intermittent loss of DC coach electricity

Thanks for the update on what you found was causing the problem.

"Jim Bakker" interesting name.
Jim Baker

When testing the battery voltage as several of you advised, I discovered that one of the cables was ever so slightly loose. When I moved the batteries slightly to have better access to the posts the DC power went out!

On the road again on Thursday. Keeping my fingers crossed!

BTW, the batteries were fully charged.

Jim Bakker wrote:
I have an occasional and intermittent problem with loss of DC coach power. Here's the scenario: I drive into a rest area for a "comfort" stop, turn the engine off, switch the water pump on, it doesn't come on, further investigation reveals no DC power in the coach. I don't lose DC power every time the engine is turned off, but when I do starting the engine or plugging into shore power restores DC power. What might cause this, and what is the fix?

Coach is a 2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow, on a Workhorse chassis.

Firstly, I would get a meter on the house batteries and see if I had proper voltage there. Then see if it was at the incoming side of the battery switch.
On a guess, with what you're saying here, it sounds like you have bad batteries. Is you batt water level OK? How long can you go, if at all, without power, using lights, pump and such?

LMAO!!! YES, YES, yes. Any salesman, or woman. Now we're talk'n a forum!

DryCreek wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
I HATE the Term Salesman switch. WHY? There is NO such item.

Wouldn't that be sweet if there was such an animal? You go looking at motor homes (or RV's in general) and the salesman starts babbling about the cupholders or some other useless feature. You reach up and turn the "salesman switch" to off and he slumps into a quiet trance.

Now THAT is a good switch. Doug

dougrainer wrote:
I HATE the Term Salesman switch. WHY? There is NO such item.

Wouldn't that be sweet if there was such an animal? You go looking at motor homes (or RV's in general) and the salesman starts babbling about the cupholders or some other useless feature. You reach up and turn the "salesman switch" to off and he slumps into a quiet trance.

BillofPA wrote:
I had that problem and it was a bad relay that the "salesman" switch was connected to.

I HATE the Term Salesman switch. WHY? There is NO such item. RV's have a Battery Disconnect switch. In 40 years as a RV Technician, the only time that term has come up has been from someone on a Forum posting that term. Whew! I feel better now:B
IF the 12 volt disconnect is ON and the unit has power, the Disconnect switch will NOT open and stop 12 volt power. So, if the OP HAD 12 volt power when he started, then the Disconnect switch is not his problem. Now, he COULD have loose nuts on the Disconnect solenoid which would cause his problem. That is why he needs to check all the battery and battery operated switches for loose connections. Doug

If it is the battery disconnect relay it can be serviced. Take the. relay out. find the 4 small screws that hold the "hat" on. Inside will be a big brass washer. remove the corrosion. also clean up the contacts. Lube with a conducting oil or light grease. Put it back together. It has been 3 years since I last had to do this. My failure was not intermittent

No such thing as a salesman switch
that is your battery disconnect for storage
the salesman uses it if he is smart, so the batteries don't get run down from things left on