Is 12 volt power required to operate slides?

[bowtie30]

We have a 2013 23IKSS Roo. When plugged into 120 VAC, the slides will not function until I turn on the 12 VDC power source. Is this correct or should the slides operate with or without the 12 volts turned on?

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by bowtie30

We have a 2013 23IKSS Roo. When plugged into 120 VAC, the slides will not function until I turn on the 12 VDC power source. Is this correct or should the slides operate with or without the 12 volts turned on?

Every slide I've ever seen operates on 12v DC only.

[CHICKDOE]

slides are 12 volts dc. when you are plugged in your converter should be furnishing some level of 12 vdc power. but it may not be furnishing enough as slides are a pretty heavy draw over a short period of time. by connecting your batteries they are able to furnish the heavy power over a short time. let the converter recharge the batteries with a lower charge over a longer time.

[Blackrock]

So why would you ever turn off your 12V DC power? It's what operates the LP side of the water heater, the refrigerator unless it's a Residential model. All lighting in 12v. And yes the slides are all powered by 12v. The 12v coach battery is integral to the whole system.

[bowtie30]

Thank you for the prompt replies. When parked at home I have it plugged into 120 V with the 12 V turned off. Should the 12 V be left on and why? Also, when plugged into 120V, with the battery still charge if the 12V is off? Just want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly as I'm new to owning a Hybrid. Thanks again for your input and help.

[ScottBrownstein]

Originally Posted by bowtie30

Thank you for the prompt replies. When parked at home I have it plugged into 120 V with the 12 V turned off. Should the 12 V be left on and why? Also, when plugged into 120V, with the battery still charge if the 12V is off? Just want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly as I'm new to owning a Hybrid. Thanks again for your input and help.

No, generally the battery won't charge with the 12 volt turned off. Leave it on when plugged into 120v. Takes a long time to get to 100% charge. Slides need too much current to get it only from the converter, they need the battery to back it up.

[rockfordroo]

The purpose of the battery disconnect switch is to prevent running the battery down when you don't have 120VAC and you aren't using the rig.

But be aware that on some rigs, the battery disconnect switch doesn't disconnect everything. Sometimes things like the tongue jack and slides are still powered. Some folks have reported that their CO/LP detector is still powered, which seems odd, as this is the kind of "parasitic load" that the switch is intended to remove.

The only way to know what's still powered on your rig is to turn the switch off and see what's still powered. The things still powered are almost always going to have separate fuses from the ones in your power center.

You might want to read the 12 volt side of life, attached.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by bowtie30

When parked at home I have it plugged into 120 V with the 12 V turned off. Should the 12 V be left on and why? Also, when plugged into 120V, with the battery still charge if the 12V is off?

YES, the battery won't get recharged if you disconnect it, when plugged into shore power.
The trailer's converter recharges the battery when plugged into shore power or a generator. By you disconnecting the battery, the battery has no way to recharge.
A good basic source of how the two RV different electrical systems work, is "the 12 Volt Side of Life". Just Google it.

[rlh1957]

Mine are 12V. Most people I have talked to 12V seems standard. If you boondock then the slides would need to operate on 12V... or go hunting for your manual crank handle!
When possible having it hooked up to shore power will keep the converter supplying the charger with voltage to help the batteries not get depleted.
When possible the umbilical cord to the shore power is the first thing we hook up and last thing taken off. But that's just us. You don't have to. If you have good batteries no problems. If they are getting weak or near end of life then that heavy pull could deplete the voltage and available amps.

[bedubya]

Originally Posted by CHICKDOE

slides are 12 volts dc. when you are plugged in your converter should be furnishing some level of 12 vdc power. but it may not be furnishing enough as slides are a pretty heavy draw over a short period of time. by connecting your batteries they are able to furnish the heavy power over a short time. let the converter recharge the batteries with a lower charge over a longer time.

Originally Posted by Blackrock

So why would you ever turn off your 12V DC power? It's what operates the LP side of the water heater, the refrigerator unless it's a Residential model. All lighting in 12v. And yes the slides are all powered by 12v. The 12v coach battery is integral to the whole system.

