic of the installation. The black "stuff" you see at the edges of the brass contacts is JB Weld. Those contacts were a little "wiggly" even with their mounting screws good and tight. Now it is "all better". Engineers just can't leave things alone, right? lol
Good times and safe travels to ya ................ ed s
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Ed Sievers, Denver, CO
07 WBGO Outlook 31-C Sold Real good coach, just time to hang up the keys at 91.
"Be the person you needed when you were younger"
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09-25-2019, 08:03 PM
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#5
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 59
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Knife Switch
For those that use a knife switch to disconnect their chassis (engine) battery for storage - any bad effects from doing that? Is all ok with the engine's computer, with the radio security codes, or any other component that expects to always have +12v handy?
I know if I replace the 12v engine battery in my coach, the radio looses power and it won't work until the security code is entered.
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Alfred
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09-25-2019, 08:07 PM
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#6
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,520
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As others mentioned you already have a disconnect on the house batteries so to keep it simple you just need one to put on the ground cable of the engine start battery. You may hear of some having fires from putting them on the positive battery cable or complaining that the connectors are the wrong size for the positive cable and that is because best practice is to put the disconnect on the ground cable to eliminate the danger of fires from a short circuit to ground.
Here are two examples that require no modification of the motor home and are very simple to install and replace if ever they malfunction. Just release the snap latch on the step that contains the batteries and turn the knob or flip the switch.
Note that when you do this you will likely clear your presets, etc from the in-dash radio and any other device that uses the engine battery to maintain its settings. Some will refer to disconnecting the engine battery as the "Poor Mans Engine Reset" since after 24 to 48 hours without power all stored fuel/transmission shift mappings relevant to how you have been driving will be erased and the computer will have to re-learn and store its fuel, transmission, etc mappings that are based on how you drive. Some people perceive this as a problem occurring when the vehicle behaves differently after its sat with the battery disconnected however thats just life with computerized engine and transmission control systems.
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Disco...462543&sr=8-74
https://www.amazon.com/Battery-Docto...xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
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Neil V
2001 Winnebago Adventurer WFG35U
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09-25-2019, 08:32 PM
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#7
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 59
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NeilV -- Thanks, your note contained the exact information I was worried about. You mention what could happen if the 12v chassis battery is disconnected for an extended time. Thanks much!
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Alfred
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09-30-2019, 10:48 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 15
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I am an certified electrician, so here is some food for thought!!
Charging batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas and putting any kind of open contact disconnect on the battery terminals could cause an explosion. I'm sure we have all heard of these kind of explosions when people are using booster cables, well the same hazard exists. I would put the disconnect away from the battery compartment and preferably use an enclosed disconnect. There are some good ones out there. As far as radio security codes, the radio should have an always on input for this purpose and a wire could be run to the positive side of this disconnect switch.
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09-30-2019, 10:59 AM
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#9
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 15
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Another option for a disconnect is to install a second disconnect solenoid for the chassis battery and it could be connected to the secondary side of the coach battery solenoid in which case the "salesman's switch" would shut all the batteries off from one switch or alternately install a second switch to turn the chassis battery off independently.
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09-30-2019, 02:10 PM
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#10
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 3,573
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArtDeCamper
I am an certified electrician, so here is some food for thought!!
Charging batteries give off explosive hydrogen gas and putting any kind of open contact disconnect on the battery terminals could cause an explosion. I'm sure we have all heard of these kind of explosions when people are using booster cables, well the same hazard exists. I would put the disconnect away from the battery compartment and preferably use an enclosed disconnect. There are some good ones out there. As far as radio security codes, the radio should have an always on input for this purpose and a wire could be run to the positive side of this disconnect switch.
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Good point, I didn't, but should've, thought about that.
__________________
Bob C
2002 Itasca Suncruiser 35U
Workhorse Chassis
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