Chassis switch won't turn off

[serrano31096]

I have a class A motorhome and I took it to the rv wash last week. When I was done I turned off the house battery switch and went to
turn off the chassis battery switch and it won't turn off. It has been on for a week and I can't get it to turn off.
What should I do?

[serrano31096]

Also in the past, the chassis battery switch turns on by itself too. I then turn it off again and a fews days it turns back on again. What the heck is going on here?

[RV Roamer]

What year make and model of coach? What type of switch and where is it located?  For example, in my current coach the chassis battery switch is a big rotary switch in the engine compartment, while in a previous one it was a pushbutton by the entry door that activated a relay located by the chassis battery.

[Bob Flight]

We have 2 battery disconnect switches, one for the Chassis and one for House batteries.  These switches operate solenoid relays on the firewall.  The chassis switch will not disconnect the house battery when we are attached to shore power.  We did have a time when the switches did not work due to a broken wire at the relays.

[serrano31096]

What year make and model of coach? What type of switch and where is it located?  For example, in my current coach the chassis battery switch is a big rotary switch in the engine compartment, while in a previous one it was a pushbutton by the entry door that activated a relay located by the chassis battery.

Hello. It is a orphan  1993 Monterey Cobra with rocker switches just inside the entry door. One for house battery and onw for chassis battery. Thanks.

[Bob Flight]

Does it look like this?  It was made by Nuvatec, Inc.  The rocker switches are self centering and rock up to 'USE' and down to 'STORE'.  The LEDs glow red when on.

[serrano31096]

It sure does look like that. Its the button on the right chassis.

[scottydl]

When you say "won't turn off" or "turns back on" I'm assuming you are talking about the LED's being the wrong color (green instead of red), right?  Not that the switch won't physically move.  Your problem could either be in the control panel LED lighting, or the switch itself.  When the LED goes back to green from red by itself -OR- stays on green when you are trying to turn it off, it is truly still on?  12v power is going where you don't want it to go?  What I'm getting at is the possibility of the light turning green when the switch is actually still off and not allowing power to flow.  Otherwise I'd say the switch or whatever it's connected to (a circuit board behind that panel?) needs to be replaced.

[Bob Flight]

You can find the manual for the battery disconnect, here.  I liked it so much that I made a copy for myself.  As you might guess, the company is no longer in business.  The parts are fairly common from a variety of sources.  The circuit is fairly simple and functionality can be checked at the switches and at the solenoids.  Wires can break and/or solenoids can fail over time.  The solenoids are likely to be close to the batteries.  Ours batteries are in front of the radiator & the solenoids are on the firewall, within 2 feet of the batteries.

If you can not get the switch to work, it is not the end of the world.  We can leave ours on 24/7 without a problem, if the air compressor is off.  Our compressor will cycle and kill the battery in a week due to small air leaks. 

[serrano31096]

Thanks Bob for the plans.  Now I can use a volt meter to check wiring.

[Bob Flight]

Please let us know what you find.

[ke6tao]

Been there... replace the switch... they are available on eBay.

[steve86]

The company that supplies the switch and latching relay IS still in business.  Do a search on Intellitec..I just bought a latching Relay and switch from one of their distributors..Call 800-900-2468 for parts.