Battery disconnects above door

[Toq]

I just bought a 2003 Fleetwood Southwind 32vs. When the previous owner was walking me through the RV he forgot to mention the battery disconnects above the door. Does anyone know what they are used for? Thanks in advance.

[RLS7201]

Seattle Steve wrote:
Come on, posters, we've only had 5 people give the same answer. That's unusual for around here. We need at least a dozen more.

Sorry for being late to the party. Check all the grounds.

Richard

[Stim]

The switches control "Latch Relays".
The relays look like a solenoid but are not and they are way more expensive.
The switches are Rocker Switches, I had the switches get sticky in a 1989 Southwind and it burned up the relays!
Try to find an owners manual for proper way to operate them.

[Toq]

Thank you, everyone!

[dougrainer]

Toq wrote:
So if I’m full timing then I don’t need to worry about them?

Just leave them ON. They are only turned OFF when storing with no shore 120 power available. They need to be ON when fulltiming or using the Motorhome. You still need to start the chassis engine once a week for 10 minutes or so. Doug

[Toq]

So if I’m full timing then I don’t need to worry about them?

[Seattle_Steve]

Come on, posters, we've only had 5 people give the same answer. That's unusual for around here. We need at least a dozen more.

[enblethen]

They control large relays to disconnect the batteries. Main disconnects most of the chassis battery power, AUX disconnects the power that feeds the portion that is for the house.

[midnightsadie]

for long storage couple weeks install a shut off switch right in the battery box then everything is off, no tiny power draw.

[craig7h]

The one for the "house" battery turns off most but not all of the 12 volt items in the coach. That switch is mainly used when you are storing your coach for a long period of time. That will eliminate a lot of battery drain. As my coach is plugged in all the time I have never used the switch. I believe that by turning the switch off when plugged in it also stops the battery from being charged (I could be wrong on that).

If you have a switch for the engine battery it does the same thing, I have never had a coach with a engine battery switch so really do not know. To me it seems kind of useless as you do not have a battery disconnect switch on you car.

For most part if not storing for along period of time leave them on.

[Ava]

One turns on and off the chassis battery. The other turns on and off the house batteries. As soon as I park my rig, and extend my steps, I turn the chassis battery off so it has no draw on it and my engine will start.

[CA_Traveler]

Normally they connect most of the loads from the house battery to turn off unwanted lights etc when you leave.