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10-08-2019, 05:04 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Columbia
Posts: 3
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Battery Disconnect Avalanche 386bg
Hello and greetings from Columbia, SC.
I am a new owner of an Avalanche 386bg TH. During my inspection and orientation, i asked the technician about the battery disconnect switches and whether i can use them when i am away from my TH for any length of time. He said "Yes".
i used that option and it was about 4 weeks since i could return to my TH, engaged both switches back to the "On" position but had no juice. I do not intentionally want to damage the batteries. I connected my genny and waited a few minutes before i engaged my main circuits breakers, opened the slides, and powered everything up.
Hopefully someone can tell me if i am wrong in using the battery disconnects, or if that is just a waste of time and if i should just disconnect the Neg terminal instead. Thank you.
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Rene Muniz & Fam.
2012 Ford F-350 Dually Super Duty
2020 Keystone Avalanche 386bg TH
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10-08-2019, 05:12 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,758
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The disconnect does not turn off several of the parasitic drains such as the CO/LP Leak detector, radio station memory, etc. The only way to accomplish that is removing the ground from the battery or adding a disconnect that does.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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10-08-2019, 05:18 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Columbia
Posts: 3
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Thank you flybouy Marshall...
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Rene Muniz & Fam.
2012 Ford F-350 Dually Super Duty
2020 Keystone Avalanche 386bg TH
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10-08-2019, 07:19 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Pickens, SC
Posts: 326
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Mr. Marshal is totally correct to disconnect (power) you must disconnect (battery)
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10-08-2019, 09:12 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 457
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I have never read why the factory disconnects are wire the way they are, since they don’t disconnect everything. Using it will always result in a dead battery in just a week or two.
When not using the rv for a while you have a few options.
Keep it plugged into shore power.
Or, Add a solar panel to keep batteries charged, as long as you don’t get snow coverage.
Or, Remove the negative cable from your batteries.
Or, remove the batteries completely from the rv and keep them on a battery tender
In all cases, don’t let the batteries get below 12.2 volts and make sure to check the water I the batteries if you can.
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10-09-2019, 05:44 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,758
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There have been several posts regarding the "why". The only reason in my feeble minded thinking is to avoid litigation. I can't see any reason why a manufacturer would spend the extra money in extra wire/labor to bypass the disconnect unless it's either mandated by the government or their corporate attorneys. I'm guessing the litigation would be "wrongful death" should someone enter the unit with the battery disconnected, falls asleep and dies from CO poisoning or fire.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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10-09-2019, 06:55 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,351
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IIRC we just had a discussion last month or so about the LP detector not being on the disconnect, and something about a federal law saying it can’t be. Smoke alarms are 9V battery operated so they don’t count.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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10-09-2019, 07:10 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,997
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RVIA (the "industry watchdog organization) requires that "personal protective systems" (smoke detectors <usually battery operated>, LP gas detectors and CO detectors) NOT be wired to any switch that can disable those protective devices. The reason is to prevent human deaths in RV's that have had all the alarm systems disabled by an OEM switch. I'd suspect, as Marshall stated, it's more a "lawyer requirement to prevent wrongful death lawsuits" it's none the less, a requirement that any battery cutoff switch that's installed by the factory, not disable the personal protection alarm systems.
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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10-09-2019, 07:13 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Rock Island
Posts: 457
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I understand why everything can’t be disconnected, I just don’t understand why they bother installing them at all. Their only purpose could be to avoid litigation but smaller units don’t have them so that can’t be the issue.
All they do is make a confusing mess out of the wiring and give new owners the false sense of protection when they put it in storage. I think they were developed by the battery companies to sell more after owners kill their batteries. Just kidding, but they don’t make sense.
I plug into to shore power and I also have two solar panels charging mine and a full disconnect for those times the panels are covered with snow.
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10-09-2019, 07:15 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,351
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I see them in “smaller” and cheaper units. My fiver doesn’t have one, so I don’t know what the criteria is for which units get them and which do.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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10-09-2019, 08:06 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,758
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GHen
I understand why everything can’t be disconnected, I just don’t understand why they bother installing them at all. Their only purpose could be to avoid litigation but smaller units don’t have them so that can’t be the issue.
All they do is make a confusing mess out of the wiring and give new owners the false sense of protection when they put it in storage. I think they were developed by the battery companies to sell more after owners kill their batteries. Just kidding, but they don’t make sense.
I plug into to shore power and I also have two solar panels charging mine and a full disconnect for those times the panels are covered with snow.
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My guess, and strictly a WAG, is it's another added sales feature.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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10-12-2019, 04:57 AM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Columbia
Posts: 3
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Thank you to everyone that has replied and/or contributed to my inquiry. In the interim, i will visit my storage more frequently, run my generator, and make sure to disconnect the neg terminal from each battery. I will find the time ($$$) to add a few solar panels to keep those batteries charged. On a separate note, i use one of the new champion 4K RV "digital hybrid" open frame inverter w/quiet technology which i am really pleased with. The price was great, starts easy and runs pretty quiet. Thanks again... RM, Cola, SC.
__________________
Rene Muniz & Fam.
2012 Ford F-350 Dually Super Duty
2020 Keystone Avalanche 386bg TH
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10-12-2019, 05:27 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Sweet Home
Posts: 28
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Just added one to my trailer. It is a rotary one that mounted in the battery box lid. So far so good.
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10-12-2019, 06:53 AM
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#14
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 17
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I replaced the original battery fuse/breaker with one of these that you can push a button and it will trip the breaker to disconnect the battery.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076FVV287..._pzEODb95KP4BC
Its the same type I have on my boat for my trolling motor...
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10-13-2019, 05:34 AM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Dryden
Posts: 9
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I had same issue with extra parasitic loads off my batteries so I installed a main disconnect switch directly off the battery, followed by protection in the form of a 100A breaker, then a bus bar to attach the parasitic and other loads. Their 12v disconnect was on the other opposite side of the 5th wheel so it was easier and more logical to do it this way. I bypassed their 12v disconnect. For the winter, I turn main disconnect to off then plug in my battery tender wired via 7.5 amp fuse directly to my 2 batteries. Where the round battery vent used to be, I replaced it with a circle of plexiglass and made a little shelf for the Tender so I can see it's lights from the house.🙂
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10-13-2019, 07:32 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: grand rapids
Posts: 596
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never use the disconnect.
when leaving trailer I always disconnect the negatives....then no drain whatsoever.
If you have good batteries you can leave them for MONTHS without any issue.
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10-13-2019, 11:17 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Picton
Posts: 242
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Install a switch like this one, on the POS + side of your battery.
You'll be glad you did.
__________________
****
2019 Cougar 315RLS
2011 Ford F250
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
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10-17-2019, 10:12 AM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Dodge City
Posts: 25
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My Keystone Outback has dual batteries and each battery has a disconnect on the negative (-) terminal. This not only makes complete disconnect of the batteries possible but it makes it possible to use only one battery at a time. This is a handy if a battery goes bad on needs to be disconnected for any reason.
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10-20-2019, 05:54 PM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Wrightstown Pa.
Posts: 80
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Battery disconnect
I use a marine battery switch
I have 2 house batteries
When not in use I turn them off
While towing or on shore power both are on
Boondocking you can switch to either one or both
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