RV Battery Disconnect Switch On or Off? (How and When to Use)
Even when you have a battery-operated system, keeping those batteries charged can cost you money. One way to preserve battery power and lower your charging costs is to have a battery disconnect switch installed. This can help make sure your batteries are always powered after a long break.
There are some different opinions on this topic and some people think that the switch should be on when you are traveling. Others think it should be off. When you have connected to shore power, you may want to turn the switch off. Plus, it should be left off when you are storing your RV or trailer.
To learn more about the battery disconnect switch just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so that you can use this switch effectively and without harming your battery or losing power. Take a few moments to see if this information helps you.
RV Battery Disconnect Switch 101
RV Battery Disconnect Switch on or Off?
This will depend on how your RV or trailer is wired. The battery disconnect switch will be helpful in most cases. It will stop the battery from losing power to all those devices that still draw power even when off.
The switch will not stop any power draw when the devices or systems are directly wired to the battery. Thus you have to make sure how your wiring is set up before installing the switch or using one that was already installed.
Some people think that it should be on when you are moving from one location to another. Those same people say that the switch should be set to off when you are storing your RV or connected to the shore power.
Then if you want to charge your battery while traveling, then you should have the switch turned on. If you really want to be safe when storing your RV or trailer, then simply disconnect the battery cables and remove the battery.
This will stop parasitic devices from draining your battery of power while in storage.
What Does The Battery Disconnect Switch do on an RV?
The battery disconnect switch has one task only. When turned on it will break the power supply between the battery and almost all 12-volt operated devices like lights, appliances, and so on. Just so you know, the many module boards operating your appliances also depend on battery power.
When you are plugged into shore power, the disconnect switch should be turned on so that the appliances, etc., will receive power directly from your off RV connection. You do not need to run your battery at this time.
When you need to charge your batteries you should not turn the switch to off. Once you do that you disconnect the battery from the power supply that will recharge it or them. The best advice we have come across is to leave the switch in the on position unless you are not going to be using your RV for long periods of time.
That long period of time starts at about 1 week or so. What that means is if you are not going to be using your RV or trailer for at least a week, turn the disconnect switch to off.
Should I Disconnect my RV Battery When Plugged into Shore Power?
No, because you will need a source of power to recharge your batteries. That power supply is needed when you get ready to move to your next destination. Keeping your batteries powered will prevent your RV from not starting when you are ready to move.
The best time to disconnect your battery from powering your lights etc. is when you are going to be storing the RV, etc., for some time. There are always devices that draw power even when they are not turned on.
When that happens during storage, you may come to your RV the next time you want to use it and find that the batteries are dead. That is not a fun moment as you have to recharge those batteries before you can travel.
Since you do not need those devices running when you are not using your RV, it is best to disconnect the battery and keep the power inside of it. That way you should still have power in the system when you want to use your RV or trailer again.
When Should You Use a Battery Disconnect Switch?
The consensus is that you should use this switch when you are storing your RV or trailer. As just explained, disconnecting your battery will preserve the power. Since technology has added many features to different devices, they always need a source of power even when turned off.
If you are not charging your battery at this time, then your battery will be drained and you will have to spend time recharging it. The problem is that not all systems are wired to go through the disconnect switch. They are wired directly to the battery on some RV and trailer electrical systems.
That means you may have to disconnect all the wires from your battery so you preserve that power. If you are traveling and want to run some appliances, then the switch should be turned off. This will help your battery system recharge and be ready for when you set up your RV, etc.
This is a good move to make when you are planning on boondocking for a night or two.
How To Use Battery Disconnect Switch
These are not hard to operate and most are very straight forward. Of course, the design of the switch will determine how you use it. However, most of these switches should have a simple knob to turn and that is it. You turn one direction to activate the disconnect and then turn it in the reverse direction when you are disconnecting the switch.
The operation will depend on how it is designed. Plus, some more modern RVs and trailers may have a factory-installed battery disconnect switch. You should ask the dealer how it works before you make your purchase or before you drive off the lot.
Other than that, you just have to be careful when you use the switch. if you ask this question on some of the RV discussion forums, you will get different answers. In the end, it is up to your preference how you will use the switch.
You may have to do some trial and error to see which way works best for you.
One Warning About Battery Disconnect Switches
There are different styles of this switch and they may not all be wired in the same way. Even if they are, you have to be careful that you make the right connections. Instructions should come with the device if you are buying an after-market battery disconnect switch.
Follow those instructions exactly so that there is no mistake made when you are doing the wiring and connecting. You won’t have to worry about this if the battery disconnect switch was factory installed when new.
Make sure to check and double-check that the switch is connected properly. If it isn’t most likely it will not work and you may cause some damage to your electrical devices and your RV’s wiring system.
If the switch is not working after you connected it, there are other legitimate reasons for this failure other than the switch is bad or it is wired wrong. Check your battery to see if it has power or not. If had power before connecting the switch, then contact your dealer or mechanic to diagnose the problem
How To Get a Battery Disconnect Switch
If you are lucky and the manufacturer already installed a battery disconnect switch, then all you have to do is look for the label that identifies this switch. it should be clearly marked above the knob you need to turn to use it.
If you do not have one, there are plenty of places that sell these devices. You just need to go to your favorite RV supply store or big box outlet to see what selection they have on hand and what prices they are selling for.
Do good research before you buy, to make sure you are getting the right kind of switch for your system.
Some Final Words
Do you really need a battery disconnect switch? In most cases, the answer would be yes. The reason for that positive answer is that the disconnect switch can protect against theft as well as fires. Plus, it stops battery drain from those devices you thought were turned off.
Making your RV or trailer safe is essential especially when you are not always going to be around it 24/7. Do your research to make sure you buy the right after-market switch to double your protection.
