Battery Cutoff Switch - Montana Owners Club

oldelmer1 · 11-28-2012, 02:16 PM

I was taking some things out of the camper, and I thought I would turn the cutoff switch for the battery. After finishing removing stuff, I went into the camper and noticed the WELCOME HOME light came on as I opened the door. Propane sniffer light on and everything else worked too.

Checked the switch and it was off, key out, but everything still works.

Pulled the switch out of the wall and checked with a volt meter, yup, power on both sides of the switch.

Do these things go bad???

**DQDick** · 11-28-2012, 02:57 PM

Doubt it's your problem, but I wouldn't word the switch the way they did. For a while I thought it was off when it was on and vice versa. It's a switch, provided by the low bidder, so it certainly could go bad.

bncinwv · 11-28-2012, 03:30 PM

Like Dick, that switch always confuses me, I finally resorted to turning on the light in the convenience center, when I turn the cut-off switch to the position where the light goes off, I know that the switch is in the proper position. If you try this and the light does not go off on either setting then I would definitely replace the switch.
Bingo

HamRad · 11-28-2012, 08:04 PM

Also doesn't the battery switch still leave some circuits live? I seem to remember reading that from somewhere. It might be that the door circuit is one that is left active. I've never changed my battery switch so I'm just going by what I've heard or read. Good luck and let us know what you find. Happy Travels, Dennis.

psomers · 11-29-2012, 02:30 AM

There are several things that don't get cut off with switch. Carbon monoxide and propane detectors are two. To easily check for current draw disconnect a battery lead and just lightly touch lead to battery post. If any sparking you know there is current drawn.
To keep from draining my battery during idle time is disconnect negative battery at frame and insert 500 amp knife switch to ground.

PS: Before drawing arc at battery make sure it is well ventilated as a charging battery gives off hydrogen.

**DQDick** · 11-29-2012, 03:26 AM

The door open light is also one of the things the battery disconnect doesn't disconnect on our rig. That helps make it even more confusing since you come in and detectors and that light works.

H. John Kohl · 11-29-2012, 05:12 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by oldelmer1

I was taking some things out of the camper, and I thought I would turn the cutoff switch for the battery. After finishing removing stuff, I went into the camper and noticed the WELCOME HOME light came on as I opened the door. Propane sniffer light on and everything else worked too.

Checked the switch and it was off, key out, but everything still works.

Pulled the switch out of the wall and checked with a volt meter, yup, power on both sides of the switch.

Do these things go bad???

My first question is, Was the unit plugged into 120VAC when you did this test?
If yes then the convert was still providing 12vDC to the fuse panel.
If you were not plugged in then there should be 12vDC on only one leg unless the switch is bad.
Hope this helps.
Let us know what you find.

oldelmer1 · 11-29-2012, 12:56 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by H. John Kohl

My first question is, Was the unit plugged into 120VAC when you did this test?
If yes then the convert was still providing 12vDC to the fuse panel.
If you were not plugged in then there should be 12vDC on only one leg unless the switch is bad.
Hope this helps.
Let us know what you find.

John,

YES, the camper is plugged into 120V power. I will go out tomorrow and unplug it and check to see what happens and let you all know.

THANKS....

H. John Kohl · 11-29-2012, 04:01 PM

Actually all you need to do is cut the power to the converter by tripping that breaker.
The converter charges the battery and is co located with the 12 volt fuse panel. That is why nothing happened the converter was providing the 12 VDC. Not the battery.
Test any way your are comfortable.

oldelmer1 · 11-30-2012, 04:33 AM

I went out and pulled the plug on the 120V AC and turned the cut off switch to off and no lights.

THANKS EVERYONE!!!

THANKS JOHN!!!!!

mazboy · 11-30-2012, 11:47 PM

just checked my new 3402 switch....if unplugged at plug the switch shuts everything off.

bncinwv · 12-01-2012, 02:12 AM

eddie,
Try this simple check, turn the battery switch off (or on, dang it, I can never remember), then take your remote and see if the front legs will move. If so, you still have power to the remote control board in the battery compartment. Over time, this board will drain the battery.
Bingo

fauch · 12-01-2012, 03:38 AM

I went through all of this with the fire investigators. The LP detector must be ON any time the RV has a live power source, either from 120V AC through the converter, or from the battery. RVIA establishes Safety codes specific to RVs, not covered by other safety regulatory agencies like the NEC (national electric code) and NFPA 54: NATIONAL FUEL GAS CODE. You cannot operate gas supply solenoids to the furnace, refrigerator, or water heater without 12 volt DC power, hence the LP gas detector wiring scheme.

Some things I believe after working with fire investigators on the storage building fire caused by a MH with an energy source and a refrigerator left on in storage:
*Always close the valves on LP bottles when leaving RV unattended in storage.
*Disconnect batteries at terminals if a disconnect switch is not provided.
*If you must leave a refrigerator running while in storage, run on AC only and close valves on LP bottles.
*For the third time!... you do not want gas appliances in auto ignition mode unattended, CLOSE LP BOTTLES in storage!
*Remember, if you have electrical power to the RV, from battery, LP control systems are HOT. If there is no 110V power , they will activate.
* ALSO: never disconnect the LP gas detector, in fact make sure it is working and update it if it is 5 years old.
*Interesting info in this "RV Safety Alarms test":
http://www.mtidealer.com/images/Safe...012Revised.pps
you will probably have to go to your downloads folder after clicking this link to open it

sreigle · 12-31-2012, 11:08 AM

Well, I guess it's good to know the 12v cutoff doesn't really cut off all 12v circuits if they're getting juice from the converter. I discovered that when I used the cutoff so I could work on something that was 12v. Surprise. I'd prefer a 12v cutoff shut off every 12v circuit even when connected to shore power. But it is what it is.

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