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06-07-2014, 12:18 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 11
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Battery cutoff switch on/off when towing?
I've been searching a few sites for this answer but have come up empty. My friend with a new TT asked me today, when you tow, does the tow vehicle charge the TT battery even if the battery cutoff switch located inside the camper is turned "OFF"..meaning battery power is off for all systems. I am curious also as I have a 2014 Rockwood, and this is my first TT with a battery cutoff switch. He asked his dealer, and received conflicting answers. I've seen alot of questions regarding IF the TT is charging, but for this example we both have F250's with the 7 pin and integrated brake controllers/tow packages. Just wondering about the position of the switch and will the battery charge if both positions.
Thanks for you help in advance.
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06-07-2014, 03:37 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Eastern Ontario
Posts: 4,167
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Best way to know for sure is to test with multimeter: Connect trailer electrical cord to towing vehicle, start vehicle and take voltage reading at battery with battery disconnect in "off" position, now put battery disconnect switch in the "on" position and take voltage reading again. Are voltage reading the same or different? Normal voltage of battery when not charging should be around 12 to 12.6 volts and while charging at 13.5 volts and higher.
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Fonzie
2011 Rockwood 8319SS with ProPride 3P hitch/GoodYear Marathons/TST TPMS 507
2019 F350 Ruby Red 6.7l diesel 3.31 axle electronic locker
Yamaha 3000iseb generator:Progressive Ind. EMS-HW30C : Eastern Ontario
Nights Camped: 2014 (18) 2015 (18) 2016 (36) 2017 (32) 2018 (42) 2019 (28) 2020 (35)
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06-07-2014, 05:29 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,441
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X2 with fonzie.
If you don't have a multimeter, turn on all the TT lights and fans to put a load on the 12 volt system, then start the tow vehicle. The lights will probably get a little brighter and the fans will probably run a little faster when the tow vehicle starts running.
Ford (and maybe others) sends the power to the 7 pin connector through fused relays. That way if the towed vehicle has a short it just blows the affected fuse but does not affect the tow vehicle's lights or electrical system. If you don't have power to the TT battery when the tow vehicle is running, check the fuses and relays.
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06-07-2014, 05:38 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,183
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I have always towed with the cutoff switch in the "on" position reason being the fridg is on when traveling and just to be sure the brakes have power should the brake away switch be activated. Another very valid reason is for potty stops, need that water pump.
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Joe & Beverly
2014 Ram 2500 CTD, CC, SB
2014 8289WS lifted
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06-07-2014, 05:50 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Seaford, De
Posts: 2,377
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I'm with presley01, my fridge is on. I would hope breakaway switch is not going through disconnect switch and is powered all the time just like the landing gear. I see no reason to turn it off when traveling
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David & Lynn 2014 Coachmen Chaparral Signature 327 RLKS 2016 Ford F350 Lariat CC Dually
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06-07-2014, 07:57 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,183
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Not sure about the breakaway switch but I know the landing gear on our unit goes through the disconnect. When the plunger of the disconnect is pushed in the landing gear is disabled. Next time I'm at the RV I am going to check if there is power to the breakaway switch with the disconnect sw in the disconnected position.
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Joe & Beverly
2014 Ram 2500 CTD, CC, SB
2014 8289WS lifted
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06-07-2014, 08:15 AM
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#7
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AKA: 'tiredTeacher
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,045
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The breakaway switch (and power jack) are on their own circuits, straight from the battery. A separate wire runs into the camper to the cut off switch. A third wire runs from the Bargman plug to the battery. This is the charging circuit. So, the cut off switch inside the trailer affects only the 12V supply to the DC side of the fuse panel.
The reason you don't see 4 wires on the positive battery post is that there is a junction block under the trailer where the power jack, charging and house circuits all connect. The break switch is wired straight to the positive post.
So feel free to open the switch. Your battery will still charge and the emergency breakaway will still work.
__________________
Wright and Penny
(with Fitz and Lizzie, the camping kitties)
Richmond, Va.
