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12-06-2022, 03:31 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Epsom
Posts: 46
M.O.C. #29195
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Red Plastic Key?
When I turn the "Red Plastic Key" to off in the RV, does it discontinue charging the battery? I turn the red key to off when not using the RV so nothing in the RV drains the battery. I also leave it plugged in to shore power. Just went to move the RV and battery is dead. Will not lift the jacks. Just grunts. So that had me wondering if the red key is in the off position, does the battery charge?
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2016 Montana 3710FL
2018 Ford F350 SRW
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12-06-2022, 04:27 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,957
M.O.C. #20477
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Catherine,
Recommend you always leave the plastic key so it can not be removed which keeps the battery connected. Without the battery connected the converter will not keep them charged.
If you remove shore power and do not want the batteries to discharge, disconnect the batteries at the batteries and not the red key. If using only the red key there are things still energized which will discharge the batteries.
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Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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12-06-2022, 05:46 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,200
M.O.C. #6433
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The disconnect does not disconnect everything. There are some items connected before the disconnect switch. As long as you are plugged it you should leave the battery switch connected (meaning you can not remove it).
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Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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12-07-2022, 04:45 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 2,152
M.O.C. #25165
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Many have changed the name of this from "disconnect" to "battery isolator" which, to me at least, is more descriptive of what it does. It doesn't completely disconnect the battery, but it does isolate it from most of the coach, including the converter/charger.
There are things, such as the CO detector and Propane detector, that are not wired through this switch, so they tend to be parasitic draws even when the key is off and removed.
I added a true disconnect switch to my batteries on the negative post to prevent this drain. Here's the one I used...
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Robert & Diana McNeal
2019 Montana Legacy 3791RD 20th Anniversary Edition
2014 F350 4x4 6.7L SRW
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12-07-2022, 05:22 AM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Coloma, Wisconsin
Posts: 202
M.O.C. #28036
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The straight answer is "yes" if you turn the red key off the batteries will not be charging.
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Chuck
2019 3121RL 35 ft., 2020 3500 Dodge Ram SRW, Cummins 6.7 HO, Air Bags - Air Lift BT Wireless Compressor, Coloma, Wisconsin
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12-07-2022, 04:32 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,619
M.O.C. #22835
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisconsin Retiree
The straight answer is "yes" if you turn the red key off the batteries will not be charging.
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And because of the way the trailer is wired, not everything is truly cut off from the batteries. There are still items in the camper that are actively being powered by the battery, causing it to eventually discharge. This is called "parasitic draw". Parasitic ... you know ... a parasite! (an organism living in, on, or with another organism in order to obtain nutrients, grow, or multiply often in a state that directly or indirectly harms the host)
The only way to stop "parasitic draw" is to disconnect the battery at the battery terminals. A lot of folks install a kill switch on the negative wire at the battery.
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History is not about the past, it's an explanation of the present.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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12-08-2022, 10:00 AM
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#7
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Established Member
Join Date: Jul 2021
Location: Epsom
Posts: 46
M.O.C. #29195
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisconsin Retiree
The straight answer is "yes" if you turn the red key off the batteries will not be charging.
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Thanx for all the replies.
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2016 Montana 3710FL
2018 Ford F350 SRW
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12-12-2022, 01:04 PM
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#8
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Springfield
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #25709
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As noted by several, "isolating" the batteries does not remove all connections. In fact, the hydraulic system remains directly connected to the batteries, as does the inverter if you have one. Regarding charging, if you have solar installed we have learned that it will continue to charge the batteries even if the battery switch has the batteries disconnected. That has turned out to be a nice feature for us when the RV is in storage periodically.
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