Forum Discussion

Gdlow's avatar
Gdlow
Explorer
Jun 20, 2013

Battery Disconnect

We just bought a winter home in SCW Arizona. We will be driving from home with the Motorhome so that we can use it in the winter for Rallies, etc. While it is stored during the winter, I will be able to occasionally go to the storage location to run the generator, but my question is this...
I will put the battery disconnect on...but will that eliminate all of the energy usage on the battery or should I undue one of the negative terminal cables as well? Inquiring mind wants to know...thanks :h

4 Replies

  • Add a switch. Too many gizmos to remember to turn off. Wire the switch on the negative, the ground side to avoid shorts. No wire but a single wire from the cutoff switch should be connected to the battery. Connecting a Harbor Fright 10 amp mechanical charger will top your house batteries off 10 times faster than the rig's converter. Disconnect the negative cable clamp from the ENGINE battery only if by doing so it does not force you to return to the dealer to have the computer re-set. If you do not know the answer, then check with the dealer or on this forum. A fifty dollar solar trickle charger for the engine battery beats a 100 dollar trip to the dealer every time.
  • Battery disconnect should eliminate all loads. However sometimes items get routed direct to the battery. Such as an inverter that may still draw some power when off.

    Also you need to disconnect the chassis battery.

    Consider 60 to 120 watts solar to keep both the house and chassis battery up and skip the generator visits.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    It depends why you want to run your generator I guess... If it is to re-charge the batteries then you will have to leave the battery connected to the system.

    It also depends on where the battery disconnect switch is installed. Alot of battery installs have a few things direct connected to the battery terminals which may be on the battery side of the disconnect switch and not coming off the 12VDC distribution panel.

    Leaving the battery connected to the trailer without some sort of trickle charge will end up with a discharged battery is a quick as a few days running all of the parastic loads in the trailers thus the reason for the disconnect switch in the first place.

    If you are parked outside at the storage place a good low level solar panel is great for trickle charging the batteries all day long especially in Arizona...

    Some people don't like leaving the batteries installed for fear of thief... Don't think for a minute being at a storage facility makes it all safe from thief... Alley cats will jump the fence... My luck would be there is a not responsible for thief clause in the contract haha...

    Just my thoughts
    Roy Ken

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