2010 Tundra 4X4 5.7L V8
2014 Rockwood 2604WS
Life is a cruel teacher. She gives the test first; the lesson then follows.
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06-07-2014, 11:27 AM
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#8
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 11
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Thanks for all the replys. I'll try and check both ways.....with the switch off and on when I get a chance. Just wondering if anyone knew for sure without going out to the camper...since many of these new TT's and 5rs have the cutoff switch now they should all probably work the same way. We are not questioning specifically if ours works or not...but in general what is the way most of the brands are set up. Just trying to confirm more of an "OK...I thought so"...lol Thanks again.
Ken
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06-07-2014, 11:51 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Seaford, De
Posts: 2,377
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Still not sure why you would leave it off when towing. You will be using power of you run your fridge. Worse you can do is charge your battery
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Forest River Forums mobile app
__________________
David & Lynn 2014 Coachmen Chaparral Signature 327 RLKS 2016 Ford F350 Lariat CC Dually
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06-08-2014, 12:41 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 11
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Davel1971...the question wasn't weather to leave it off or on...it was DOES it charge the battery with "OFF". I personally did not have a choice on my last two TTs since I didn't have the switch..and I always ran my fridge on Propane when I traveled and yes the battery charged. Now that I, and my friend now have the switch in the camper, just curious if anyone had the answer. The first two times I have camped I left it "power on" when travelling...just wanted to see if it works both ways. After all of these posts, technically I still did not hear the answer I was looking for. I understand about running the fridge, understand about the break away cable..which some still did not know had dedicated power. We just wanted a yes it charges or no it doesn't with the switch OFF. Thanks.
Ken
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06-25-2014, 11:30 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 939
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Yes, it charges with the switch disconnect off.
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06-26-2014, 06:12 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 211
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Seems like there are various wiring configurations. I just replaced the ridiculous push pull switch in mine with a rotary switch. I can assure you that mine would not charge without the switch on, nor would the breakaway switch work. If you don't know for sure how yours is wired, just switch it on every time you tow..
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06-26-2014, 07:02 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,183
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fivealive
Seems like there are various wiring configurations. I just replaced the ridiculous push pull switch in mine with a rotary switch. I can assure you that mine would not charge without the switch on, nor would the breakaway switch work. If you don't know for sure how yours is wired, just switch it on every time you tow..
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Or check it with a volt meter. We tow with ours on all the time to keep the fridg going and the food cold.
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Joe & Beverly
2014 Ram 2500 CTD, CC, SB
2014 8289WS lifted
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06-26-2014, 06:03 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 939
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Yes, I don't think you can depend on the wiring being the same. I just found my AC was wired wrong. No low speed mode and really acted squirrlly. I swiched the the wires around on the terminal block in the AC this morning and it works perfect now.
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06-27-2014, 10:44 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 11
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Thanks for all the replies on this. I'm still a little confused as I have been reading several different views on this. Fivealive stated: "I can assure you that mine would not charge without the switch on, nor would the breakaway switch work." Now doesn't this go against an eariler post that said....that the Breakaway, on MOST of our campers is always live as it had a dedicated connection to the battery due to saftey concerns so that the cable does it's job in an emergency???? I'm thinking out loud here saying...why would any major manufacturer let the consumer decide to turn off/on the breakaway by pushing or pulling a battery cutoff switch???? Maybe Fivealive's statement IS correct in his case, but I don't agree with the thinking behind it...and I'm not sure I believe it. Now if the system IS wired wrong, that's a whole different problem that I was not looking for an answer originally. Remember my statement, I have and will pull with my switch "on"...we are just wondering what is NOT charging if pulling the the battery cutoff switch "Off". I was hoping this was an easy yes/no without putting a volt meter to our campers....but I understand there could be some variations among manufacturers.
