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Hatfield's avatar
Hatfield
Explorer
May 21, 2013

house power cutoff switch on 21' Jamboree Searcher

Hello -

It's been awhile since I've been on these forums. I found this to be an invaluable resource when I got my first RV (1999 Pleasure-Way Excel RD). I've since upgraded to a larger but older RV, a 1994 Jamboree Searcher 21' Class C on a Ford E350 chassis. So now I have a new learning curve ahead of me.

The manual that came with the Pleasure-Way was quite detailed, but the one that came with the Jamboree is rather vague, and the guy who sold it to me wasn't that knowledgeable. I've been able to figure most things out on my own, but this is a question that's vexing me: where is the house power cutoff switch on this thing? On the PW it was a large red key in the rear under the bed. I've looked everywhere on the Searcher and can't find one. It also appears that the fridge runs off the chassis battery, not the house battery, which seems odd to me.

I checked with The Google and also searched these forums but came up dry. Thanks in advance for any help anyone might be able to provide.

Regards,

Hatfield

3 Replies

  • We have a 2004 Tioga 26Q. Our auxiliary/house battery switch is on the control panel on the left as you enter. The 12 volt DC powered electronic controls on the fridge, water heater, furnace, etc., and interior lights normally are powered by the house battery and converter when hooked to camp power or when generator is running . The house battery disconnect switch operates a relay, you should hear a click or snap. If the relay is stuck/defective, it may not connect or disconnect the house battery. If the house battery is weak or dead, the switch/relay may not work. If you disconnect the starting battery, and fridge shuts off, fridge is connected to the starting battery. If you have a voltmeter, check house battery voltage on DC 20 volt scale. If charged, it should read 13+ volts, if nearly dead it should read 12 volts. Same with starting battery.

    If you contact Fleetwood, they might be able to give you pertinent info.
  • Many thanks for the quick reply. There is a switch panel near the entry door, but I don't think this is it.

    The stairs have an electric motor which doesn't work (which the seller disclosed). The rear of these switches and the wiring is visible from a storage compartment. Looking at the rear of this switch, the wires to seem to go to the electric stairs. Also, the wire looks to be 18-gauge or something. On the PW the wires leading to the cutoff switch were massive, they looked like battery cable wires.

  • The "normal" location is just inside the house entryway. Ours has a fairly large rocker switch close to the inside step. When on, the green LED indicator is lit. The rocker switch is a mom-center-mom, meaning it can be rocked from center in both directions for on or off, then it returns to the center.