Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
Sunline RV Forum
Sunline User Photos

Go Back   Sunline Coach Owner's Club > Technical Forums > Repairs and Maintenance
Click Here to Login

Join Sunline Club Forums Today


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 09-07-2019, 11:08 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
Tinstaafl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 328
SUN #10986
Tinstaafl is an unknown quantity at this point
Battery disconnect switch

Anyone ever had that switch fail to disconnect?

'99 T-1950.

Used it on shore power last weekend, then disconnected the AC and buttoned everything up; left it at the campsite. The disconnect switch was in the Off position. Today I went to hitch up and bring it home, and found the gas detector energized and the radio's LCD clock display lit up.

Turned the disconnect to On for the drive home, then turned it off while unhitching. Everything's now as it should be, with nothing lit up in the camper. I put a meter on the switch and cycled it a dozen times, and it works as it should.

Scratching my head...
__________________

__________________
Tinstaafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 12:16 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Draughty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 298
SUN #9498
Draughty is an unknown quantity at this point
I don't have one but I need to add one so I am following.....
__________________

__________________
Draughty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 03:49 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
mainah is an unknown quantity at this point
I assume this is on the battery?
__________________
mainah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 04:42 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Tinstaafl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 328
SUN #10986
Tinstaafl is an unknown quantity at this point
It's on the frame to the rear of the battery. Looks to be OEM.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg swx1.jpg (48.7 KB, 22 views)
File Type: jpg swx2.jpg (65.4 KB, 21 views)
__________________
Tinstaafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 05:57 PM   #5
Moderator
 
JohnB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
JohnB is on a distinguished road
As FYI

Sunline did not install a battery disconnect switch on the travel trailers until the 2004 model year and newer. Was told it was part of the 2004 design upgrades.

I do admit who ever mounted yours, did a good job. Can not speak for the brand you have. I’ll have to look up the Sunline provided brand. Have not had one not work for me yet. But they may be newer then yours.
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC

Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
JohnB is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 06:25 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Tinstaafl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 328
SUN #10986
Tinstaafl is an unknown quantity at this point
Interesting; thanks John. Now that I think about it, the red cable sheathing is probably a giveaway that it's not OEM wiring. It also seemed a bit odd to me that it disconnects the breakaway switch as well as everything else, but I don't know if that's typical. Seems like the breakaway should always be hot.

I'll just keep an eye on it, and plan on replacing the switch if the situation recurs.
__________________
Tinstaafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 07:35 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Draughty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Ontario
Posts: 298
SUN #9498
Draughty is an unknown quantity at this point
I have to say I would have thought it OEM..very nice install by whomever..
Gives me ideas on how to install a battery cutout..
__________________
Draughty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 08:18 PM   #8
Moderator
 
JohnB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 12,643
SUN #89
JohnB is on a distinguished road
On the Sunline original installs, the emergency breakaway switch is wired hot (live) all the time. It taps in on the upstream lug of the battery disconnect switch. Safer setup that way in case someone forgets to turn on the battery when towing.
__________________
Current Sunlines: 2004 T310SR, 2004 T1950, 2004 T2475, 2007 T2499, 2004 T317SR
Prior Sunlines: 2004 T2499 - Fern Blue
2005 Ford F350 Lariat, 6.8L V10 W/ 4.10 rear axle, CC, Short Bed, SRW. Reese HP trunnion bar hitch W/ HP DC

Google Custom Search For Sunline Owners Club
JohnB is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2019, 08:56 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
MACK C-85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,131
SUN #64
MACK C-85 is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnB View Post
On the Sunline original installs, the emergency breakaway switch is wired hot (live) all the time. It taps in on the upstream lug of the battery disconnect switch. Safer setup that way in case someone forgets to turn on the battery when towing.
My breakaway is wired through a seperate fuse, wired directly to the battery. My '07 has a factory installed disconnect. As far as I know my trailer was the last custom built trailer Sunline delivered, so they had the disconnects until they went under.
__________________

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Club Cab 4x4 CTD
2007 Sunline Solaris T-276-SR: Misty Blue/Cherry
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Reg Cab 4x4 OFF-ROAD
MACK C-85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2019, 07:15 AM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
mainah is an unknown quantity at this point
Standard rally race car disconnect. The brake safety wire should not be fused you really want it to work no matter what.
__________________
mainah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2019, 07:55 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
j52wf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 544
SUN #2366
j52wf is an unknown quantity at this point
My ebrake is direct wired and unfused.
__________________
j52wf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2019, 08:15 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
MACK C-85's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 1,131
SUN #64
MACK C-85 is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by j52wf View Post
My ebrake is direct wired and unfused.
You are correct.

