Battery disconnect questions

[maurerl]

Please help me understand the battery disconnect switch?

If the battery disconnect switch is "on", does that mean that the battery is disconnected, ie. the battery is NOT connected to anything in the trailer? And vice versa, switch "off" = battery connected?

Seems like double negatives confusing me!

And the switch should be "off" when trailer is in use, and "on" when trailer is stored?

Finally, which way (up/down) is on/off? No markings on our switch. Ours is currently "up", as it has been since we bought the trailer used last spring, suggesting it is "off", i.e. battery is NOT disconnected?

Thanks!

[Vicki A.]

The easiest way to find out if the 12v system is off...
Do not be plugged in, look at your propane detector. Is the green light off or on?

[Chris R]

Assuming the switch is not installed upside down.
When the switch is "down", the 12v power is not going to the fridge, lights, furnace, or brakes, etc. Good for storage as long as you are maintaining your battery, i.e. solar or trickle charge.
When "up", all is operation, normal use. When towing, allways have the switch in the "up" position, the trailer brakes need power when their applied from the tow vehicle.
If you have solar, the switch is bypassed and the battery receives power from the panel as long as there is light.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by Chris R

Assuming the switch is not installed upside down.
When the switch is "down", the 12v power is not going to the fridge, lights, furnace, or brakes, etc. .

Doesn't the power to the brakes come from the tug?

Ron

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

Doesn't the power to the brakes come from the tug?

Ron

Not if you become disconnected while under way.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Chris R

When the switch is "down", the 12v power is not going to the fridge, lights, furnace, or brakes, etc.
...
When towing, allways have the switch in the "up" position, the trailer brakes need power when their applied from the tow vehicle.

(As Jim B. explained, the brakes don't normally need power from the trailer battery, but only in an emergency if the trailer breaks away from the tug.)

This appears to vary by model, or year, or something. Steve worked out a wiring diagram for his 15A, and in it the disconnect switch does not disconnect the breakaway switch for the brakes:

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Direct link: Files > Systems > 15A_Wiring-Diag_09-13-15
...
In this diagram, the Main Shutoff switch only disconnects the converter and distribution panel (fusebox) from the other wiring shown. This means that the breakaway switch for the brakes will continue to be connected to the battery, and thus continue to work, regardless of the position of the Main Shutoff switch. This design makes sense to me, but discussion in this forum has indicated that this is not the case for other Escapes (that is, they need the Main Shutoff switch to be on for the breakaway to work).

[maurerl]

Thanks. I guess that's all I need to know -- ours is up & everything is working. Flip it down for storage (which I never did last winter).

Lotar