Lithium battery disconnect

[Ron C.]

Originally Posted by atlebj

So we purchased a used 2016 Ascent TS (with Li batteries) this year also and I just winterized it. The manual on page 30 under winterizing states:

" Fully charge your auxiliary coach battery and turn off and remove the red disconnect. The red disconnect is located in the passenger rear storage compartment in the small door above the battery access door."

And on page 33:

"(2) The disconnect in the driver ottoman door is a total battery disconnect used especially for service and winter storage. This battery disconnect will not allow the auxiliary batteries to be charge from the solar panels, converter or the vehicle alternator."

Am I missing something? The 2016 Ascent TS clearly has the switch the OP is referring to (at least mine does) - again, unless I'm missing something...

Atle

Thanks Atle. You are not the one missing something, it is I (or rather my Ascent) that is missing something - it was built without the disconnect key. I have spoken with Michael at PW, who stated that if I don’t see it, it was built without one. Oh, and btw, PW is not responsible for installing one.

[Ron C.]

Hi Avanti. So, would I go with the “12v Bi-stable with knob”? There are multiple choices. Not sure what the differences are.

[Ron C.]

Atle, would you be able to take a photo of your red disconnect key so that I may compare it to my panel below the driver side ottoman?

[Nic7320]

A manual disconnect can be useful, but with lithium batteries you need an automatic disconnect that operates on battery temperature.

I use a Victron BMV712 battery monitor for battery voltage and temperature, and use its programmable relay to shut down solid state relays on my solar inputs and the 120VAC charger. It also has a Bluetooth interface to shutdown the Victron Smart solar controllers, but I trust the hardwired SSRs more than the Bluetooth.

[avanti]

Originally Posted by Ron C.

Hi Avanti. So, would I go with the “12v Bi-stable with knob”? There are multiple choices. Not sure what the differences are.

You want the one I linked to at amazon. Blue sea ML-RBS. PART NUMBER 7700.

[JoePacificNW]

I have a 2017 PW Plateau XLMB and my coach has a red battery on/off rocker switch on the main panel by the door. Also, my winterizing instructions simply say to turn the battery power off at that switch. When doing so, all of the 12 V systems shut down. I also have a red key charge line disconnect behind the power sofa which the instructions also say to turn off when winterizing. This keeps the batteries from being charged via the electrical cord, solar panels or engine alternator.

[NFRicaS]

Originally Posted by Davydd

All my Class B RV's had battery disconnect switches. I would be surprised if Pleasure-way didn't provide one especially on lithium batteries since they have made a big deal more so than almost any company in providing a prominent one. This is the one on my 2005 Pleasure-way Sprinter Class B. It was hard to but it was behind a fancy cabinet door on the side of the built-in ottoman.

Mine is well hidden on back side of bed passenger side, visible when back doors are open, on passenger side...yes, I’d be surprised if no disconnect, but mine is older...

[Davydd]

Originally Posted by atlebj

So we purchased a used 2016 Ascent TS (with Li batteries) this year also and I just winterized it. The manual on page 30 under winterizing states:

" Fully charge your auxiliary coach battery and turn off and remove the red disconnect. The red disconnect is located in the passenger rear storage compartment in the small door above the battery access door."

And on page 33:

"(2) The disconnect in the driver ottoman door is a total battery disconnect used especially for service and winter storage. This battery disconnect will not allow the auxiliary batteries to be charge from the solar panels, converter or the vehicle alternator."

Am I missing something? The 2016 Ascent TS clearly has the switch the OP is referring to (at least mine does) - again, unless I'm missing something...

Atle

I showed a photo in post #12 of a P-W battery disconnect switch but never got an acknowledgment from the OP if he had one. Seems as of 2016 it was a P-W consistency.

[Ron C.]

Originally Posted by avanti

You want the one I linked to at amazon. Blue sea ML-RBS. PART NUMBER 7700.

Hi Avanti. Sorry, life events have distracted me from pursuing my lithium ion battery issue. But I am going to try to devote more time to figuring this out. I need to disconnect the CHARGE line to the lithium batteries, to prevent charging during periods when the battery temp is below freezing. All of the on line videos I have seen have disconnects between the house batteries and the electrical items the batteries supply, to prevent phantom drainage of the batteries. This is not my goal, however. Rather than using the Bluesea device you suggested, I just want to install the standard red knobbed disconnect key. Since you seem to know a lot about this, do you think 1) the red knobbed disconnect key is suitable for the task at hand and 2) do I just need to identify the cable coming from the alternator (the charge line) and install the disconnect key along the charge line in order to interrupt the charging?

[avanti]

Originally Posted by Ron C.

Hi Avanti. Sorry, life events have distracted me from pursuing my lithium ion battery issue. But I am going to try to devote more time to figuring this out. I need to disconnect the CHARGE line to the lithium batteries, to prevent charging during periods when the battery temp is below freezing. All of the on line videos I have seen have disconnects between the house batteries and the electrical items the batteries supply, to prevent phantom drainage of the batteries. This is not my goal, however. Rather than using the Bluesea device you suggested, I just want to install the standard red knobbed disconnect key. Since you seem to know a lot about this, do you think 1) the red knobbed disconnect key is suitable for the task at hand and 2) do I just need to identify the cable coming from the alternator (the charge line) and install the disconnect key along the charge line in order to interrupt the charging?

The "red knobbed disconnect" and the BlueSea item I referenced are both just high-current switches. They are functionally interchangeable--it is just a matter of convenience. Either will do what you want.

I hesitate to comment on your lithium system, since I don't have one and don't two the details of yours. However, generally speaking, if you disconnect the battery negative connection to the chassis ground (and any other ground wires), that should make your battery essentially inert--it will neither charge nor provide current to any other system. I don't know if there is some downside to doing this with your lithium system, unless you wish to continue to use your batteries and simply prevent charging.

[atlebj]

Hello Ron, sorry - the original request got lost in my inbox. Here is a picture of the disconnect under the driver side ottoman.
https://www.icloud.com/photos/#07V6d...btxC0wSQ11z37Q
Atle

[Ron C.]

Thank you for the photo. I certainly do not have a disconnect key.