| Ever wonder why you take your RV out of storage | | | | disconnection from the battery, but also switching |
| after a few weeks and find that the batteries are | | | | between battery banks. These types will make the |
| deader than a door nail? You went through your | | | | connection to the battery you are switching to first |
| pre-storage checklist and made sure all breakers and | | | | before breaking the battery connection you are |
| lights were off but your batteries are still DOA. You | | | | switching from. This ensures that any 12-volt devices |
| even plugged in the RV and charged the battery for a | | | | that are being powered do not suffer from a |
| few days to make sure it was topped up before | | | | momentary power loss. This type of switch, while still |
| storage. What's going on? | | | | straightforward to install, requires a bit more planning to |
| Almost every RV has some sort of parasitic current | | | | ensure you get the wiring correct. Visit to view some |
| draw on the 12-volt electrical system. The most likely | | | | example images for suggested wiring configuration |
| offenders are the LP gas detector, the refrigerator, | | | | using multiple switches. |
| and the radio. Even an inverter, although switched off, | | | | A battery switch can also be used to disconnect |
| can have a small current draw. Over time, these | | | | power from an inverter DC connection. Larger |
| seemingly harmless draws can eventually bring even | | | | inverters are often wired with separate cabling from |
| the largest of battery banks to their capacity death. A | | | | the battery to the inverter. Even when the inverter is |
| simple device called a battery cut off switch will | | | | switched off, there can be a small current drain. Placing |
| prevent this from happening. | | | | a switch between the inverter and the battery will |
| Battery switches come in a variety of sizes and | | | | prevent this from happening. |
| functions. There is the simple cut off switch that goes | | | | When installing a cut off switch, it is generally |
| in between the positive connection to the battery and | | | | recommended to place it in the positive side of the DC |
| the battery itself. One type has a removable key that | | | | circuit. There is some debate however on whether to |
| is turned to break the connection and you can take | | | | install it on the negative side. There are valid arguments |
| the key with you. This prevents someone from | | | | for each way. The bottom line is that you can do it in |
| maliciously switching back on your power when say | | | | either the positive or the negative side. It's your |
| your RV is in storage. | | | | decision. |
| Other types of switches feature not only a power | | | | |