
This prevents the engine battery from draining as a result of parasitic loads from electronic circuit boards and computers, etc. In this case, the RV battery disconnect switch acts as a safety mechanism, protecting you from the possibility of electrical shock while you’re working on the electrical system for maintenance, repair, or modifications, or while you attempt to troubleshoot a particular issue.Ī good RV battery disconnect switch will not only prevent battery drain, but will also ensure safety during maintenance work, and could even guard against electrical fires.Ī battery disconnect switch can also be installed on an engine battery allowing you to disconnect the engine battery for extended periods of storage. That covers RV storage, but when else might you want to use an RV battery disconnect switch?Ī battery disconnect switch is also useful anytime you’re working on the electrical components of your RV. Lithium-ion batteries like our Xantrex Freedom eGEN don’t require a battery tender while in storage for extended periods, but the battery disconnect switch should be engaged/opened, disconnecting the flow of power between the battery and the RV. If you have lithium-ion batteries, note that they don’t require a trickle charge during periods of storage, and you can (and should) use your battery disconnect switch. If your RV has an older, single-stage converter/charger, then you’d be better served to disconnect from shore power, open your battery disconnect switch (disconnecting the system from the batteries), and use a battery tender on your battery bank. If you store your RV without a connection to shore power, then by all means open your battery disconnect switch (disconnecting the system loads from the batteries) to prevent the parasitic drains on your batteries. If your batteries are the lead-acid type and your RV uses a multi-stage converter/charger with a mode for storage and you are connected to shore power during the period of storage, then you’ll want to leave the battery disconnect switch closed, (meaning you do not want to use the switch to disconnect the battery bank). However, there is an important caveat to note here if your RV is connected to shore power while in storage: All of this can damage a battery’s overall health, and most certainly impacts the longevity of the battery.īatteries can be discharged or even destroyed when left unattended in storage for long periods of time due to parasitic drains in the electrical system. This occurs due to the parasitic drains in the RV, and can also occur when the batteries are exposed to freezing temperatures. The reason for this is that batteries will discharge and degrade over time when left unused. Perhaps the most obvious time one would consider using an RV battery disconnect switch is when storing the RV for an extended period of time, as we mentioned at the beginning of this post. This, in turn, keeps the battery from draining. So, an RV battery disconnect switch offers an easy way to disengage the power flow to all 12V circuits in the RV. When used on an RV battery, it stops the flow of power through the negative battery cable, thus severing the connection between the battery and the 12V fuses distributed throughout the RV that provides power to the outlets, appliances, and amenities. How Does a Battery Disconnect Work?Ī battery disconnect switch is strategically placed between the negative battery terminal and the cable.

#INTELLITEC BATTERY ISOLATOR CONTROLLER UPGRADE#
John explains the setup of our old AGM battery bank, prior to our upgrade to our 600 Ah Xantrex Freedom eGEN lithium house battery. There are several reasons why one might want to do this, and we’ll get into those in just a moment.īut first, let’s take a look at exactly how an RV battery disconnect switch works. In the case of an RV, a battery disconnect switch quickly and easily cuts off the battery from the main circuits in the RV. What Is an RV Battery Disconnect Switch and What Does It Do?Ī battery disconnect switch is a convenient way of cutting off the electrical power to a circuit temporarily while preventing you from having to manually disconnect your RV battery bank. 7.3) Top Post Knife Blade Master Switch, Ampper 12V / 24V Battery Disconnect Switch.7.2) Ampper Battery Switch, 12-48 V Battery Power Cut Master Switch Disconnect Isolator.7.1) Blue Sea Systems 300 Amp m-Series Battery Switch.7) Which RV Battery Disconnect Switch Should I Buy?.

#INTELLITEC BATTERY ISOLATOR CONTROLLER INSTALL#
6) How Do You Install a Battery Disconnect on an RV?.5) Where Can I Find My RV’s Battery Switch?.4) Do All RVs Have a Battery Disconnect Switch?.3) When Should Disconnect Your RV Battery?.

1) What Is an RV Battery Disconnect Switch and What Does It Do?.
