I know this may seem like a simple question, but I am totally stumped. We recently upgraded from a 5th wheel to a 50amp motorhome. We bought the motorhome from an individual. Unfortunately, the gentlemen has cancer as was not able to do a total walk through with us. As you walk into the coach, you will find the entry switch panel (battery indicator, ceiling lightning, compartment lights, step, battery connect and porch light. Right below it is a switch that lights up when you turn it on. Looking through all the manuals, I can not find it. Any ideas what this switch if for? I don't want to keep bothering the former owner. He was quite sad to have to give up the RV life. Second question. We plugged in the coach to home power. Yesterday, while running the generator, we checked out the TV. Today while plugged into home power we could not get TV to come on. Any suggestions? A sure appreciate your help and patience as we begin this part of our RV adventure.

If you post the year, make and model of the new motorhome.... There might be someone here that has the same one as you that could give you the correct answer...... Otherwise you will getting nothing more than guesses...... Now..For my guess......It's the electric water heater switch....

Thank you! It is a 2003 Dolphin. Electric water heater switch is in the bathroom area.

My guess is it is the salesman's switch. Flip it and see if your interior lights, the tvs and other things don't work. Then flip it again and see if they come on. They were put in coaches so the salesman didn't have to use the disconnect switch when showing coaches. IMHO, a waste of money....Dennis

Congratulations on your purchase. Your mystery switch operates your inverter. Concerning your TV I can suggest possibly you have ignition key in on position. If your electronic equipment, cd player,etc, is not working there is a GFC circuit breaker in passenger side front bin that needs resetting. Good luck.

Might be an entry step light. Look under the door area with the door open.Might be for a service light in the engine compartment.Might be for night lights along the floor, like airplane aisle lights.This is part of the fun of buying a used MH. When you do find out what the switch controls it will be of those rare "AHH -- why didn't I think of that sooner" moments.When you do find out be sure to post the answer.Good luck with your new rig!!PSGuess I was typing at the same time as don-b, who owns the same rig. Anyhow I am sure there will be lots of other learning curve experiances for you - Safe travels

Mystery Switch | Good Sam Community

Executive45
Explorer III
Aug 25, 2013
Richard, FYI...I appreciate your efforts to discredit the existence of these switches. Often, posters are second or third owners of these coaches and unfortunately the manuals that come with them are seldom passed along. Helping the folks on here to better understand how their machines work is the goal of the forum. At any rate, below I've attached a couple photos from my manuals depicting the switch with photos and a brief description of what it does. While Monaco refers to them as a battery cut-off switch, (as opposed to a battery DISCONNECT switch), they are more commonly referred to as "salesman" switches because they cut off 12V power to the domestic fuse panel only and not all power as a battery disconnect switch would....Dennis
Executive45
Explorer III
Aug 25, 2013
Richard...I'll try to post it for you tomorrow...:B...Dennis
beetlebug
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Thank you all for your help. The owner brought over the owner manuals and the mystery has been solved. It is an inverter switch (Thanks Don).
workhardplayha1
Explorer
Aug 25, 2013
Could be your step override.
RLS7201
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2013
Wrong Lane wrote:
Wow--calling a guy out over the name of a switch. The forum has reached an all time low.

And what is your part in the subject matter? Was you offended? If someone needs to be offended, I'm glad it was you and hopefully not Dennis.

Richard
Dyngbld
Explorer
Aug 24, 2013
beetlebug wrote:
Right below it is a switch that lights up when you turn it on. Looking through all the manuals, I can not find it. Any ideas what this switch if for?

I don't know but I wish you would stop using it! My porch light has been going off and on at random for days now and it is starting to get annoying. :)
Wrong_Lane
Explorer
Aug 24, 2013
Wow--calling a guy out over the name of a switch. The forum has reached an all time low.
RLS7201
Explorer II
Aug 24, 2013
Executive wrote:
OnaQuest wrote:
Executive wrote:
My guess is it is the salesman's switch. Flip it and see if your interior lights, the tvs and other things don't work. Then flip it again and see if they come on. They were put in coaches so the salesman didn't have to use the disconnect switch when showing coaches. IMHO, a waste of money....Dennis

I'm not sure why this myth continues to get propagated. The Disconnect switches were NEVER intended for use by the "salesman". They are installed in nearly ALL motorhomes to be used when the coach is put in extended storage without 120vac power available. Some diesel coaches also have a master "kill" switch located in the engine compartment for emergency purposes.

You will not find any reference to a "salesman switch" in any official motor home documentation.

My Monaco manual specifically refers to the "Salesman Switch" just inside the front door...it's also shown and referenced in the electrical schematics they provided with the coach when new....Dennis

Dennis, Can you post a copy of that "Salesman Switch" script. I'm not saying you're pulling our legs but I've seen a lot of owners manuals over the last 20 years and have never seen that mentioned.

Thanks
Richard
Executive45
Explorer III
Aug 24, 2013
OnaQuest wrote:
Executive wrote:
My guess is it is the salesman's switch. Flip it and see if your interior lights, the tvs and other things don't work. Then flip it again and see if they come on. They were put in coaches so the salesman didn't have to use the disconnect switch when showing coaches. IMHO, a waste of money....Dennis

I'm not sure why this myth continues to get propagated. The Disconnect switches were NEVER intended for use by the "salesman". They are installed in nearly ALL motorhomes to be used when the coach is put in extended storage without 120vac power available. Some diesel coaches also have a master "kill" switch located in the engine compartment for emergency purposes.

You will not find any reference to a "salesman switch" in any official motor home documentation.

My Monaco manual specifically refers to the "Salesman Switch" just inside the front door...it's also shown and referenced in the electrical schematics they provided with the coach when new....Dennis
OnaQuest
Explorer
Aug 23, 2013
Executive wrote:
My guess is it is the salesman's switch. Flip it and see if your interior lights, the tvs and other things don't work. Then flip it again and see if they come on. They were put in coaches so the salesman didn't have to use the disconnect switch when showing coaches. IMHO, a waste of money....Dennis

I'm not sure why this myth continues to get propagated. The Disconnect switches were NEVER intended for use by the "salesman". They are installed in nearly ALL motorhomes to be used when the coach is put in extended storage without 120vac power available. Some diesel coaches also have a master "kill" switch located in the engine compartment for emergency purposes.

You will not find any reference to a "salesman switch" in any official motor home documentation.

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