1989 Beaver Marquis

[Gary Schenck]

I'm trying to figure out the electrical system.  I have a friend who has a coach same yr, etc as mine.  He has a large switch at this entrance step.  My coach doesn't have that switch.  I do have a large switch near battery tray....the manual shows that switch in conjunction with my solar panel.  Do I have a major disconnetc switch....the manual shows one in a wiring diagram...but I don't know where it is.  Can someone help me?

[Edward Buker]

I had an 89 Contessa, and I am not sure that it is wired exactly the same. The battery compartment had a switch that disconnected the house batteries. The charging system should be off before you turn that switch off and remain off until that switch is in the on position. On my coach that was the only battery disconnect switch installed by the factory. I added a marine disconnect battery switch in that compartment to disconnect the chassis batteries when I so desired. If I remember right, the solar panels bypass the battery switch and remain available for the house battery bank regardless of the switch position, but I am not certain..... 62 year old memory bank.

Later Ed

[Gary Schenck]

thank u 4 ur reply...may I ask...how is one suppose to know the proper procedure as to when to turn off batteries or charges, etc??

[Edward Buker]

Sometimes the info is in the manual with a warning and sometimes the coach will have a warning sticker near the switch as does mine. The charger needs a battery load to work properly. It can create higher voltages without the load of a battery bank stabilizing its output. All of the 12V electronics in the coach on the house side will see these unintended higher voltages if the battery banks are not tied in. The battery bank is a very good absorber of "voltage noise" and clamps the voltage to safe levels. Alternators can also be damaged if a chassis battery switch was turned off with the engine running. With the battery load taken away the alternator voltages will spike and can destroy the regulator. Just remember batteries on before AC.

later Ed