My rig is a Class C, 2008 Coachmen Freelander 2130QB. "Coach Battery" switch on the main coach panel normally disconnects the coach batteries from all loads, to preserve the charge during storage. State is indicated by a green LED which is lit if the coach is powered by the batteries, off otherwise (with generator off, shore power not connected). Sometime last fall, the switch no longer did this function -- green LED remains on always, unless I physically disconnect one of the leads to the batteries to open the circuit.
Thinking the switch itself was malfunctioning, I ordered a replacement. The switch is a spring loaded rocker switch, so that it always returns to the off position when released. Testing of the replacement switch showed that there is nothing fancy -- when pressed, the 2 contacts on the back of the switch are connected; when released, they are not (i.e. open circuit). I installed this replacement switch, and the behavior malfunctions as before.
It is possible that this was caused by something a service tech did during the last service to the coach -- the RV shop replaced a thermal cutoff in the water heater, and did routine service on the refrigerator. I am not positive when the fault first occurred, but it may have been then. On the other hand, it is hard to see how/why a service person would have mucked with the wiring that affects the battery cutoff operation!
If anyone can either tell me or point me to documentation describing the theory of operation or specific wiring for a cutoff switch that operates as in my RV, I would be most appreciative. It looks like pressing the switch normally activates or releases some sort of latching relay, or the electronic equivalent, but why one would add such complexity when a simple on/off switch would do is beyond me!
There is a wiring block behind the control panel, but nothing is obvious -- a number of wires are simply hanging loose, presumably because they used a standard wiring block and only connected those wires that were relevant for a particular coach model. I have no reason to believe that there has been any alteration at all to the coach wiring (other than the failure I am describing).
Thanks.
