Battery disconnect

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funinthesnow

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Can someone explain to us how the disconnect works. We turn it off but the light on the rig still work?????? Is that normal?????
 
Hi Tammy and Chad,

Are you plugged into shore power when you try this? Is it all lights or just certain ones. Is the key on the battery disconnect all the way out?

On my 337, the battery disconnect disconnects all power except to the front jacks I believe. The front light on the hitch may also work, but I have not tested that.

George
 


We were told by JD that the battery disconnect switch doesn't completely disconnect the battery. If the trailer is left unattended for a few months, with the disconnect key removed, the battery(s) will discharge due to a draw from the trailer. The only way to completely disconnect the batteries is to unhook the cables or have a disconnect switch installed between the batteries and the wiring going to the trailer.

Kathy
 
Isn't that the purpose of a battery disconnect switch? To completely disconnect the battery? I'm not too familiar with them, but that sounds like a waste of time, material, and labor to partially disconnect.
 
Scott and Jan
I agree. The battery disconnect should do exactly what it says. Disconnect the battery completely. My battery goes down relatively quickly with the disconnect key removed. I was thinking of putting a marine disconnect switch in the battery compartment.
 
I'm thinking that the propane leak detector is required to be direct wired to the battery. I can't think of anything else that would be a continual draw while in storage.

Dave
 
All that is required to fix this is change the wiring connection for the extra items from the battery to the outlet side of the disconnect switch that is already there. It is a little hard to describe, but there is a second wire attached either at the battery or at a connection point (like a circuit breaker) before the disconnect switch. Change that wire to the outlet of the disconnect switch. Then everything will turn off when the disconnect is turned off.
 
I also believe that the landing gear can be used when the switch is turned off. I haven't verified it, but I'd rather it be switched off also. If you're RV is in storage, you sure don't want some joker being able to toggle the switch and move the landing gear up or down.
 
Under the front cap on the 337 right above the battery behind a plastic cover are some binding posts. One is for ground wires, one for battery and one for switched battery. If you move all the wires except the battery feed to the switched battery post, the disconnect will kill all power to the 5er. I know on mine the landing gear in not switched. I don't know if there is anything else not switched or not.
 
Make sure that switch is rated for the amp load. You would not want a fire! the switch looks cheap to me. I would add a better switch off the battery.
 
Checked on our 303 this past Friday which has been stored indoors since the end of Oct. After nearly 5 months the battery indicated 3/4 charge is what it had at storage after we had used some of the full battery charge with lights and front jacks just getting it settled for the winter 5 months ago. It appears as though turning the battery switch to off has eliminated any discharge as one would think s/b the case. We'll take it out of storage in 6/7 weeks and we will see what we got then and provide an update.

Dan
 
Hi Dan,

With the main power switch off, the landing gear, the light in the forward compartment and the light over the pin box still have power. Everything aft of this . . . including the rear stabilizers, are switched off. I don't know for sure about smoke and CO detectors. Leaving the landing gear powered but not the stabilizers seems rather curious . . . maybe just what the transport companies need ? Do they install a battery or just power the landing gear from the tow vehicle ?

Rob
 
Rob—our early build does not have the front compartment light (I did add a battery LED one) but the front jacks and “pin light” do work when the battery is off consistent with other GDRVs. These do not appear to draining the battery which makes sense since they have not been powered in 5 months. Not sure about your last 2 questions but I trust the transporters carry portable battery units along with powering from the trucks just as we all do.

Sometime ago Tucson Jim mentioned that there s/b a disconnect for the front jacks and I agree with that. It is too easy for unwanted powering of the jacks and serious damage could occur to the RV, contents, tow vehicle if too close, etc. I also believe this s/b applicable to the rear stab jacks as well. Last Labor Day we has a little camper (3 years old or so) wandering next to our 303 and decided that that rear stab jack switch was calling his name. He answered the call and joyfully pressed the jacks up side (thank goodness up not down) for a few seconds before his mom and I could take his candy !

If you or Jim or Poppy install power disconnects for the front and rear jacks, share the pictures and instructions with me………beverages will be on me !

Dan
 
Can we get a input from GD Teck dept. on this and maybe if it ok to change the wire over they can put a photo of the back of the switch so we know what to change?

I also have had a problem with a flat battery's to find out that the switch will not kill all power, if I have a batter minder on to keep them charged I switched the feed off to the RV thinking this would isolate them from the RV!
Tony
 
Thanks, Dave......did not know there were fuses for these will take a look when we take it out of storage. My biggest challenge may be trying to figure out why the jacks don't work later and trying to figure out what my wife did to the jacks ! :confused: Good thing for a helpful and fun forum like this to help me (my wife) with a solution !

Dan
 

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Dave......have not seen these before but would seem to be a viable option.....will check it out.

Thanks so much !

Dan
 

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