master battery switch

Bobbo wrote:

DrewE wrote:
More commonly, things like . . . . and maybe power steps for the entry door.

In my experience, the power steps are powered by the chassis battery. That way, if you start the engine, the steps can auto-retract even if the house battery is turned off.

Mine are connected to the house battery, but they don't have any auto-retract feature (nor did they ever). It's just a switch like a power window switch next to the entry, connected directly to the step motor. It's a simple setup, but even so most of my non-RVing friends seem to think it's Buck Rogers level technology.

If you do have the auto-retract, then the chassis battery is probably the most common connection, as I understand things. I guess most these days probably do auto-retract.

DrewE wrote:
More commonly, things like . . . . and maybe power steps for the entry door.

In my experience, the power steps are powered by the chassis battery. That way, if you start the engine, the steps can auto-retract even if the house battery is turned off.

Again depends on the coach.

First hand experience that on one or more of our coaches, the salesman switch (the disconnect by the door) left the refrigerator operational, propane detector and propane solenoid operational. I like this layout, as I can quickly turn off all lights, etc, but still have the refrigerator and safety equipment on 24/7.

There is no "here is how they are all wired.

wolfe10 wrote:
Correct. But on different models there may still be some things that the switch does NOT turn off. Refrigerator 12 VDC is one common example.

More commonly, things like the propane and CO detector are not turned off, and the radio preset memory power feed, and maybe power steps for the entry door. The fridge is one thing that I would very much expect to be turned off by the disconnect switch.

On many RVs, the disconnect disconnects the converter/charger from the battery, but that's not universal. (This may be something to think about if you wish to leave the RV plugged in with the battery disconnected. If the converter is on the battery side of the switch, the battery will still be charged but the house 12V systems will be dead. If it's on the house side, the battery will not be charged but the 12V system will be live, at least to whatever extent the converter supplies good power with no battery connected.)

wolfe10 wrote:
Correct. But on different models there may still be some things that the switch does NOT turn off. Refrigerator 12 VDC is one common example.

Not on any RV I've seen. That switch is for disconnecting the batteries for storage. In fact on some RVs the off setting is labeled as STORE.

Correct. But on different models there may still be some things that the switch does NOT turn off. Refrigerator 12 VDC is one common example.

That switch disconnects the coach (house) batteries. Yes if in storage turn off.