USE/STORE switch failure

[Alchemst]

The 12-Volt supply shut off during a camping trip in our Four Winds 22E motorhome. I discovered that the Intellitec Battery Disconnect Relay 01-00055-002 had burned out. It has gotten hot enough to burn the flooring where it was mounted. But the real problem was the momentary USE/STORE rocker switch was sticking in the "STORE" position causing the coil in the relay to heat up (and also discharge the batteries). Eventually, the relay failed caused by the stuck switch. A temporary fix for the switch was to pull off the rocker and push a small amount of SuperLube Silicone Dielectric Grease into the switch mechanism. The permanent fix was to replace the switch with an identical one (American Technology Components #AH-ASY-1-5-039, Battery Disconnect Switch, SKU # 78739394420) that I found at pdxrvwholesale.com. It was a costly failure to replace the relay and two DC27 Batteries all because of a bad plastic switch.

[16ACE27]

Great write-up! Thanks for posting it to the forum; good information for everyone.

[Bob Denman]

I'm sorry that your first post had to be about a problem...
But it sure was well-written! Thanks for the write-up, and welcome to the Forum!

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I'm sorry that your first post had to be about a problem...
But it sure was well-written! Thanks for the write-up, and welcome to the Forum!

At least it was a problem and a solution and not just a: How come my solenoid is burning up question?

Welcome to the site Alchemst.

[EA37TS]

Welcome to the forum. You state the coach is a Four Winds but you don't mention the model year. Is this a newer coach or something older? Knowing this might (operative word) help others anticipate an issue in the future.

Thanks for the write-up.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by EA37TS

Welcome to the forum. You state the coach is a Four Winds but you don't mention the model year. Is this a newer coach or something older? Knowing this might (operative word) help others anticipate an issue in the future.

Thanks for the write-up.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

At least it was a problem and a solution and not just a: How come my solenoid is burning up question?

Welcome to the site Alchemst.

Amen...

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Here again, as I have stated a number of times, you don't see certain info when viewing the forum on an iPhone in mobile mode. On an iPhone you do not see signatures or coach models. You only see a user name, join date, location and posts, so placing pertinent info in the write-up helps those viewing from an iPhone.

[writchie]

I think I may have encountered the same issue with my 2016 Thor Chateau 31L. Just came back from an “off-grid” camping trip in which I was running the generator each day to recharge the house batteries. First 4 days or so, everything worked fine. Then house batteries ran completely down and wouldn’t recharge. Waited until I got back home to mess with the issue. Took out the house batteries and charged them back up without issue. When plugged into shore power, my converter is registering 13.6 volts as it should. When plugged into shore power, house batteries are only registering 12.5 volts rather than the 13.6 volts from the converter. Checked all fuses and switches on the converter, and it appears to be fine. Narrowed the problem down to either a bad Battery Disconnect / Use Switch, or a bad inline Bussman 100 Amp fuse. I’m going to try to replace the Battery Disconnect / Use switch first. There used to be an audible click when I pressed that switch which I no longer hear which leads me to think that maybe it is bad. I don’t even know how the Disconnect / Use Switch interacts with the converter and house batteries. I’m hoping that the switch is bad and is stuck in the “disconnect” mode which is why the converter isn’t charging the house batteries. When I unplug from shore power, nothing in the motorhome works … even the battery gauge will not register that the house batteries are full. Interesting thing is that the dashboard radio, turn signal & backup cameras, and a couple of the USB & cigarette lighter charger ports must be wired up to the house batteries, as that stuff wouldn’t work for me on the drive home. Switch should arrive in a few days, so hopefully that’s the fix.