switching to coach batteries

Working on on shore power

Are you asking how to switch from shore/generator power to battery power?

You do not,,it's all automatic..However unless you have an INVERTER only 12 volt stuff (Lights,Water Pump, Fans,Furnace, Control power for Fridge and Water heater) will work...Fridge and water heater work on PROPANE only.TV and Microwve do not work. Outlets do not work

IF you have in inverter then whatever 120volt stuff they hooked to it works

Normally TV,, Then selected outlets (Kitchen/bath/patio) and finally Microwave.

Did the 12v system work before you went into the boonies?

Do the coach lights work with the engine running? That's when the alternator and chassis battery are connected to the coach battery. If the lights work it could indicate that the coach battery is dead.

If you have a multimeter or a test light, start at the battery, follow the wireing, and see where you loose the voltage.

Dis the batteries also sit for five years? In any case, checking the condition of the batteries might be a good first step.

Start by locating your batteries. Look near them for a large battery disconnect relay, adjacent to the battery disconnect could be circuit breaker.
Use a test light or voltmeter to check for power from the converter via the shore power being plugged in.
Check in the 12 volt DC power distribution panel for a main battery fuse. Power center is quite often behind a metal plate adjacent to the 120 volt circuit breakers held on by a thumb screw.
Did you try to locate the battery isolator? Check the coach or aux output with the rig running to see if there is 12 volts.

5 years it sat so it could be anything

Let me be I little more clear the only time I have power to the coach is when I'm docked. No time else.

Many older rigs had isolators like this.
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/CH00/48070/N0356.oap?ck=Search_N0356_-1_3732&pt=N0356&ppt=C0061
Many fail!
This unit prevents the coach batteries from depleting the chassis battery. When the rig is running they allow power to charge your coach batteries.
I do not care for this style as the diodes fail and either do not charge batteries or allow the chassis battery to drain while using the coach.
There is normally a battery disconnect. Many have the disconnects above the door in Fleetwood rigs. make sure that if equipped the battery disconnect is turned on and working. You can test by disconnecting the shore power and see if your lights work. If they do not you could have a bad disconnect relay or circuit breaker or fuse is blown.

AFAIK, most if not all MHs power the coach from the coach batteries. The only time the chassis battery is connected to the coach system is when the engine is running. This is done to prevent the coach battery from being discharged to the point that you can't start the engine.

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