I have a friend who recently purchased a new FW from CW. We were discussing the battery disconnect & he indicated that there was one inside the coach, but when used, the slides still function. Is that common with any unit having slides & should he install something like a Blue Sea's @ the batteries ? I would think so. My question: Is this common practice on FW's with slides & why ?

Soon after purchasing my Springdale, I added a Battery Master Switch on the negative cable next to the battery. Last thing I do when putting trailer in storage is to flip this. Quick, simple and inexpensive. No more dead batteries when returning to my trailer.

disconnect the battery terminal at the battery post. Quick, simple & effective for battery storage

It's pretty common. Ours shuts off a lot of stuff including the fridge, but not everything, so I installed a cut-off switch at the battery.

I have a main shut off next to the battery boxes in my fiver but leave the solar on most of the time to keep the batteries charged. No disconnect inside the rig though. Not sure why you would want power to the slide with the disconnect off.

I had similar issues, with stock disconect off, I could still raise and lower landing gear, move the slides, plus smoke and propane detectors! After two weeks sitting, battery was way down, had to put a external charger a couple of days before leaving to bring the battery back! Purchased a battery disconnect at Pep Boys, connects to negative terminal on the battery. With this on off position, two week storage battery only down a couple of 1/10's of a volt! I tried disconecting battery terminal, but this was a pain, you needed wrenches, etc, with disconect just a turn and you are ready to go! Easy and cheap solution to your problem!

Battery disconnect on a 5'er | Good Sam Community

Willcamp4
Explorer
Dec 31, 2014
I have a battery disconnect switch mounted on the wall inside one of my locked storage compartments. It is a marine style, so all you have to do is turn a knob to kill everything. Mine turns off everything in the trailer, except the solar panels that are wired direct, to keep the batteries charged. One advantage is that when the trailer is in storage, and someone breaks in (which has happened twice) the crooks can't find much in the dark.
pete_nolin
Explorer
Dec 30, 2014
same thing with mine, switch wired wrong
pete_nolin
Explorer
Dec 30, 2014
Dakota98 wrote:
I have a friend who recently purchased a new FW from CW. We were discussing the battery disconnect & he indicated that there was one inside the coach, but when used, the slides still function. Is that common with any unit having slides & should he install something like a Blue Sea's @ the batteries ? I would think so.

My question: Is this common practice on FW's with slides & why ?
B_O__Plenty
Explorer II
Dec 28, 2014
NC Hauler wrote:
B.O. Plenty wrote:
Nothing works when mine is turned off. I installed it myself. Nobody can move my front jacks if the power is off. I feel it adds a little security. I placed it inside the battery compartment which locks.

B.O.

B.O., Question:...IF your 5er is hooked to AC power, even though your battery is in by-pass, will the lights still work and can you move the slides or jacks...Mine does the same as yours when in by-pass and NOT plugged into shore power...( my by-pass mechanism is also locked to where you would really have to tear up stuff to get to it)..BUT, again, If I'm also hooked up to power, even if battery is in by-pass, I can still move slides and jacks.
Never tried it to see if the 12 volt works when plugged in with the battery switched off. No reason to. I have to turn the battery power on to get the convertor to charge my battery.

B.O.
time2roll
Nomad
Dec 28, 2014
crcr wrote:
I'm reading here that several posters install the disconnect on the negative side of the battery rather than the positive side. Is the negative preferable? And if so, why?
Electrically it has the same effect. I prefer the positive side to stick with common convention of all switches and fuses on the positive side.

Although some RVs have multiple connections to the positive and a single cable to the negative that may simplify the install.

If it is an exposed knife switch that could short to ground it might be best on the negative.

My preference is an insulated switch on the positive.
time2roll
Nomad
Dec 28, 2014
Dakota98 wrote:
I have a friend who recently purchased a new FW from CW. We were discussing the battery disconnect & he indicated that there was one inside the coach, but when used, the slides still function. Is that common with any unit having slides & should he install something like a Blue Sea's @ the batteries ? I would think so.

My question: Is this common practice on FW's with slides & why ?
VERY common to have the slides and emergency brakes tied direct to the battery. These items draw NO power when not in use so the disconnect is still valid to prevent parasitic discharge.
Dakota98
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
crcr wrote:
I'm reading here that several posters install the disconnect on the negative side of the battery rather than the positive side. Is the negative preferable? And if so, why?

First of all, I don't think it really makes any difference, but having said that, I would lean towards putting the disconnect on the "positive" side. Reason being, more corrosion will take place on the negative side & the more contact points in that line, the more chance for a shorted ground. On another note, but not related to FW's, but on TT's. If a person has an electric tongue Jack, it's also best to use the positive side on the disconnect, since the jacks are permanently grounded.
crcr
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
I'm reading here that several posters install the disconnect on the negative side of the battery rather than the positive side. Is the negative preferable? And if so, why?
kennethwooster
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
Our Cameo came with a disconnect. To be honest I have not checked to see if auto levelers come on when disconnect. I really think the entire trailer is dead. Thats the way I want it.
laknox
Nomad
Dec 28, 2014
Dakota98 wrote:
I have a friend who recently purchased a new FW from CW. We were discussing the battery disconnect & he indicated that there was one inside the coach, but when used, the slides still function. Is that common with any unit having slides & should he install something like a Blue Sea's @ the batteries ? I would think so.

My question: Is this common practice on FW's with slides & why ?

On my Komfort, the OEM disconnect kills everything 12v =except= the landing leg and the slides. No 12v lighting, gas detectors, TV, stereo, or anything with a parasitic draw. This includes the power converter, so my FW will NOT charge with the disconnect open (no power). I found this out the hard way. :-( No reason not to have it this way, since there's no parasitic draw from the slides and jacks.

Lyle