Battery @ 90% yet no power; Shore power ok

[cali_camper]

So we took our 23' EVO for it's maiden outing! Everything ok for the first 24 hours. We used everything except the microwave, had the heater running at night set to 50F (ran for 5min every hour or so after 3AM), no trouble whatsoever.

Then suddenly in the late afternoon the next day we have no power! I figure we ran down the battery and sure enough the onboard LED 'meter' showed nothing. So I thought I'd charge it up while we're packing up and yield enough juice to power the electric awning and jacks. But that charging apparently did nothing. While plugged in things worked fine.

After we got home I checked the battery again and - nothing. So I plugged in again and put down the jacks. Then I disconnected the battery and started charging using my dedicated charger. Battery reported at 90%! WTH!

So has something blown? Everything works when using shore/generator power, but nothing works on the bare battery! Strange.

[A32Deuce]

Check converter fuse and by accident was bat. switch turned off or bumped?

[cali_camper]

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

Check converter fuse and by accident was bat. switch turned off or bumped?

Why - yes it was!

And it happens to be in a very inconvenient location:
- Near the floor, right by the bathroom where people walk all the time
- When the slide is 'in', one cannot reach the disconnect. (OTOH, if one disconnects it, then the slide is stuck 'out'.)
- If it is bumped, it will always be bumped to the 'off' setting, never the 'on'

Any harm in just cutting it off with a hacksaw once I have first turned the circuit on? There's a little tab that prevents the key from being pulled out, but the key itself is just plastic. I already have my own separate battery disconnect by the battery box, so I don't really need the factory option.

[A32Deuce]

How about removing the little tab that prevents the key from coming out?

[Toddupton]

Or just bypass the entire switch since you have one at the battery anyway.

[Tom48]

[QUOTE=A32Deuce;1069535]How about removing the little tab that prevents the key from coming out?[/QUO

My aftermarket switch the key will not come out when it is on but the key will come out when it is off. I will have to look at it maybe that's the time to cut a little time off before I use it again so that I can take it out after I turn it on.

[RussPastuch]

They do make some interesting designs.

We have a Rockwood with the push/pull power switch, push for off of course, right at the bathroom door. Finally cut a piece of rubber tubing to fit the switch shaft so it can't be kicked off.

[A32Deuce]

Only problem I see with removing the switch and connection the wires together without causing a future problem, no elec/fire, etc.

[cali_camper]

Originally Posted by Toddupton

Or just bypass the entire switch since you have one at the battery anyway.

This is what I ended up doing.

Originally Posted by A32Deuce

Only problem I see with removing the switch and connection the wires together without causing a future problem, no elec/fire, etc.

The risk of fire with the modification is no different than with the original switch. I pulled up the bottom of a bed to access the back of the switch and there were two thick cables held to sturdy studs with big nuts - much like on the 12v battery itself. I just moved both cables to the same stud and secured with a nut & lock washer. Should be just as secure as before. Switch is still there but doesn't do anything

[Tom48]

Originally Posted by cali_camper

this is what i ended up doing.



The risk of fire with the modification is no different than with the original switch. . Switch is still there but doesn't do anything :d

nice i love it

[A32Deuce]

That is what I meant. Hook them correctly. Just afraid, someone not use to what to do, didn't connect correctly. I have seen some scary connections made by people that did not know!