Battery Disconnect Switch Questions

[bsmith95610]

Hello,

I just bought my first travel trailer a couple of weeks ago and it’s the first camper I’ve ever owned. I have a few questions on the battery disconnect switch.

1. If I am plugged into hookups at a campground should I have the battery switch turned on or off?

2. If I am towing my trailer should I have the battery switch turned on or off?

Thanks

[itsabouttime]

I have a little different take on the device. I removed the disconnect switch from my rig and wired directly from the battery to the distribution bus. That eliminates two cable connections and the switch contact resistance. It might not sound like much but that takes a little resistance out of the circuit and makes for just a tiny bit more voltage being available. Yes I'm nitpicking but a few hundredths to a tenth of a volt can be significant when load is high or batteries become a little older. Just use a small wrench to disconnect the negative cable from the battery when you need. There will be no chance of various sensors causing a slow drain on the battery when disconnected. Just my opinion.
Russ

[bsmith95610]

4X4Dodger - Would you recommend doing that or is it better to hook it up to a battery tender like the below model?

http://www.amazon.com/Battery-Tender-022-0165-DL-WH-12-Volt-Management/dp/B000NCOKV0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464890823&sr=8-1&keywords=Battery+Tender+2+bank

[4X4Dodger]

the best thing you can do for your battery when your trailer is in storage is take it Inside during the storage period and charge it once a month.

[westend]

You should always have it on when towing. In case of an emergency break-away event, the trailer's brakes are activated by the battery.

As a precaution, you could wire the emergency brake switch around the disconnect. It won't use any power when not in use and will always be ready if you forget to turn the disconnect "On".

[bsmith95610]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

[time2roll]

OFF is for storage. ON would be in-use, towing, loading, plugged in or not.

[Lovedays]

I'm not an expert but I have it on when towing and when hooked up at a campground to charge the battery. The only time I turn it off is when I'm not using it, in other words, when it's stored.