Master Electrical Switch Relocation - Escape Trailer Owners Community
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×

Go Back   Escape Trailer Owners Community > Escape Tech > Problem Solving | Owners helping each other
Click Here to Login
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 02-20-2018, 02:18 PM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Parksville (Vancouver Island), British Columbia
Trailer: 17B
Posts: 37
Master Electrical Switch Relocation

We have a 17B (2017, December). The large dinette will be in the bed position, mostly. It is that way now with the trailer sitting in the driveway waiting warmer weather.

I have the master switch in the off position to prevent battery drain. But when we want to go into the trailer and turn on lights or run the heater to help speed up the off-gassing I have to crawl on my belly to get to the switch location. It's not impossible but I would prefer a more accessible location. I recall seeing comments about relocating the switch but my search did not bear fruit.

(As an aside: All our friends, some neighbours, and passers-by have wanted full tours of our new trailer. Thus, more frequent switching the power on!)

The stock switch is a toggle; it is rather long and could be subject to snagging. I think it might be better to change it to a rocker-type unit when I relocate the switch.

If you have relocated your switch or seriously considered doing so:
a) where is the relocated position?
b) what should I look for in a high quality rocker switch? I presume there would be a load specification I would need to attend to.
c) what gage wire should I use to make the run from the current switch location to the new spot?

TIA,
David
David Todtman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2018, 03:25 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Todtman View Post
b) what should I look for in a high quality rocker switch? I presume there would be a load specification I would need to attend to.
That wire carries all of the 12 volt DC current used from the battery when not on shore power. While there is no master fuse in the WFCO Power Center, there should be one at the battery end of that wire (I think 50 amps); the size of that fuse indicates the maximum current that Escape has planned for the wire and switch to handle.
When plugged into shore power, so that the converter/charger in the Power Center has power, the maximum current through the switch and wire is the 55 amps that the converter/charger can put out (although it would be limited by the same fuse at the battery end as current flow from the battery).

If you don't mind a bulky switch, any of the many rotary battery isolation switches would have lots of capacity. Some Escape owners have put in this type of switch, mostly to address the accidental snagging issue.

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Todtman View Post
c) what gage wire should I use to make the run from the current switch location to the new spot?
Once you know what current you're planning for, you have a minimum wire gauge.

Thicker wire will have less resistance, causing a smaller voltage difference between the converter/charger and the battery, and improving how fully charged the battery gets on shore power. This is the same issue as frequently discussed regarding charging with the solar charge controller.

The easiest approach would be to just copy whatever Escape used, although if the wire length is substantially increased by the new location, then one step larger would be sensible.
Brian B-P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2018, 04:09 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: West Coast, Florida
Trailer: None now
Posts: 1,266
Quote:
Originally Posted by David Todtman View Post
We have a 17B (2017, December). The large dinette will be in the bed position, mostly. It is that way now with the trailer sitting in the driveway waiting warmer weather.

I have the master switch in the off position to prevent battery drain. But when we want to go into the trailer and turn on lights or run the heater to help speed up the off-gassing I have to crawl on my belly to get to the switch location. It's not impossible but I would prefer a more accessible location. I recall seeing comments about relocating the switch but my search did not bear fruit.

(As an aside: All our friends, some neighbours, and passers-by have wanted full tours of our new trailer. Thus, more frequent switching the power on!)

The stock switch is a toggle; it is rather long and could be subject to snagging. I think it might be better to change it to a rocker-type unit when I relocate the switch.

If you have relocated your switch or seriously considered doing so:
a) where is the relocated position?
b) what should I look for in a high quality rocker switch? I presume there would be a load specification I would need to attend to.
c) what gage wire should I use to make the run from the current switch location to the new spot?

TIA,
David
Different trailer but same idea. I did not like the switch pole stabbing me in the leg and it was a pain to access with the table down. On mine due to the short run ( less than 15 feet ) I could have gone with the same size 6 AWG wire but since I had 4 AWG decided to use it. The thermal fuse is rated at 50 amp and the new switch is rated at 275 continuous amps. I ran new wire from the thermal to the new switch then from the switch to inside the DC power center.
To prevent possible short circuits I used plastic caps on the switch and self fusing tape. The old switch was not protected.
I filled in the old hole from the previous switch and used a piece of oak tape to cover it. I may paint the cap black to match the rest of the trailer , but I can do that at any time.
Here is what I used for a switch.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Escape will install this switch for you. I do not know if they will also move it to the other end of the cabinet if anyone is thinking of doing this to a trailer in production.
Attached Thumbnails
new position.jpg   original spot.jpg   from thermal.jpg   switch back.jpg  
wetzk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2018, 04:29 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Eggscape's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 2,714
If your battery is on the outside you might just want to put a wing nut on the stud and remove the cable. Or you can get one of these green knob things anywhere that fits on a battery post and use the hole on the other end to bolt a proper size wire lug to.
If you want a switch inside, Princes Auto (since you are in Canada) has this yellow one on sale.
If you want to locate it behind a panel then Amazon.ca has one. And if you want it cheaper and don’t mind a longer wait you can get it here . 12V Car Truck Boat Camper Battery Isolator Disconnect Cut Off Power Kill Switch for All Cars Switches & Relays High Quality -in Car Switches & Relays from Automobiles & Motorcycles on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
Attached Thumbnails
C523FB85-DF2A-4394-856F-409863756364.jpg   8D832436-B5C0-4236-916D-0D906B0150B6.jpg   087BF383-4DAA-4B8D-9A73-EEA34B4323D5.jpg   AEACE915-255F-4F5D-80E8-672A661CC7FD.jpg  
__________________
So many modifications...so little time.

https://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f8...ape-12918.html
Eggscape is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2018, 08:38 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
rubicon327's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Burlington Twp., New Jersey
Trailer: 2010 Escape 19
Posts: 7,111
Do you have solar or can you plug in to AC power at your residence? If so, there would be no need to turn the switch off as the battery is always being charged.
rubicon327 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2018, 11:45 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Devil Dog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Steveston B.C., British Columbia
Trailer: 2012- 17'B.... 2016 Tacoma SR5 TRD
Posts: 504
I can with a little effort get my hand between the wall and the table top .
beats crawling under . Still plan to move it some day.
__________________
I've almost been everywhere man.
Almost been everywhere.....
Devil Dog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2018, 08:07 AM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21; previously a 2012 Escape 19
Posts: 78
I replaced our switch with a Blue Sea 6006:
https://www.bluesea.com/products/600...th__Knob_-_Red
mounted under the rear seat of our U-shaped dinette. I then filled the hole left in the side bench with a USB charger.
__________________
Bill
Idaho Falls
wdr2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
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




» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Escape Trailer Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:29 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright 2023 Social Knowledge, LLC All Rights Reserved.