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Old 04-23-2011, 09:47 AM   #1
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Battery Disconnect Install on Mini Lite 2306

Since it may help others I posted it here.
I bought a Blue Systems single circuit on/off switch from West Marine for $28
stainless steel harware - #10 -24 x 3" long bolts - qty 4
stainless flat washers qty 4
Nylon Locking Nuts - qty 4
1 - 4 foot piece of #8 gauge stranded wire with red sleeve
(2) Two Nylon Ring Terminals (Crimp on style)

will need basic hand tools - I used Klines to crimp my ends cause the wire stripper / crimpers just dont cut it for me
Drill and drill bits
a skinny center punch to make your marks unless you make a template out of carboard then you can use whatever to mark your holes.

I put shrink tubing on before I crimperd the ends - I crimped the ends on my 4 foot wire piece - then soldered the end's and then heated the shrink tubing to make it look nice and to help protects the ends since the ones that were on the positive side of the battery were looking like they were starting to get corrosion on it.

I had to remove the battery and battery box and the propane tank cover.

I chose my spot to put the switch because the propane cover - covers the switch and will for the most part keep rain water off of the switch.

here are the pictures as well cause we all know a thread is worthless without pictures.
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2011 Rockwood Mini Lite 2306 - Matt
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Qaud Cab 4x4 with 35" tires and 3.92 gears, Dynatech Longtube Headers & Fabtech 6" lift + Superchips with shift Tuning
Nights Camped 2011 (37) - 2012 (16)-2013 (2) -2014 (5) -2015(0)
USMC 91 - 95 - F/A-18 Aviation Ordnance
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Old 04-23-2011, 09:49 AM   #2
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More Pictures of the install
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2011 Rockwood Mini Lite 2306 - Matt
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Qaud Cab 4x4 with 35" tires and 3.92 gears, Dynatech Longtube Headers & Fabtech 6" lift + Superchips with shift Tuning
Nights Camped 2011 (37) - 2012 (16)-2013 (2) -2014 (5) -2015(0)
USMC 91 - 95 - F/A-18 Aviation Ordnance
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Old 04-23-2011, 09:55 AM   #3
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Nice work Sherdep. This is timely as its one of the mods I plan to do shortly after picking up the new hybrid.
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Old 04-23-2011, 10:01 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Triguy View Post
Nice work Sherdep. This is timely as its one of the mods I plan to do shortly after picking up the new hybrid.
Thanks
actually it took me less then 2 hours outside

I didnt cut the cable end off of the trailer - it went straight to the switch and just added the four foot piece of wire to the switch and battery so I had extra in case the cable ends became corroded I had extra wire to cut off and put a new end on.

once I had all the pieces and put part's of it together inside the install went very easy.

One suggestion I forgot to mention is if you use the same switch I did - when you tighten up the bolts just tighten them snug because the bolt will pull thru the plastic if you keep cranking on it - I did it but was able to back off of it and was ok
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2011 Rockwood Mini Lite 2306 - Matt
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Qaud Cab 4x4 with 35" tires and 3.92 gears, Dynatech Longtube Headers & Fabtech 6" lift + Superchips with shift Tuning
Nights Camped 2011 (37) - 2012 (16)-2013 (2) -2014 (5) -2015(0)
USMC 91 - 95 - F/A-18 Aviation Ordnance
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Old 04-23-2011, 10:34 AM   #5
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Thanks for the post. This is gonna be my next mod and I like to see other peoples installs to help me decide exactly how I'm gonna install mine.
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Old 04-23-2011, 10:46 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Droidrt View Post
Thanks for the post. This is gonna be my next mod and I like to see other peoples installs to help me decide exactly how I'm gonna install mine.
Another short thread with some additional pictures of different installations.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tem-10666.html
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Old 04-23-2011, 10:50 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Droidrt View Post
Thanks for the post. This is gonna be my next mod and I like to see other peoples installs to help me decide exactly how I'm gonna install mine.
Glad I could help - I had a hard time deciding where to install it - I was going to mount to the camper fiberglass shell (diffrent style switch though) or inside the front compartment but then decided on the least evasive and a protected spot which was under the propane tank's - I hope there is no issue with it installed this way because of the propane tanks being above and propane gas is heavier then air - spark = kaboom which I am hoping shouldnt be the case