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06-27-2014, 11:31 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 939
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenv
Thanks for all the replies on this. I'm still a little confused as I have been reading several different views on this. Fivealive stated: "I can assure you that mine would not charge without the switch on, nor would the breakaway switch work." Now doesn't this go against an eariler post that said....that the Breakaway, on MOST of our campers is always live as it had a dedicated connection to the battery due to saftey concerns so that the cable does it's job in an emergency???? I'm thinking out loud here saying...why would any major manufacturer let the consumer decide to turn off/on the breakaway by pushing or pulling a battery cutoff switch???? Maybe Fivealive's statement IS correct in his case, but I don't agree with the thinking behind it...and I'm not sure I believe it. Now if the system IS wired wrong, that's a whole different problem that I was not looking for an answer originally. Remember my statement, I have and will pull with my switch "on"...we are just wondering what is NOT charging if pulling the the battery cutoff switch "Off". I was hoping this was an easy yes/no without putting a volt meter to our campers....but I understand there could be some variations among manufacturers.
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Regarding the emergency disconnect, In the event of a accidental disconnect, I can't imagine Forest River leaving themselves open for a law suit by having a system that can be overriden. Every TT I've had all the way back to the first one had no way of overriding the disconnect. Having said that, I have found my AC wired wrong. It had no low fan and I had to swap 3 wires they miss-wired. My next project is to check the switch on the wall that says interior lights, It only affects a couple of lights when I flip it. I suspect it's wired wrong also.
As far as charging, I'm going to verify every thing again because I'm a little confused also. As previously mentioned by someone, maybe you, check your voltage with a voltmeter connected to the battery. If it's charging you'll have more than the static voltage of about 12.7 volts.
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06-28-2014, 03:21 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Clarksville Va.
Posts: 10,422
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I have the same disconnect, when you turn off / push it in it will disconnect the power to your converter only. Your landing gear is wired after the switch so that to will shut off. I know this for a fact being some stuff moved on me during travel and pushed the switch in. When I got home the landing gear didn't work til I pulled that switch back to on. I put an "L" bracket in front of it so it can not happen again. Your breakaway should be wired to the pos on the battery. Your 7 pin tow plug is also wired in before the switch. If your switch is off your converter charger can not charge your battery when on 110v. You TV will be charging no matter what position your switch is in. I strongly suggest that anyone with that old car light switch that they use for a cut off that you protect it from anything that can move and push it in. The breakaway has to wired hot all the time. If yours is not I would change it. The last argument on this subject people stated the reason they use a switch like that is in case of an emergency it's easier to push it in then pull it out. That statement is wrong it will take the same amount of time to do. The switch itself is a bad design and should work just the opposite in is on out is off. At least this is what I have found. But remember this is FR and depending on who was on line that day yours could be different. That is why you can not get a wiring diagram from FR. I tried and that is what I was told buy FR themselves at the factory level not dealer.
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Coachmen M/H
Concord
2018 / 300 DSC
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06-28-2014, 08:52 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 211
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I don't like unprotected wires coming directly from the battery. I do many preflight safety tasks and turning on the switch is no big deal. I really don't like having a push pull switch that can be turned off by something sliding into it.. Should be rotary.
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06-28-2014, 05:34 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 11
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I agree Fivealive, the switch should be a rotary or better design. Why I first saw mine, I thought..."What year are we in" this thing looks like it is from a 77 Winnebago......lol Have a good one.
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07-18-2014, 10:06 AM
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#20
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Dundalk MD
Posts: 68
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Coming from an industrial background, I can tell you that emergency stop buttons (big red mushroom looking buttons) are all push to stop.
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Lou and Paula
2014 Rockwood 8289WS UltraLite w/Revolution Pinbox Engaged.
2011 F250 Power Stroke Super Duty King Ranch Super Crew Cab w/Reese 16K Hitch
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Lou & Paula
2014 Rockwood 8289WS Ultra Lite w/Reese Revloution Pinbox.
2011 F250 Power Stroke Super Duty King Ranch Super Crew w/Reese 16k Fixed Hitch
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