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Old 06-10-2017, 02:14 PM   #1
Bentley
 
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2017 23' Flying Cloud
St. Louis , Missouri
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Posts: 214
23fd Battery disconnect switch install

I like to install a Battery disconnect switch to kill all power to trailer.
I just bought Bentley my 2017 Flying Cloud 23FD in March and sold my Little Guy Tab Trailer.
What i like about the Tab is the battery cut off switch killed every thing and I did not have to monitor the battery charge all the time.

With Bentley I have to charge up the battery almost weekly even though the battery switch is in store position. I just pulled the fuse on the sub woofer which I think helped.

So I bought a battery disconnect switch to cut the negative side but what is throwing me is I have two negative cables going back to the trailer.
does anyone know which side to put switch on.

Another thing on a different problem when boon docking the usb lights are always on. Sure would like to turn them off.

Thanks
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Old 06-10-2017, 05:46 PM   #2
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Putting it on the negative cable disables the breakaway brake (in case you forget to turn the battery on again before towing) which is not a good thing. It is safer to put it on the positive cable. That way the breakaway brake is never disconnected.

To get to the meat of your question, one of the large cables goes to the inverter, and the other goes to everything else. Pick one of the large cables and disconnect it, then check to see if the inverter is still working. If it is, you picked the correct cable. If it is not, you picked the wrong cable. Looking at the schematics, it looks like the inverter has a 4g wire and the main circuit has a 6g wire. If one of the two large wires is smaller than the other, try that one first.

Actually, the only things that aren't disconnected from the battery by the disconnect switch are:
1. charge wire from tow vehicle
2. charge wire from solar connector on roof
3. charge wire from solar connector on tongue
4. inverter
5. propane detector
6. breakaway brake
7. hitch jack

As long as the inverter is turned off, the only one of those that draws power routinely is the propane detector. That wire can be moved to an unused slot on the 12v distribution board, then it will be disconnected by the disconnect switch. But if you do this, fuse it at no more than 1 amp (per the schematics).

The 12v schematics are on page 8-18 of the Flying Cloud manual.

I know nothing about usb lights.
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Old 06-11-2017, 05:54 AM   #3
Bentley
 
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Thanks again.
But does the inverter draw power since it is not turned off by the battery store
switch.
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Old 06-11-2017, 07:57 AM   #4
Bentley
 
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I see that the inverter question has been answered in your post.
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Old 06-11-2017, 08:15 AM   #5
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The inverter is turned off and on by the switch over the kitchen sink. When it is off it draws no power.

Your culprit is probably the propane detector. According to the Atwood site, the propane detector pulls 70 milliamps. That works out to about 12 amps/week. A pair of group 24 batteries has about 150 amps, of which about 75 amps are usable. (You never want to get them more than 50% depleted.) A draw of 12 amps per week is about 15% per week of the usable capacity. That is not insignificant.

It will be much easier to move the propane detector hot wire to the 12v distribution board than add another disconnect switch.
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Old 06-11-2017, 11:56 AM   #6
Bentley
 
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I like to move the propane detector hot wire to the 12v distribution board
but not sure where the wire is or the 12v distribution board.
The circuit breaker and fuse box is easly accessible under fridge but where is the 12v distribution board on the 23FB
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Old 06-11-2017, 12:25 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pfcardwell View Post
I like to move the propane detector hot wire to the 12v distribution board
but not sure where the wire is or the 12v distribution board.
The circuit breaker and fuse box is easly accessible under fridge but where is the 12v distribution board on the 23FB
The circuit board in the fuse box that the fuses are plugged into is called the 12v distribution board. It "distributes" 12v from the main feed to all of the 12v circuits.

Disconnect the battery ground wires (all of them, I know, but this is only for 30 minutes), unscrew the propane detector from the wall and pull it out. The wires are there. It is VERY close to the 12v distribution board (fuse box) and can easily be moved. Be sure to cap the hot wire currently going to the battery after cutting that wire unless you are going to go to the 12v gang under the front, curb side of the bed and disconnecting it. Disconnecting it under the bed is recommended. Or, at least take out the 1 amp fuse in the inline fuse holder there.

There is no need to fool with the ground wire for the propane detector, it will work just fine as is.
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Old 06-11-2017, 01:02 PM   #8
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Thank you for all the help.

Just to be careful when you state "Disconnect the battery ground wires (all of them)" do you mean the battery 2 negative post connections at the batteries.
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Old 06-11-2017, 03:28 PM   #9
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Take all wires off the negative terminals of both batteries.
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Old 06-14-2017, 06:46 PM   #10
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Let us know what you finally do and how well it works for you.
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Old 06-15-2017, 05:41 PM   #11
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I decided to do the battery cut off switch on the positive side. I was worried about the warranty. The smaller red wire was the correct choice. I mounted the switch on Lexon and mounted that on the battery tiedown post. Charge battery for two days on solar power to make sure completely charged. Last night 12.8 this afternoon 12.7
Will let you know in a couple of days the end result. I have included pic of switch
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Old 06-15-2017, 06:26 PM   #12
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I was just reviewing the schematic of the 12v system, and discovered something that I find disturbing. The way they wired the system, your new disconnect switch DOES disable the breakaway brakes! Those brakes SHOULD come right off of the battery, but they don't. The wire you tapped goes to a wire gang and the breakaway brakes come off of that wire gang!

Be sure you never tow without turning that switch back on!

I have never seen a trailer wired that way.
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Old 06-15-2017, 06:32 PM   #13
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Thanks. Good to know
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Old 06-21-2017, 03:56 PM   #14
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Looks like I still have a battery drain. Sunday fully charged 12.87 weds 12.57
Like to cut off both positive with one switch. I read that inverter has drain on battery
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Old 06-21-2017, 05:00 PM   #15
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Sorry, I'm all out. Let us know what you find.
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Old 06-22-2017, 06:45 AM   #16
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I got to ask
I think you have a new 23fb, how do you handle your batteries? Do you get the same drop that I am getting.?
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Old 06-22-2017, 12:22 PM   #17
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I have done something that obviates the problem. Before I even took delivery of the trailer, I bought a Progressive Dynamics 4655 converter/charger.

As soon as I got the trailer home, I took the Parallax 8355 converter/charger out and installed the PD. The Parallax is a single stage charger at 13.6v. You can not leave it charging the batteries all the time because it will boil the batteries dry. The PD is a 4 stage charger. It charges a low battery much faster because it charges at 14.4v till the battery is 90% charged. Then it drops to 13.6v to charge the remaining 10%. When the battery is fully charged, it drops again to 13.2v to maintain the batteries without boiling them. Since I have the PD, I can keep my batteries charging always without damage.

I also moved my propane detector to the 12v distribution board, but it really doesn't matter since I never have to disconnect my batteries.

I just went and put a clamp on current meter on the wire to the inverter. I didn't think the inverter pulled any power while it was turned off, but it registered a little less than 1/2 amp. That means the inverter is pulling about 12 amps/day, or 80+ amps per week.

Again, it does not matter to me because my PD converter/charger lets me leave the RV plugged in and charging the batteries 24/7/365.

It looks like I should have had you put your second disconnect switch on the inverter wire instead of the trailer wire.

Sorry.
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Old 06-27-2017, 03:46 PM   #18
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Added second switch to inverter side this
stoped all phantom drain. Battery hanging around 12.8 2nd day.
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Old 06-27-2017, 03:59 PM   #19
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Sort of a rats nest. Got one side clear for water check. Need to think it over.
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Old 06-27-2017, 04:27 PM   #20
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Why two disconnect switches?
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