I had looked at the front before I went and bought the switch so I had an idea of what space I had to work with - also went online and looked at what switches they had so I kinda had an idea of what I was looking for.
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2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Qaud Cab 4x4 with 35" tires and 3.92 gears, Dynatech Longtube Headers & Fabtech 6" lift + Superchips with shift Tuning
Nights Camped 2011 (37) - 2012 (16)-2013 (2) -2014 (5) -2015(0)
USMC 91 - 95 - F/A-18 Aviation Ordnance
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Old 04-23-2011, 10:55 AM   #8
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That's my next mod.
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Old 04-23-2011, 10:59 AM   #9
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Also as an FYI - I just read on the instructions sheet the Knob is removable so if you need to use it as a lockout it can be done with this Model switch
Blue Seas Systems M-Series PM 6006 - Bought it at West Marine for arounf $28 or $29
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2011 Rockwood Mini Lite 2306 - Matt
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Qaud Cab 4x4 with 35" tires and 3.92 gears, Dynatech Longtube Headers & Fabtech 6" lift + Superchips with shift Tuning
Nights Camped 2011 (37) - 2012 (16)-2013 (2) -2014 (5) -2015(0)
USMC 91 - 95 - F/A-18 Aviation Ordnance
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Old 04-23-2011, 12:24 PM   #10
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Nice job, Matt. I just purchased an additional 12v for the 2306 and was going to connect the batteries in parallel, but I'm confused on an issue...many issues, actually, but I'll stick with this one.

If the two batteries are connected in parallel and you are dry camping, do they both provide power at the same time and, therefore, discharge somewhat equally?

What is the advantage of your modification and how do you monitor battery #1, and at what point of discharge do you decide to switch to battery #2?

I see that you used 8 gauge connector wire. I looked at a chart recently to see what gauge and length of wire I should use to parallel connect the batteries, and the chart indicated #2 gauge was appropriate for a wire 12" to 18" long. I guess there is no harm in using heavier gauge wire but, as you can probably tell, all things electric is not one of my strengths.

Thanks,
Greg
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Old 04-23-2011, 10:42 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gkconfer View Post
Nice job, Matt. I just purchased an additional 12v for the 2306 and was going to connect the batteries in parallel, but I'm confused on an issue...many issues, actually, but I'll stick with this one.

If the two batteries are connected in parallel and you are dry camping, do they both provide power at the same time and, therefore, discharge somewhat equally?

What is the advantage of your modification and how do you monitor battery #1, and at what point of discharge do you decide to switch to battery #2?

I see that you used 8 gauge connector wire. I looked at a chart recently to see what gauge and length of wire I should use to parallel connect the batteries, and the chart indicated #2 gauge was appropriate for a wire 12" to 18" long. I guess there is no harm in using heavier gauge wire but, as you can probably tell, all things electric is not one of my strengths.

Thanks,
Greg
Hey Greg - I will try to answer your questions - if you have other questions shoot me a pm and I will try to help if I know the answer - if I do not know the answer I will tell you I am unsure of the answer

- my install / modification was for a shut off for a single battery not doubles.

If you have two batteries always best to buy two new batteries so if one is weaker then the other it doesnt drag down the other - which means the older battery usually drags down the new battery.

with two batteries you are doubling your amp hours and in which case it will take longer to charge them back up as well.

I used 8 Gauge wire because that is what is presently being ran to my battery from the camper.

#2 gauge wire is actually heavier then #8 gauge wire - the lower the # the thicker or heavier the wire just so you know

I am not sure how you monitor the batteries other then the panel inside will know if the batteries are charged or discharged when you hit the switch and it lights up on the appropriatte battery level - hopefully someone with Dual batteries will chime in and answer this one cause I am not 100% sure if this is correct in telling you this or not.

The switch I installed was for a single battery not a dual but they do make switch's for dual battery setup's - in which case it allows you to use battery #1 or battery #2 or both at the same time - one thing is I am not sure if you would want to use the 2 battery switch because if you forget to turn it to "all" for both batteries only one will charge when plugged into shore power.

I had a dual battery setup on my Boat but I also had a battery charger that was made for two batteries - my suggestion is to start a thread asking about dual batteries and the proper way to hook them up because I am not 100% sure on what answer to give you and dont want to give you wrong info either.
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2011 Rockwood Mini Lite 2306 - Matt
2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Qaud Cab 4x4 with 35" tires and 3.92 gears, Dynatech Longtube Headers & Fabtech 6" lift + Superchips with shift Tuning
Nights Camped 2011 (37) - 2012 (16)-2013 (2) -2014 (5) -2015(0)
USMC 91 - 95 - F/A-18 Aviation Ordnance
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