Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: House battery diconnect (Read 333 times) previous topic - next topic

House battery diconnect

 On our 1998 u295 with the house batteries disconnect in the off position  some dc lights work as well as water pump also the gen will crank Is this common  I have not tried to disconnect the chassis batteries and start the gen yet
SLC12

Re: House battery diconnect

Reply #1 –
You have not yet received an response to your inquiry.  Perhaps because it is a bit vague?  I, for one, am not sure what you are asking.

You mention the "house batteries disconnect in the off position".  Are you talking about the switch located near the entry door, commonly called the "Salesman Switch"?  Or are you talking about a different battery disconnect?

Are you trying to figure out which set of batteries is used to start the generator?  You should be able to study the 12 volt DC electric schematic for your coach and quickly make this determination.

If you could clarify what is you are asking, someone on the Forum should be able to answer.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: House battery diconnect

Reply #2 –
 The salesman switch works as intended  But the house battery disconnect in the house battery bay when in the off position seems to have no affect    Maybe it's just to service house batteries  I will next check if gen will start with salesman switch off  Just trying to figure some things out when and if I need to know  My manual seems vague on these guestions
SLC12

Re: House battery diconnect

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Sherry Casteen –
But the house battery disconnect in the house battery bay when in the off position seems to have no affect.
Perhaps the disconnect switch has failed internally?
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: House battery diconnect

Reply #4 –
Sherry,  You may not realize that Foretravel probably did not build your coach with a battery disconnect near the batteries.
A previous owner may have added and wired the switch to suit their needs. 
One must learn how the switch is wired to understand what it disconnects.
Many previous owners added a device to flow current between battery banks to keep start battery bank charged.
There are no Foretravel original wiring diagrams for later modifications.
A volt meter is a required tool, and may help you to understand this motorhome's switches.
 

Re: House battery diconnect

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Sherry Casteen –
On our 1998 u295 with the house batteries disconnect in the off position  some dc lights work as well as water pump also the gen will crank Is this common  I have not tried to disconnect the chassis batteries and start the gen yet

I explained a similar issue in a different post just recently.  What I found, after turning off my house battery disconnect switch (which I installed), does indeed allow many other DC powered devices to receive power. This was a mystery to me as I thought cutting DC powered devices from the house batteries would cut all DC power. But alas it does not. The start batteries are also wired into the DC circuits, directly off the start batteries. So if not careful you will drain the start batteries due to those other DC loads. So you will have to install a start battery disconnect switch if you truly want to disconnect all DC power. 

Now I am talking about my 2002 u320, which may be different, so keep that in mind.

Ross
Ross & Nancy and Loki our GSD
2002 U320 owner 2024-?
Build: 6031, WTFS 4010
Starting our RV journey