Forum Discussion

exeter_acres's avatar
exeter_acres
Explorer
May 30, 2013

Truly dsconnect the power..........

So here is the deal...
I have installed a battery disconnect on the positive line..
(the below symptom happens when I completely remove the battery too)

and even with NO power to the coach

I can still turn on a couple LED lights (incandescent 12v lights will not turn on)
but more annoyingly the gas sensors start to beep due to the low power
I have to remove the fuse to get it to stop...

So.. I have a Parallax series 7300 converter...
from a quick research, I'm guessing that the converter has at least one if not two capacitors....

so even with the 12v disconnected, there is still some power in the capacitor..

is there a recommended and Easy way to drain them so I don't have to remove a couple fuses every time I put the RV away?

the fuses are not a big deal...just annoying...

Thoughts?
  • boogie_4wheel's avatar
    boogie_4wheel
    Explorer
    May 30, 2013
    Flipping on an incandescent light should discharge the cap(s). Then the LEDs and the gas monitors should be dead as well.

    That or they are getting power from an alternate source.
  • HiTech's avatar
    HiTech
    Explorer
    May 30, 2013
    How long will it do this? A capacitor in something like a converter would not keep it going long. Turning on the switch for a normal light as a load should quickly drain a cap that size.

    Jim
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    May 30, 2013
    Sounds like you are getting some power from the starting battery. Maybe back feeding through some device.
  • HiTech's avatar
    HiTech
    Explorer
    May 30, 2013
    Ahh a small solar panel (<100w) sounds like a possibility at that low power level. They often bypass any disconnect switch.

    Jim
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    May 31, 2013
    exeter_acres wrote:
    is there a recommended and Easy way to drain them so I don't have to remove a couple fuses every time I put the RV away?


    What happens if you turn on one of those Incandescent lamps that do not work with the battery disconnected?

    Oh, by the way, that is the answer to your question, THEY are the recommended way to discharge the cap's on the converter, May take up to a minute to finish the job depending on the size of the caps.

    Each farad of cap is one amp-second.
  • exeter_acres's avatar
    exeter_acres
    Explorer
    Jun 04, 2013
    thanks all......

    I put the RV in storage yesterday..and turned on one of the incandescent bulbs...
    will check..

    yes.. it does have a small panel mounted on the A/C unit on the roof....
    interesting...any idea where that would be wired to?

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