battery cut off switch

[knrt]

Where is the battery cut off switch in the 2004 3400RL?

[OntMont]

You most probably do not have one. They did not put them on until about 2006. My '05 did not have one, although I have added one since.

You should disconnect the ground terminal if you need to isolate the battery.

[rames14]

We have the 2005. They did not have one. It wasn't until they went to the new convenience center that they added the battery disconnect, unless one got added by the owner later.

[grooving grandpa]

Mounted one myself on my 2005, 2955RL. It is a switch blade type. You can pick one up at a auto part store or hardware. I mounted it to my frame. Just make sure you have a non conductive insulator between the switch and the frame

[Rondo]

If you are near a Harbor Freight store, they have the battery disconnect switches also and are about 1/2 the price of most auto parts or hardware stores!

[garyka]

What is the purpose of a battery switch?

[HamRad]

Gary,

A battery switch allows you to disconnect the battery from any and all loads. There are many phantom electrical devices that just use a little bit of juice..... even if disconnected from shore power. If you do not have shore power or solar when you are stored the battery will simply drain itself of all power because of the little phantom loads.

The battery switch allows you to not have to worry about that. Then when you are ready to start things up after winter storage you will still have power in your battery.

HamRad

[Steve and Brenda]

quote:Originally posted by OntMont

You should disconnect the ground terminal if you need to isolate the battery.

If you disconnect the ground the hot wire still flows through the RV. Would it not make more sense to disconnect the hot wires? Just wondering...

[dieselguy]

Rondo: Although I too shop at Harbor Freight ... beware of some of their stuff. 1/2 the price could very well be followed by 1/2 the amperage capacity as compared to the autoparts store brands.

[boat391]

I bought my cut off switch at west marine I have two banks of batts so I use a switch that allows me to use either group or both and allows to to do a complete disconnect we do have a cut off switch installed by keystone but it does not cut all power to the trailer landing legs still work as well as a few other things so the other switch I installed worked better I leave our trailer unpluged between uses and get better batt life out of my batts

[OntMont]

quote:Originally posted by Steve and Brenda

If you disconnect the ground the hot wire still flows through the RV. Would it not make more sense to disconnect the hot wires? Just wondering...

I think the reason that it is usually recommended to disconnect the ground is that the loose wire is not "hot" with respect to the body of the trailer. The positive terminal could be "hot" if the converter was powered from an AC source. Either will stop the battery running down, but I think it is considered good practice to remove the ground, or at least remove it first if you are disconnecting both. From a purely electrical perspective, current (electrons) actually flows from negative to positive.

[Mr.oddjobs]

The switch on my trailer disconnects the Neg.terminal. It is a 2004 Montana and the switch was added by the dealer later. The 2004 did no have a disconnect.

[deerrahn]

I used the "QUICK DISCONNECT" switch once. When I went to use the unit the next time, I could not figure why some things worked and others didn't. Thanks to some help "DUH" Senior, I turned it on Everything worked. Conclusion: Just unhook the battery. That way, when it sets for a month, it won't run the battery down. If the Quick Disconnect was right to the battery it would be great for us. This Quick Disconnect is not benificial to us. My Opinion. Have a Good Day