Forum Discussion

marter's avatar
marter
Explorer
Jun 29, 2013

Battery cut off

We just bought a 2013 Montana with a battery cut off switch or in this case a plastic key that you turn to off when you don't want the battery to get a draw. My question is should this also disable the landing gear and stabilizers? My battery keeps drawing down even with the switch turned to off. Nothing inside the camper works even the LP gas detector is off so I am making an guess that the control box is still powering up to get power to jack system. It is quite a draw as when I connect the battery I get a pretty good spark. anyone have any ideas?
  • marter's avatar
    marter
    Explorer
    Feb 14, 2014
    had brakes checked and no problem found might have taken some life out of the electric brake stuff but everything works great.
  • mena661's avatar
    mena661
    Explorer
    Jul 15, 2013
    I know the OP found his problem but our disconnect switch turns off everything except the converter output.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Jul 15, 2013
    Hope you didn't damage the brakes. You should have them checked. There have been reports of damaged brake magnets from people doing the same thing.
  • marter's avatar
    marter
    Explorer
    Jul 15, 2013
    Well found problem. The emergency brake controller at hitch I would disconnect there when unhooking trailer and leave out. What that does is put constant 12 volts to brakes even with battery switch off. Well live and learn. :S
  • Homey_B's avatar
    Homey_B
    Explorer
    Jul 05, 2013
    MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

    ZERO should bypass an RV battery disconnect switch except solar voltaic panels


    I respectfully disagree. Somebody posted (in a separate thread) that you should make sure the emergency brake "breakaway" switch should go direct to the battery. This way, if you pull out of a campground and your battery is disconnected/switched off, you still have power to the last-ditch brakes in case something goes badly awry down the road.

    j
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Jul 04, 2013
    A draw like that with the switch open and you are not running the jacks or slide, could be the usual suspects:

    A. you have pulled out the breakaway brake switch and your battery has the brakes fully on. If so put the pin back in--do not try to tow the trailer like that! If so and it has been on for a while, have the brakes inspected (magnets etc).

    B. tank heaters left on by mistake --might or might not be via disconnect switch though.
  • uncle_t's avatar
    uncle_t
    Explorer
    Jul 04, 2013
    Not sure what battery turn off switch you are referring to. The one in the battery compartment kills everything. The one most likely found on your dash, sometimes referred to as the salesman's switch turns off all 12volt system EXCEPT the reefer control system on most coaches.
  • Veebyes's avatar
    Veebyes
    Explorer II
    Jul 01, 2013
    Surprised nobody has suggested following the wires. There should be only one wire from the switch to the positive battery post. Everything, one way or another, should be connected to something on the trailer side of the switch. Preferably the switch cable goes to a positive bus bar somewhere which everything gets its power from.

    Also ideally there should be a negative bus bar somewhere which in turn is grounded to the trailer frame, sometimes at the same point as the battery negative cable.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,189 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 21, 2025