Battery switch switch explanation needed

MrHenrietta · 08-28-2016, 03:14 PM

I did read the sticky about switches but am still a little confused. Anyhow just getting around to fully understanding my electrical system.

Can anyone explain this switch to me and why I would ever turn it off? I've always kept it ON and had no issues. One cable goes to the Inverter/charger and the other underneath the van to the house batteries. One thing to note is that there is no power going to the inverter/charger when this switch is in the OFF position unless the van is running. Also looks like I have an Isolator not connected to anything other than the large power cable in the rear of the van and another isolator that is under the hood with all 3 ports connected up.. Why would that be?

MrHenrietta · 08-28-2016, 03:15 PM

Rear of switch

MrHenrietta · 08-28-2016, 03:16 PM

Old Isolator in rear of van

MrHenrietta · 08-28-2016, 03:17 PM

Isolator under the hood

Scalf77 · 08-28-2016, 04:12 PM

The switch is a Guest 2112A, which is a straight on/off switch. Did you say that it goes from inverter to the front battery. Actually it sounds like this is in parallel to your isolator. Engine running power through isolator as you expect. Engine off, with switch on, you have power from front, but then where is your house battery? So my best guess would be a back up switch for the isolator or a jump start switch. I would suspect that things then should work correct with it off. Leaving it on would mean that you are using both house and starting battery when it is on. You could use that as a plain battery disconnect switch, so it is important to clarify where it actually goes.

I don't know what to say about rear isolator, if it is a isolator, there should not be a power cord.

-greg

MrHenrietta · 08-28-2016, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scalf77

The switch is a Guest 2112A, which is a straight on/off switch. Did you say that it goes from inverter to the front battery. Actually it sounds like this is in parallel to your isolator. Engine running power through isolator as you expect. Engine off, with switch on, you have power from front, but then where is your house battery? So my best guess would be a back up switch for the isolator or a jump start switch. I would suspect that things then should work correct with it off. Leaving it on would mean that you are using both house and starting battery when it is on. You could use that as a plain battery disconnect switch, so it is important to clarify where it actually goes.

I don't know what to say about rear isolator, if it is a isolator, there should not be a power cord.

-greg

On the switch one cord goes to the House batteries underneath the back of the van. The other chord goes to the Inverter Charger. When the switch is in the off position and the van is off my inverter/charger display does not have any power.

MrHenrietta · 08-28-2016, 04:31 PM

The rear thing that looks like an isolator is probably the amp for the previous owners subwoofer is my guess.

boywonder · 08-28-2016, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrHenrietta

One wire goes to the Inverter/charger and the other underneath the car to the front.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrHenrietta

On the switch one cord goes to the House batteries underneath the back of the van. The other chord goes to the Inverter Charger.

Sounds like a power disconnect for your inverter.....is your inverter powered by your starting battery or house batteries?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrHenrietta

The rear thing that looks like an isolator is probably the amp for the previous owners subwoofer is my guess.

It's not a subwoofer amp........

MrHenrietta · 08-28-2016, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boywonder

Sounds like a power disconnect for your inverter.....is your inverter powered by your starting battery or house batteries?

It's not a subwoofer amp........

I've always been under the assumption that the Inverter/Charger is powered by my house batteries.

Scalf77 · 08-29-2016, 06:53 AM

Sorry, I confused myself on where the other wire was going, I see you did say going to the house batteries. So I would have to think it is a basic battery disconnect a switch. So when off, your isolator still provides power to the inverter and other house distribution while the engine is running. Do you loose all house power when off and not running or just the inverter? If just the inverter then I would lean to a inverter disconnect switch like boywonder said, although I am not sure that I would wire it that way. When you use the term "cord" I think of power cord as in AC power cord, if you mean just a large DC cable, then that is totally different. Having a second isolator ( it does look like a isolator) in the rear would not be a standard thing, but if you had multiple house batteries and wanted to isolate their outputs you could use a second one. You could come up with specific reasons to do so.