95 Beaver Patriot

[James Walker]

Hi guys, I have a 95 beaver Patriot and just inside the door are some switches and one says "Coach Power" and I haven't been able to figure out what it does, there is nothing in my books,  Does any one know what it does?
Thanks

[David T. Richelderfer]

lol   Read here.  I doubt you will read it all.  Enter "salesman switch" as the search argument.

http://beaveramb.org/forum/index.php?action=search2

[Joel Ashley]

James, the Coach Power switch at the entry was meant for dealers to use for displaying coaches on their lots, thus the moniker "salesman's switch".  New owners usually interpret it as a way to conserve battery power, and to an extent that is correct.  There's a but...

But the switch wasn't designed to be constantly used, esp. by owners, and it can wear and fail.  Besides, it only cuts off some interior circuits.  Many wonder how their batteries ended up dead when they shut off the Coach Power switch.  To properly store the rig you must turn off the large main battery switches, usually seen near the battery tray/200amp fuse area.  Even then the engine, if electronic, can scavenge some mAh while just parked - it's ECM is just snoozing.  So if not plugged in or solar panel exposed, the batteries may deplete in time.

As our here much-missed and dear friend, Ken, used to tell us after replacing it and it's latching solenoid, "Leave the d@&!#* salesman's switch alone!"

Joel

[James Walker]

Thanks a lot Joel, I have installed battery disconnect switches on both battery banks for that purpose,  there have been circuits installed by previous owner that I haven't traced out so the switches.  In that case I think I can terminate the wires to that switch and use it to kill poser to the step to stop it from not operating in situations where I don't want it to open.
Thanks again.

[Mike Shumack]

As I understand it, the step power comes off the Chassis battery (not House batteries) so using the "Coach Power" switch will not help with cutting power to the step. One benefit of the Coach Power (salesman's) switch is when you use it to shut off the 12V power to coach you are only shutting off interior lights (like a bedroom or closet light) that may have been left on. But with the Coach Power switch in Off position, your solar panel (if you have one) would still charge the batteries, and/or if your plugged into Shore power you can still charge the batteries with Coach Power switch off.

So it has some value - i.e. your leaving the coach and don't remember if you shut off the bathroom light. etc., just flip off the switch as you leave.

[Gerald Farris]

Mike,
The flaw to your logic for turning off the Coach Power switch to prevent leaving on a light somewhere is that if you have an absorption refrigerator, you will also be turning off the refrigerator. Most Beavers run the 12 volt power supply to the refrigerator control module through the Coach Power switch (salesman switch).

Gerald

[KC Snellgrove]

I SO MISS KEN...I can still hear him say "Hey Girl"....I loved him so much. YES, GODSPEED!