^^
What they said!

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Blackrock

So why would you ever turn off your 12V DC power? It's what operates the LP side of the water heater, the refrigerator unless it's a Residential model. All lighting in 12v. And yes the slides are all powered by 12v. The 12v coach battery is integral to the whole system.

Of course the slides are powered by 12v. How could you ever go "boondocking" (camping off the grid) if they only operated on 120 volts?

More importantly, if you have the battery disconnected (via the disconnect switch) while towing, you have a very unsafe situation. Should the trailer break free, there will be no power to automatically apply the trailer brakes. Never do that!

Larry

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Larry-NC

Of course the slides are powered by 12v. How could you ever go "boondocking" (camping off the grid) if they only operated on 120 volts?

More importantly, if you have the battery disconnected (via the disconnect switch) while towing, you have a very unsafe situation. Should the trailer break free, there will be no power to automatically apply the trailer brakes. Never do that!

Larry

Trailer battery disconnect switch does NOT cut power to the breakaway switch.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Trailer battery disconnect switch does NOT cut power to the breakaway switch.

I'll never say never but I too have not seen a disconnect switch cut the power to the break-away switch.

[bedubya]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Trailer battery disconnect switch does NOT cut power to the breakaway switch.

Aftermarket switches sometimes do. My camper did not come with a disconnect. I added mine on the battery box lid. It is on the ground (-) side and disconnects everything. I only use it when leaving it in storage. Nothing functions until it is reconnected.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by bedubya

Aftermarket switches sometimes do. My camper did not come with a disconnect. I added mine on the battery box lid. It is on the ground (-) side and disconnects everything. I only use it when leaving it in storage. Nothing functions until it is reconnected.

Roo/Shamrock hybrid TTs come with factory battery disconnect switches, that is installed between the battery and where the wiring enters the trailer.
Doesn't cut power to the breakaway switch.

[rlh1957]

Originally Posted by bedubya

Aftermarket switches sometimes do. My camper did not come with a disconnect. I added mine on the battery box lid. It is on the ground (-) side and disconnects everything. I only use it when leaving it in storage. Nothing functions until it is reconnected.

Nothing functions, but there is still parasitic draw to the CO/LP/Smoke Detector. Leave it and see if batteries don't go down eithout a trickle charge.

[babock]

Originally Posted by 5picker

I'll never say never but I too have not seen a disconnect switch cut the power to the break-away switch.

I wired mine that way. When my battery is disconnected, it's disconnected from everything!

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by rlh1957

Nothing functions, but there is still parasitic draw to the CO/LP/Smoke Detector. Leave it and see if batteries don't go down eithout a trickle charge.

Umm, no, that would be incorrect. For a battery to discharge, there must be current flow. For current flow, there must be a complete circuit. Electrons flow out of the negative battery terminal, to the load (over wire or through the trailer frame), through the load, and then back over wire, through the fuse, and back to the positive battery terminal. If you break that circuit anyplace, no current can flow. "Anyplace" includes opening the positive OR negative side.

The people who open the negative side generally do so because there are fewer or no additional leads (jacks, levelers, propane detector) connected, since they use the trailer frame as a conductor. It is effective, although it always strikes me as unusual.

Larry

[5picker]

Originally Posted by babock

I wired mine that way. When my battery is disconnected, it's disconnected from everything!

Mine is wired that way too but I did it. Wasn't that way when we bought it.
I've still not seen one from the factory that way.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by bedubya

Aftermarket switches sometimes do. My camper did not come with a disconnect. I added mine on the battery box lid. It is on the ground (-) side and disconnects everything. I only use it when leaving it in storage. Nothing functions until it is reconnected.

Originally Posted by rlh1957

Nothing functions, but there is still parasitic draw to the CO/LP/Smoke Detector. Leave it and see if batteries don't go down eithout a trickle charge.

Not if they put a disconnect on the negative cable as mentioned. Nothing will function or be a parasitic drain if there is no 12v path to the battery.