Battery Cut Off Question March 17, 2003, 11:49:39 am Yahoo Message Number: 19933We have a 1996 26.5 MB LD, 460 Ford, and was wondering if we could install a battery cut off on house and van batteries. I had them on my 1985 Pace Arrow and they helped a lot. Someone told me that the 96 Ford had a computer connected to the van battery and that it would cause problems with the computer. Is that true? If can install the battery cut off what type or brand can we use? We also have two solar panels on the LD.Thanks,JoenKay 96' MB, Yucca Valley, CA
Re: Battery Cut Off Question Reply #1 – March 17, 2003, 06:33:06 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19955"We have a 1996 26.5 MB LD, 460 Ford, and was wondering if we could install a battery cut off on house and van batteries. We also have two solar panels on the LD." If you have solar panels, you're much better off leaving them connected to the house batteries than using a cutoff switch. A cutoff switch will merely slow down the inevitable self-discharge, but solar panels will keep the batteries continuously topped off--a much better situation. "Someone told me that the '96 Ford had a computer connected to the van battery and that [a cutoff switch] would cause problems with the computer. Is that true?"That one I can't answer. Anybody else know?Andy Baird :-)
Re: Battery Cut Off Question Reply #2 – March 18, 2003, 07:58:31 am Yahoo Message Number: 19970As Andy stated with solar panels a cut-off switch isn't a good idea for the coach batteries unless you won't be parked where the LD can get sun like inside a garage or a RV port. If you cover it with most RV covers it will still get enough light to maintain the batteries unless it is overcast and rainy for a long period. Keeping it charged with the solar panel will extend battery life where using the cut-off can reduce it since it will still discharge slowly.The '96 Ford chassis does have a computer in it and a cut-off will require the computer to be reset. It does that by itself and takes about 500 miles to complete the reset just like a new vehicle or after changing a dead battery. It shouldn't present any real problems and if it was a used vehicle driven by someone else with a different driving style than yours can be beneficial because it will reset to your driving style or a different altitude where normally driven. The reset affects gear changing, fuel mix, etc. to optimize the engine and transmission to the driver and normal driving conditions. That's one reason why you need to drive at varying speeds with new vehicles. The only "problem" is you have to reset things like clocks, radio stations in memory, and it might run differently until the engine is reset.Mike
Re: Battery Cut Off Question Reply #3 – March 18, 2003, 01:54:59 pm Yahoo Message Number: 19983If you don't want to have the computer reset everytime you use it due to using a cut-off switch on the chassis battery and you have an electric outlet close by or one you can use an extension cord to get to you could just get a BatteryMINDer for it. The electric outlet only needs to be a standard 15 amp outlet because these draw very little power. These devices trickle charge the battery and auto shut- off and re-start as needed and also after fully charging use a high frequency pulse to break down sulfation of the battery. They aren't real expensive and are fully automatic so it'll keep the battery in top condition at all times. I don't own one but my business partner has them on both of his boats and says they're great. http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=18188 Mike
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Topic: Battery Cut Off Question (Read 7 times)
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