FTC Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through some of the links in this articlefor more information, visit our Advertising Disclosure Page.
Should I Leave My RV's Battery Disconnect Switch on When Going Down The Road In My RV?
Should I Leave My RV's Battery Disconnect Switch on When Going Down The Road In My RV?
by Ron
(Chicago, Il)
Properly Using RV Battery Disconnect Switch
QUESTION
Should I leave the battery disconnect switch on my fifth wheel in the on or off position while driving on the road? I've been turning it to the off position and have noticed that the battery is not fully charged when reaching my destination.
ANSWER
Battery Off Position
The way most battery disconnect switches are wired in RVs is that when the battery disconnect switch is in the "batteries off" position the RV house batteries will not receive a charge from your tow vehicles charging system or in the case of a motorhome the RV house batteries will not receive a charge from the motorhome's charging system.
Also, when you are plugged into shore power with the battery disconnect switch in the "batteries off" position in most cases your house batteries will not receive a charge from your RV's converter/charger.
Furthermore, depending on the age of your RV and the type of battery disconnect switch installed with the Battery Disconnect Switch in the "batteries off" position your RV's 12-volt lights and accessories may not work even when plugged into shore power.
The only time you should keep the Battery Disconnect Switch in
the "batteries off" position is when you are storing and not using your RV. Keeping the batteries off during storage helps prevent your house batteries from being completely discharged during storage from constant drains from such items as RV TV antenna amplifiers, Propane Detectors, etc.
Also, if you keep your RV plugged in during storage keeping the batteries off will prevent your house batteries from being overcharged by your RV's converter/charger. This helps prolong the life of your RV's house batteries.
Battery On Position
When the Battery Disconnect switch is in the on position, your RV house batteries will be charged when you are going down the road and when your plugged into electric. All your 12-Volt lights and accessories will function normally.
Installing an RV shutoff Switch
For those RVers that own an RV without a battery disconnect switch you can purchase and install an battery disconnect switch.
Watch the video below to learn how to install an RV Battery Shut-Off Switch on your RV's House Batteries.
Do you have any suggestions or comments on this topic? You can add them to this page by clicking on the "Click Here to Post Comments" link located near the bottom of this page.
Comments for Should I Leave My RV's Battery Disconnect Switch on When Going Down The Road In My RV?
My 2003 Motorhome Windsong by Forest River. The onboard generator gas line is hooked up to a 5 gallon boat tank. Can the generator be hooked up to the Motorhome gas tank. Thanks Mark
Rating
Disconnect battery switch and converter by: Cathy
At what position to I put the battery disconnect (Store or In Use) and the AC/DC converter( MagnaTek 7300 Electronic Series if I only want to use my Class B Dynamax Isata as a fail driven vehicle. Seems like anything I try it won’t crank after a few days. New batteries all around.
Rating
help by: bobby lonewolf
where is the battery disconnect switch located on a keystone raptor toy hauler.
Rating
Disconnect switch by: Robert
You should have your batteries on whenever you are plugged into AC power. Even if the rig is plugged in during storage so your converter does not burn up from not having a load on it. You are sending dirty voltage to all your 12 volt appliances that have circuit boards on them.
Robert Ace Rv & Trailer Repair
Rating
What if you have solar by: Anonymous
If there is a solar panel for the batteries, do you ever need to turn the switch off?
Rating
Battery switch by: Anonymous
Hello. My father lives in an RV and we are trying to locate the disconnect battery switch but we cannot seem to find it. Where can it be located? He lives in a Catalina Coachman 1989.
Rating
Battery by: Bobby N
We’ve had new trailer 1 week & battery is dead. Now we know we should have turned off switch. But should it have drained that quick from just antennae & smoke & gas detectors? All major appliances have been off. Did we ruin this battery already?
Frustrated in Florida
Rating
Question by: Ryan
My RV has two battery disconnects. One on the compartment wall behind batteries and another one on the side by the Water hook-up hubs. Do both disconnects have to be in "open" position while driving to recharge the batteries? Or just the one behind the batteries?
Rating
Leave switch on when towing. by: Don
Battery power must be on while towing in case of emergency disconnect. This provides power to electric brakes if trailer becomes unhooked.
Rating
Thanks - Info about Disconnect Switch!! by: Vic Schmidt
Thanks for clearing this up for a brand new Motor Homer!! 😎
Rating
Red Light On or Off on Disconnect Switch? by: Vic Schmidt
Should the Battery Disconnect Switch's Red Light be On or Off during normal operation or when on Shore Power.
Seems like that light should be On except when you are storing your rig between outings, correct?
Note From RVing Al: The red light should be on during normal operation. When you use the switch to disconnect the batteries from the system, the light will be off.
Rating
answer t converter inverter Question by: Anonymous
An inverter takes your battery power 12V DC and produces AC 120V output. A converter does just the opposite it steps down your 120 v Ac input and feeds it to a diode bridge whose output is 12v DC.
Rating
auto park brake by: Anonymous
problems with thee auto park brake, so i disconected the whole system, and use the foot emergency brake. but now i have all kinds of electrical problems, do i need to disconnect a fuse, relays , sensers, etc?
Rating
converter by: Emily
My husband had a stroke in 2011. We have a 1995 Newmar Kountry Star motor home. I am learning all I can, but need some help.The box located on the underside of the bed.Is this the converter, and the power box in the outside storage,is tthis the inverter. What is the function of each one? Any help appreciated
Everything About RVing Does not sell personal information. For more information visit our Privacy Policy Page.
Amazon.com Disclosure
Everything-About-RVing.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
