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Old 09-04-2019, 05:35 PM   #1
Dixie Flyer
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Battery Disconecct

My question is will the camper battery charge when the camper is plugged into shore line power with the Battery Disconnect switch in the Off position?
 
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Old 09-04-2019, 08:38 PM   #2
rohrmann
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NO. You really don't need to disconnect the battery for any reason if the rig is plugged in or is being towed. Even in off season, disconnecting the battery with the switch will still end up with a dead battery, as there are other things connected ahead of the switch that will drain the battery.
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Old 09-04-2019, 08:41 PM   #3
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totally agree Bob
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Old 09-05-2019, 06:19 AM   #4
Dixie Flyer
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Battery Disconect

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Originally Posted by rohrmann View Post
NO. You really don't need to disconnect the battery for any reason if the rig is plugged in or is being towed. Even in off season, disconnecting the battery with the switch will still end up with a dead battery, as there are other things connected ahead of the switch that will drain the battery.

My Montana is hooked to a power source, 50amp all the time. The disconnect switch has been in the off position, yesterday the battery was dead. My question is will the battery still charge when plugged into a power source if the discontent switch is in the off position?
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Old 09-05-2019, 09:26 AM   #5
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First off, if the key can be removed, the batteries are disconnected from the panel, to me meaning (off). No the batteries will not charge with the key off. I have owned 3 campers, all with this switch and for the life of me I see no reason why anyone would need to turn it off, other than working inside the panel. I have never turned any of my disconnect switches.

There are several items such as the propane detector that are connected directly to the battery and will continue to draw even with the switch off.

If there is a need to totally disconnect the batteries, put a disconnect switch on the negative battery cable. Then there would be no draw on them at all.
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Old 09-05-2019, 11:18 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Dixie Flyer View Post
My Montana is hooked to a power source, 50amp all the time. The disconnect switch has been in the off position, yesterday the battery was dead. My question is will the battery still charge when plugged into a power source if the discontent switch is in the off position?
The battery will not charge if you turn off the battery disconnect switch. Just like Bob said.
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Old 09-05-2019, 11:46 AM   #7
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Correct! My neighbor borrowed my genny and connected to a 30 pig tail to the trailer. After 4 hours his battery was still dead. I asked if his battery disconnect switch was on or off. Naturally he did not know so I went,,, not going to charge unless the disconnect key is out I told him. Now I just give him the battery charger too and tell him to go that way as he never disconnects the neg terminal and I'm not going to install a real cutoff. Will he learn?
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Old 09-05-2019, 01:48 PM   #8
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if your battery is 'dead' at this point it really may be dead.


you may need a new battery now.
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Old 09-05-2019, 07:41 PM   #9
Dixie Flyer
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Battery Disconect

Turned the battery Disconnect Switch to on and the battery is fully charged. I don't remember turning it to off but sometime over the past few months I must have. Anyway all is well now. Thanks for the replies.
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Old 09-12-2019, 05:13 PM   #10
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...for the life of me I see no reason why anyone would need to turn it off, other than working inside the panel. I have never turned any of my disconnect switches...
I turn mine off when I take it to storage in between camping trips. I then pull the battery when storing it for the winter.
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Old 09-12-2019, 05:31 PM   #11
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I turn mine off when I take it to storage in between camping trips. I then pull the battery when storing it for the winter.
FYI, even with the disconnect switch turned off there are still many items that are hardwired directly to the battery and will drain/kill the battery in weeks. If batteries are consistently drained below 50% or so, they will be useless in no time. I recommend if you are going to do that (turn off the disconnect) you install a disconnect on the negative cable from the battery to the camper frame. That way there is NO chance of any battery drain.
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Old 09-13-2019, 08:53 AM   #12
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FYI, even with the disconnect switch turned off there are still many items that are hardwired directly to the battery and will drain/kill the battery in weeks. If batteries are consistently drained below 50% or so, they will be useless in no time. I recommend if you are going to do that (turn off the disconnect) you install a disconnect on the negative cable from the battery to the camper frame. That way there is NO chance of any battery drain.
Good advice, thanks.
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