My bad, the brake is wired direct, the jack is fused off the battery.
__________________

2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Club Cab 4x4 CTD
2007 Sunline Solaris T-276-SR: Misty Blue/Cherry
2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Reg Cab 4x4 OFF-ROAD
MACK C-85 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2019, 10:19 AM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 59
SUN #8084
MikeW is an unknown quantity at this point
Battery feeding the system?
__________________
MikeW is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2019, 05:28 PM   #14
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: New York
Posts: 21
SUN #250
HurleyMan
I had a '97 T1950. It did not have a disconnect switch and the e-brake had it's own unfused hot wire direct to the battery. My current '07 195SR has a disconnect switch but looks nothing like yours. You might want to check and see if it can be disassembled to see if a contact got bent.
__________________
HurleyMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2019, 05:34 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Tinstaafl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 328
SUN #10986
Tinstaafl is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeW View Post
Battery feeding the system?
Not sure what the thrust of your question is.

As wired, the switch completely disconnects the battery from everything in the camper as long as it works properly.

Paranoia being my middle name, I've procured a replacement switch and will be installing it soon--and modifying the wiring so that the breakaway switch is always hot. Don't really need to do the latter, but it doesn't hurt to guard against CRS syndrome.
__________________
Tinstaafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2019, 05:44 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Tinstaafl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 328
SUN #10986
Tinstaafl is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally Posted by HurleyMan View Post
I had a '97 T1950. It did not have a disconnect switch and the e-brake had it's own unfused hot wire direct to the battery. My current '07 195SR has a disconnect switch but looks nothing like yours. You might want to check and see if it can be disassembled to see if a contact got bent.
Replacement switch only cost $10, much cheaper than the time/cost of drilling out "rivets" and finding replacements for reassembly.

I may tear it apart after replacement just for chuckles. If I do, I'll post my findings.
__________________
Tinstaafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2019, 06:21 PM   #17
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: New York
Posts: 21
SUN #250
HurleyMan
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinstaafl View Post
Replacement switch only cost $10, much cheaper than the time/cost of drilling out "rivets" and finding replacements for reassembly.

I may tear it apart after replacement just for chuckles. If I do, I'll post my findings.

Sounds like a reasonable solution for 10 bucks. I've been tearing things apart to see what was inside since I was a little kid. A couple years later I started to figure out how to put things back together. A few more years later they actually worked after putting them back together. Apologizes to my parents.
__________________
HurleyMan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2019, 06:58 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,357
SUN #2097
mainah is an unknown quantity at this point
Without a doubt the inline battery switch is the best the little ones that connects to the battery have a couple of issues. They are designed to connect to the negative post that's ok because it does kill the power but most people will try to connect it to the + post and it really is too small to fit (the + post is a larger diameter). The other problem is it needs to be taken apart to disconnect it so you may just as will remove the - cable to the battery. Most deep cycle batteries have a nut and a post the very simplest method would be a stainless wing nut on the - post. If you disconnect the - cable you run little chance of arcs and sparks.
__________________
mainah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2019, 06:28 AM   #19
Senior Member
 
Tinstaafl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 328
SUN #10986
Tinstaafl is an unknown quantity at this point
After disassembling the old switch, I can see a potential way for it to fail to disconnect.

The pin in the key rides on a spiral "ledge" inside the barrel, and as you turn it, forces that center bar assembly down against the lug contacts. Turn it the other way, and the spring between those contacts pushes it back up, breaking the connection.

Though it didn't actually look to be the case, if enough debris accumulated in that barrel, it could jam it enough so the plunger would fail to retract. Had I realized how it's constructed, I would have opted for a better-sealed style of replacement. But it's done. This one lasted 20 years; fair chance the new one will behave for a while.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg swx.jpg (72.6 KB, 8 views)
__________________
Tinstaafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2019, 02:41 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
Tinstaafl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 328
SUN #10986
Tinstaafl is an unknown quantity at this point
Mystery solved--it wasn't the switch.

Just spent a week in the camper at hunting camp, with no issues.
stayed warm with a Mr. Heater, with the furnace turned on but set to a cool temp just so I wouldn't have to battle icicles if the Mr. Heater ran out of gas in the middle of the night (which didn't happen).

Buttoned it up and came home yesterday, returning with a tow vehicle today. While hitching up, installing equalizer bars and whatnot, the furnace came on! The new disconnect switch was turned off.

I finally realized that the power was coming from the tow vehicle wiring, not via the disconnect. Doh!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg hc.jpg (106.9 KB, 4 views)
__________________

__________________
Tinstaafl is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Disconnect battery McKisses Sunline Community 6 08-19-2014 06:58 AM
Battery Disconnect Switch Queitalone Sunline Que 9 10-23-2012 07:27 PM
outside shower disconnect ctissue Repairs and Maintenance 1 03-21-2012 07:59 PM
Disconnect brake wiring help ??? Sunline1 Repairs and Maintenance 4 08-19-2010 08:18 AM
Pump Switch Wiring for Second Switch - T2363 SimonKenton Sunline Travel Trailers 3 11-14-2008 06:41 AM


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sunline RV or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:14 PM.


×