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Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

December 01, 2016, 09:38:29 pm

Hi there,

We have to store our coach for most of the winter without a power source.  We have already had a disconnect switch placed for the main batteries and wanted some advise on where to mount the switch for the house batteries.  Any how to's or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Kath & Mike

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #1 – December 01, 2016, 10:46:10 pm

I have a 2007 Nimbus with the batteries in the center of the coach.  The disconnect switch is located in the back divider wall of the LP compartment.  Easy location to install the switch and all the wires are in the battery compartment. 

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #2 – December 02, 2016, 11:44:18 am

I'm not so sure about putting an electrical switch of any kind inside/near an LP source..  Just disconnect the batteries at the end of the season and save yourself the grief..  pc

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #3 – December 03, 2016, 03:21:56 pm

Thank you for the responses.  We decided to mount the heavy duty disconnect switch in the electrical compartment.  We will update once installed.

Thanks,
Kath & Mike

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #4 – December 03, 2016, 05:01:23 pm

Katy & Mike, hey, isn't your coach equipped with a coach battery disconnect switch on the front wall of the entry step, the salesman's swithch?

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #5 – December 03, 2016, 05:21:10 pm

The salesman switch disconnects most but not all 12v circuits. A disconnect switch that does what Mike and Kath want would do the same as disconnecting the battery cable.  No 12v anywhere.

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #6 – December 04, 2016, 06:28:47 pm

I would be very interested in any postings about a resolution to this.

We're going to be heading out to Phoenix for a couple of months again later this month and, instead of bringing the coach back to Virginia, we're considering storing it in California for about three months. The plan is to leave from California with another Foretravel owner in late May to head out for the Alaska Motorcade.

If we do this, I need to figure out how best to prep the coach for that three months of storage. Completely disconnecting all 12v drainage sources is a must.

Also planning to run this by MOT when we arrive for our service appointment on the 19th.

Don

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #7 – December 04, 2016, 06:55:08 pm

Don,

Actually, there are three choices:

15 amp shore power is plenty to keep batteries up.

Solar panels

Total battery disconnect.  But, even then, the batteries will experience some self-discharge, though not enough to harm them if you disconnect them fully, I mean FULLY charged.

I would also add a BIOCIDE such as Biobor JF and completely fill diesel tank to minimize condensation.

Cover tires to reduce UV exposure.

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #8 – December 04, 2016, 09:30:45 pm

Brett,

Thanks for that advice.

Right now I can't find any storage with any shore power, but I am continuing to look. Adding solar is a longer term plan, but I will check into that. I will definitely have the batteries FULLY charged. I already use Biobor JF at each fillup (maintenance level per one of your earlier posts). I'll just do it at a shock level when I do that last fillup just before pulling it into storage. I use tire treatment in between, but always cover them when in storage.

Looks like a quick disconnect might work best at this point. Will be keeping an eye on this thread.

As always, thanks again for your input Brett. Was hoping you would see that question.

Don

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #9 – December 05, 2016, 09:20:44 am

Finding a suitable disconnect switch for coach batteries to 12 VDC loads in the coach is pretty simple.  BUT, make sure you do not try to locate a disconnect switch in the large-gauge cable between inverter and battery bank-- that line can handle a lot more amps than most disconnect switches.

Here is a common marine 12 VDC ON-OFF switch. Rated at 450 amps continuous, 1,200 amps intermittent:
PERKO Inc. - Catalog - Battery Switches - Heavy Duty Battery Disconnect...

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336

Reply #10 – December 05, 2016, 09:40:36 pm

Thanks, Brett!

I'm not about to try to tackle this myself. Your cautions are going to be at the forefront as I discuss this when I get to NAC in a couple of weeks.

This has moved from a nice-to-have to a must-have after looking at the options for my three month storage, so I'll be planning to roll out of NAC with this completed.

Don

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Re: Battery disconnect for house batteries 2007 Nimbus 336 and longterm storage

Reply #11 – May 19, 2017, 05:19:39 pm

Hi there,

I wanted provide an update on the storage this winter for our coach without shore power.  First we highly, highly recommend installing solar.  We have two solar panels installed by Foretravel when we purchased our coach last year and it really saved us - even with disconnect switches there is always a phantom battery drain due to the security system.  We also replaced our house batteries with gels and installed a disconnect switch on the main & house batteries.  Works great!

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