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Old 12-06-2022, 03:31 PM   #1
Bladescb
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Question Red Plastic Key?

When I turn the "Red Plastic Key" to off in the RV, does it discontinue charging the battery? I turn the red key to off when not using the RV so nothing in the RV drains the battery. I also leave it plugged in to shore power. Just went to move the RV and battery is dead. Will not lift the jacks. Just grunts. So that had me wondering if the red key is in the off position, does the battery charge?
 
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Old 12-06-2022, 04:27 PM   #2
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Catherine,

Recommend you always leave the plastic key so it can not be removed which keeps the battery connected. Without the battery connected the converter will not keep them charged.

If you remove shore power and do not want the batteries to discharge, disconnect the batteries at the batteries and not the red key. If using only the red key there are things still energized which will discharge the batteries.
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Old 12-06-2022, 05:46 PM   #3
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The disconnect does not disconnect everything. There are some items connected before the disconnect switch. As long as you are plugged it you should leave the battery switch connected (meaning you can not remove it).
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Old 12-07-2022, 04:45 AM   #4
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Many have changed the name of this from "disconnect" to "battery isolator" which, to me at least, is more descriptive of what it does. It doesn't completely disconnect the battery, but it does isolate it from most of the coach, including the converter/charger.
There are things, such as the CO detector and Propane detector, that are not wired through this switch, so they tend to be parasitic draws even when the key is off and removed.
I added a true disconnect switch to my batteries on the negative post to prevent this drain. Here's the one I used...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Old 12-07-2022, 05:22 AM   #5
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The straight answer is "yes" if you turn the red key off the batteries will not be charging.
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Old 12-07-2022, 04:32 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisconsin Retiree View Post
The straight answer is "yes" if you turn the red key off the batteries will not be charging.


And because of the way the trailer is wired, not everything is truly cut off from the batteries. There are still items in the camper that are actively being powered by the battery, causing it to eventually discharge. This is called "parasitic draw". Parasitic ... you know ... a parasite! (an organism living in, on, or with another organism in order to obtain nutrients, grow, or multiply often in a state that directly or indirectly harms the host)

The only way to stop "parasitic draw" is to disconnect the battery at the battery terminals. A lot of folks install a kill switch on the negative wire at the battery.
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Old 12-08-2022, 10:00 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisconsin Retiree View Post
The straight answer is "yes" if you turn the red key off the batteries will not be charging.

Thanx for all the replies.
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Old 12-12-2022, 01:04 PM   #8
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As noted by several, "isolating" the batteries does not remove all connections. In fact, the hydraulic system remains directly connected to the batteries, as does the inverter if you have one. Regarding charging, if you have solar installed we have learned that it will continue to charge the batteries even if the battery switch has the batteries disconnected. That has turned out to be a nice feature for us when the RV is in storage periodically.
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