no relay sound when turning coach or chassis batteries off or on

[steve zannella]

I noticed no clicking anymore when shutting off coach or chassis batteries is this normal

[Mike Shumack]

Steve, where did the click come from when you previously heard it - the dash area or at back of coach?
I never noticed any click when I turn off my coach.
 
Are you shutting off "coach power" from the power switch (a.k.a. Salesman's switch) on the dash?
Or, if your talking about the battery disconnect switches at the battery box?

[steve zannella]

I use to get a loud relay click when turning on or off coach / chassis switches in the back of the coach near the battery bay. I no longer hear that sound. The switches were recently replaced and what got my attention to this was an aquahot service man asked me to turn off power to the coach and when I did there was no clicking of relays nor did the switches turn off power at the aquahot.

The rest of the coach 12v electrical was turned off. I'm not sure why the aquahot stays on.   

[David T. Richelderfer]

I have rarely turned our battery disconnects off and on.  But I think I remember hearing a click - sounded like a solenoid maybe.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Steve,
Check to make sure the appropriate voltage is off (at front electrical bay) when you turn off each of the switches. The Aqua Hot gets voltage from the house batteries; both 12v and the elec heater AC via the inverter.
Steve

[Lee Welbanks]

I noticed no clicking anymore when shutting off coach or chassis batteries is this normal

With my 06 PT you hear the Big Boy relay engage or open which one I'm not sure but you hear the loud click. Does your coach have the Intellitec rear run box with all the battery controllers? I believe there are two 7.5 amp fuses in there on one of the boards that control the relay.

[steve zannella]

Tomorrow I will check the 12v electrical bay to see if voltage is present when I turn battery both switches off.

[steve zannella]

I checked voltage in the 12v electrical bay with both chassis and coach switches off and no voltage on either side of relay. This is good. Now why would I have 12v on my aquahot with both switches off (this might be a major parasidic drain) also noted the xantrex remote panel had power as well.  Finally when I turned on the coach battery switch I heard a relay clunk.

After 10 years with this coach I'm still trying to learn it.

Steve

[Joel Ashley]

My Magnum inverter remote has LED power even with the main battery switches off, also, Steve.  It’s likely so battery condition can always be monitored. 

But I don’t think the hydronic end of things should have power.  Someone may have re-sourced your AquaHot voltage directly to the battery bank somehow, circumventing the switches.  If left on, ignition and thermostat and pump motor draw would be more than parasitic, but parasitic to some degree even on off/standby.

Joel

[Gerald Farris]

Steve,
The battery "cut off" switches do not cut off all battery feed circuits. On most coaches, the main 12 volt power supply circuit for the inverter does not run through the cut off switch, therefore your inverter control will still be powered with the switch off. Also the power supply for your ECM (engine control module) does not run through these switches, and the continuous 1 1/2 amp draw from the ECM is the primary reason for dead chassis batteries in coaches that are stored.

Apparently your Aqua Hot is either wired to the inverter feed or it is wired directly to the battery. It is probably wired directly to the battery because that is a practice that some techs use in order to reduce low voltage alarms/shut downs.


As I have stated many times before on this forum, if you want to disconnect either battery bank, remove the negative battery cable or install a HD Marine knife switch at the battery terminal. A word of caution, if you install a knife switch, be sure to use one that has an adequate amperage rating. The Wal-Mart type switch will not work.


Gerald     

[Roger Rempe]

Gerald, is there a particular model of knife switch that you can recommend?

[Gerald Farris]

Rodger,
I am sorry, but as a fulltimer, I have seen the need to install or research available knife switches. But if you are interested in researching the availability, I would look for one with a minimum of around 250 amps continuous duty and a 750 amp surge rating.

Gerald   

[David T. Richelderfer]

Maybe something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/JMY-Battery-Disconnect-Switch-Terminal/dp/B071NHYMPH/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1529121031&sr=1-2&keywords=electrical+knife+switch+250a+750a

[Roger Rempe]

Thanks for the info guys. I had tried searching for one with Geralds specs and kept coming up empty.

[Gerald Farris]

Roger,
There are a lot of options out there, however the switch that David posted a link to will not work for you because it is for a top post battery. You need something like this; https://www.amazon.com/JMY-Battery-Disconnect-Connect-Terminal/dp/B0718ZKQSK/ref=asc_df_B0718ZKQSK/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198107671117&hvpos=1o5&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14479816560635486500&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032916&hvtargid=pla-396381680572&psc=1


The switch that I posted is for a stud post battery connection like you have, but it is a side swing blade that may or may not work well in your battery bay. If you do not have room for the side swing blade, yo may need to use one with a upward swinging blade.

Gerald