Protecting the master cutoff switch

[Bikerbill]

I have not felt comfortable with the location of the Master Battery Cut-off remote switch on the wall in front of the bathroom. In fact the first week we used it my daughter was sitting in the chair by the sliding door and accidently bumped the switch into the off position with her elbow. I personally think that Airstream should include some form of safety cover over the switch so we improvised a “guard.” We took some plexiglass, cut it and shaped it. Its not the best but it will help eliminate some accidental bumps and turn-offs.

[Sbb]

Our main switch was in under storage carpartment of our funfinder. An innocent lawnchair hit the switch and we had 18 hours of trying to figure out how we were getting home as we were boondocking and the slide was out. We now know we can always plug into the car to get a little power and we know to always check that switch first if we have power issues.

[joemikeb]

The arm of the passenger seat, not the co-driver's seat, does a great job of protecting the battery disconnect switch in our 2013 Interstate. So good in fact that it is not easy to get to the battery disconnect switch except from the outside with the door open.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by joemikeb

The arm of the passenger seat, not the co-driver's seat, does a great job of protecting the battery disconnect switch in our 2013 Interstate.

Co-driver? What's that? I haven't had a co-driver since I took driver's ed way back in high school, using cars that had a second set of controls in front of the instructor. If there's only one set of controls to make it go, stop, and turn, then there can only be one driver.

So I agree; it must be the "passenger" seat.

[joemikeb]

The Mercedes Benz Sprinter Manual refers to the Driver's seat, Co-Driver's seat, the drivers's side passenger seat, and co-driver's side passenger seat. As you are a bachelor you might be surprised at how quickly my wife seized on the co-driver description when she read it. She now uses the term in referring to the right hand front seat to our Volkswagens as well as the Sprinter. For spouses, or partners, the terms driver and co-driver are probably a more accurate description of the relationship between the occupants of the front seats than driver and passenger.

[UKDUDE]

Humm.... Where I come from we use the term "back seat driver"

[c21]

If you run the Baja 1000 in your AI the person sitting there would be a co-driver. :-)

[Wayward]

Consider adding a rocker switch guard

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[joemikeb]

Better yet simply disconnect the battery cutoff switch by the door. With the door switch disconnected all you have to do is open the access panel under the lounge and manually turn the big red knob you find there. All the switch by the door does on my 2013 Lounge model Interstate does is trigger a motor that in turn rotates the switch under the lounge in back on or off.

[aa9zz]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Co-driver? What's that?

So I agree; it must be the "passenger" seat.

You obviously have not driven with my wife.

[c21]

Now that's funny!

[Bikerbill]

The idea of a quick access and readily available master cut off switch just makes good sense. Our last motorhome we owned for 15 years had a master cut off switch for all batteries by the exit door and it was covered with a switch guard that had to be lifted to access off or on. And next to it was the water tank dump, also under a switch guard. I think that Airstream COULD afford to install the guard BUT alas, they don't.