battery disconnect/ no power

[John_C]

Originally Posted by harryshoe

My battery registers 12.7 but nothing in my unit works unless I plug into the house. I did blow the fuse by connecting the terminals backwards. In my entire 68 years, black has always been negative!

The battery worked last summer. I don't know how a disconnect switch would have been touched. It was at the dealer's for inspection in December.

The fuse is replaced. Still no power from the battery. My dealer claims there are red switches. All I see is a junction box. When the rain stops, I'll look in there.

Hi Harryshoe,
I thought I would add this pic to your thread... This is a pic taken of my main battery connections in my 2008 FF XT190 (White is Negative here and I was told by my dealer it is correct and is correct to most trailer wiring); I cannot comment about other folks' trailers, only mine and what I have been told... I hope the the battery voltage issue in your rig gets corrected for you...

[Eagle]

In the motor vehicle world, positive is red, negative is black.

In the RV house battery world, wiring color coding is 120V pattern where red is positive and WHITE IS NEGATIVE.

Also, there is an IN LINE fuse on the positive wire from the batter .. usually within 12" of the battery post that may be defective which will prevent your 12 volt system from working as it should.

Hope this helps.

[Chirpz]

I know this is an old thread and I'm probably just a dummy, but WHY would anyone want a battery disconnect switch in the first place. Mine is a push/pull switch in the storage compartment where you cannot access it easily. Anything can accidentally bump it and disconnect your battery. We traveled 30,000 miles in our old trailer without a disconnect...why do I need one now in my 189-FBR? I think I want my battery connected all the time. Am I missing something obvious? If it wasn't such a pain, I would remove the switch to gain the space. As for now, I put some screws behind the knob to prevent it from being bumped.

[Eagle]

This article should answer your question.


How & When to Use the Battery Disconnect Switch on a Travel Trailer

[Michigantraveler]

Originally Posted by Eagle

This article should answer your question.


How & When to Use the Battery Disconnect Switch on a Travel Trailer

Good explanation. Thanks for posting this.

[profdant139]

It is a great idea to use the disconnect switch when installing and removing a battery from the trailer when the trailer is plugged in to shore power -- it reduces the chances of a shock if you accidentally touch both terminals.