|
02-17-2009, 06:31 AM
|
#1
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: San Jose
Posts: 389
M.O.C. #2277
|
A necessity : Battery Cut Off Switch
If you haven't read of our experiences with electrical fire you'll find it in 'Montana Technical Help, Problems & Problem Solving'.
If not for the $30 cutoff switch I installed we might have lost everything. Because I had one I was able to cut the batteries off and put the fire out before more damage was done. The actual damage from the fire was less than $3000, it was the fall off the tow truck that did the other $17,000.
If you don't have one, get one.
If you've got one make sure it TOTALLY removes the batteries from the circuit. It's recommended that the switch be on the ground side of the battery circuit as close to the batteries as feasible.
We put a smoke detector in the storage cabinet as well. Close to the laundry door so we're more likely to hear it.
Keystone/Montana? Shouldn't you be doing this?
|
|
|
02-17-2009, 06:40 AM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location:
Posts: 560
M.O.C. #8818
|
Not sure why you would want it on the Negative side of the battery. Wouldn't a direct short to the frame travel down the landing gear to ground and keep the juice flowing through the fault? I'm pretty sure you would want the cut off on the Positive side of the battery.
Maybe I'm wrong??? Any electricians out there care to comment.
Edit:
Now that I think about it, I guess the juice has to ground back to the battery to complete the faulty circuit, at least in a "12 volt only" situation.
A 110V fault would a be different story. I guess then either the circuit breaker would have to save the day, or you would have to be there to unplug the 110V cord.
|
|
|
02-17-2009, 07:01 AM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
|
Actually you can disconnect either post, but technically removing the negative is a safer way of doing it.
When doing engine work, we would disconnect the negative. That way if you accidentally laid a tool across either post and ground, nothing happened. If you disconnect the positive rather than negative, the whole chassis remains a conductor.
Muddypaws - good advice on the smoke detector. We have had one down there since new. How did everything turn out?
|
|
|
02-17-2009, 07:05 AM
|
#4
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: _
Posts: 5,238
M.O.C. #6337
|
I believe the new units that have that "fancy dancy one in all service center", electric, water, and sewer area all in that neato package, they have a cut off switch for the battery.
Now, that said, it is not as close to the battery as if you were to install one in the front locker area.
Not sure what year that started, 2008? 2009??
|
|
|
02-17-2009, 07:09 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
|
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Mrs. CountryGuy
I believe the new units that have that "fancy dancy one in all service center", electric, water, and sewer area all in that neato package, they have a cut off switch for the battery.
Now, that said, it is not as close to the battery as if you were to install one in the front locker area.
Not sure what year that started, 2008? 2009??
|
2006. Unfortunately it is not a true cut off switch as Muddypaws notes. It does not cut off landing gear, slides, or electric jacks (anything on stand alone breakers that does not go through the 12V breaker panel). Its misleading and shame on Keystone for that. To correct the problem, you have to pull a new pair of cables from the batteries, down under the belly, and back up into the basement behind the convenience center, then rewire the switch so it is a true master switch.
|
|
|
02-18-2009, 07:59 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Highlands Ranch
Posts: 464
M.O.C. #3477
|
I know some people don't think much of them, but the old knife switches have worked well for me. Ran them for several years on the motor home, coach battery and deep cycles. Have had them on the Monty since new, 5th season coming up. Have never had a problem. I do run them on the negative cable, one on each battery.
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
Similar Threads
|
Thread |
Thread Starter |
Forum |
Replies |
Last Post |
Battery Off/On Switch
|
captbanjo |
Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help |
3 |
02-19-2016 01:35 PM |
Battery Switch
|
komokoa |
General Discussions about our Montanas |
4 |
09-14-2010 05:39 AM |
Battery cut off switch
|
nickandmarilyn |
General Discussions about our Montanas |
12 |
03-12-2008 12:11 PM |
Battery cut off switch.
|
Trailer Trash 2 |
Additions & Improvements |
0 |
01-10-2004 05:52 PM |
Battery Cut-off Switch
|
palebluedot |
Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help |
0 |
01-04-2003 05:27 AM |
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|