Unable to disconnect battery power

[derouik]

Hi all, I am the new owner of a flying cloud, and just after our first night in the trailer we were about to leave and realized that we could not turn off the battery power on the unit. Keep in mind this is a brand new 27 foot flying cloud with solar package. I contacted customer support who advised me to disconnect the batteries which I have done, however the lights in the unit are still flickering on and off even though the batteries are completely disconnected. I have a feeling that the solar panels are just providing enough power to allow for the lights to flicker. However, what baffles me is the fact that the solar panels should be powering the batteries therefore, with the batteries disconnected I shouldn’t have any power at all coming to the trailers electrical system. Please help!!!

[kscherzi]

In all likelihood there's two buss bars one negative, the other positive, where everything ties into. The solar controller is probably tied into those, the wires to the battery, as is the feed to the trailers fuse panel. I doubt the wire from the solar panels goes into the battery box.

There ought to be a switch, or switchable fuse, inline between the solar panels and solar controller that can be used to isolate the solar input from the rest of the trailer.

This said, I'm coming from the perspective of a trailer that's about 10 years older.

[jeffmc306]

kscherzi is correct; the factory solar connects to the DC distribution box in the corner of a twin bed 27’ unit.

If you want to disconnect the solar power, unplug the panels from the roof combiner box.

Back to your initial problem, what happens when you press the disconnect button by the door? That switch connects to the Intellitec battery disconnect solenoid. It’s possible the switch wire came loose from the solenoid. You’ll find it behind the black breaker panel inside your coach. Mine is under the fridge.

[derouik]

That would certainly explain why I still have some power. Tks

[derouik]

Originally Posted by jeffmc306

kscherzi is correct; the factory solar connects to the DC distribution box in the corner of a twin bed 27’ unit.

If you want to disconnect the solar power, unplug the panels from the roof combiner box.

Back to your initial problem, what happens when you press the disconnect button by the door? That switch connects to the Intellitec battery disconnect solenoid. It’s possible the switch wire came loose from the solenoid. You’ll find it behind the black breaker panel inside your coach. Mine is under the fridge.

Tks, I’ll explore further. Wouldn’t turning all of the breakers off in the unit have the same effect and be easier than actually having to disconnect the battery?

[derouik]

Originally Posted by derouik

Tks, I’ll explore further. Wouldn’t turning all of the breakers off and pulling the fuses in the unit have the same effect and be easier than actually having to disconnect the battery?

As for what exactly is happening; when I press the disconnect button power remains in the system and there is no green light. Is the actual solenoid part is the switch assy? My knowledge of all things electrical is fairly basic. Many thanks,

[uncle_bob]

Hi

You have two power systems in your trailer. One is the 120V system that runs off shore power (or maybe a generator). It has breakers in the breaker box. If you want to run the A/C, you will need 120V power. Turning on or off the 120 breakers does not switch off the 12V system.

You have a 12V system that is based on the batteries. It runs things like the lights, water pump and fans. It typically has fuses to protect the circuits. It is normally controlled by the use/store switch. This partially disconnects things from the batteries. In "use" mode, you have full function. In "store" mode, the solar is still hooked to the batteries as are several other items around the trailer.

To completely disconnect the batteries, you need to install a battery disconnect switch. There are many threads on doing this. To shut down the solar, you need to either put the solar controller in standby or install a solar cutoff switch.

The 120V system *does* hook to the converter / charger. This charges up the batteries when you are on shore power. It also lets you run the 12V side of things without running down the batteries (if you have shore power).

Lights are typically turned on and off with the light switch. Using the use/store switch also shuts off the fridge. If you are just going out for the day, this isn't a good idea.

If you are putting the unit into storage for weeks or months, then indeed some sort of battery disconnect is needed. Solar normally is disabled by putting the controller in standby.

Bob

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by derouik

As for what exactly is happening; when I press the disconnect button power remains in the system and there is no green light. Is the actual solenoid part is the switch assy? My knowledge of all things electrical is fairly basic. Many thanks,

derouik, I just checked the 2023 FC Owner’s Manual to see what AS says about the operation of your battery disconnect switch. On page 5-8 you’ll find an explanation. This switch controls a solenoid that disconnects power from the batteries to the trailer’s 12V systems.

In the past it was labeled “Use - Store”. You turned it on when you entered and used the trailer, turned it off when you stored the trailer.

Turning off 120V breakers will not physically disconnect your battery’s 12V power. If you want to totally isolate your 12V system you need to install a physical disconnect switch between the 12V side of the trailer and your batteries.

Also, you’ll want to install a solar disconnect to prevent power from the panels from going to the solar controller and into the 12V system.
Many of us have installed 12V switches and solar disconnects for maintenance - long term storage.

Hope that helps!

[Tyler2you]

I got a bit of a surprise spark show last year when I was doing some work in my battery box. I had both batteries out of the box and disconnected when one of the positive leads found its way to ground and shorted. I was shocked to say the least given the lack of batteries. Finally dawned on me that it was the solar panels feeding the circuit. No breaker or any way to disconnect the panels.

I also had the strange flickering of the light on the disconnect solenoid and the refrigerator light blinking on/off when the batteries were disconnected. I eventually put in a solar disconnect and all is normal now.

[Burnside Bob]

Originally Posted by Tyler2you

Finally dawned on me that it was the solar panels feeding the circuit. No breaker or any way to disconnect the panels.

I also had the strange flickering of the light on the disconnect solenoid and the refrigerator light blinking on/off when the batteries were disconnected. I eventually put in a solar disconnect and all is normal now.

I think Tyler2you has identified your problem.

I had a similar experience.

On our first trip last year I turned on my solar system and disconnected shore power just before jumping in the rig. I had forgotten to turn on the battery bank (full isolation switch). Upon arrival at our campground I turned on the trailer interior lights, which blinked on and off erratically.

Fortunately the solar had provided enough 12V power en route to run the refer and other onboard functions without battery power. At the campground, with shade overhead, the solar could not supply enough power to the loads causing the blinking lights.

I worried that the hours of fluctuating voltage from the solar panels could degrade the refer's electronics, but so far all has run well!

Burnside