Starter switch

harleyman_1000 · July 17, 2014, 09:41:28 AM

I have a 2 way switch in my engine compartment that has to be on to start my bus. The start switch in the front of the bus will only start the bus when the rear switch is on, but if I leave the engine switch on it will run the batteries down. Can I put a key switch that will turn all power on and off even when the rear switch is off?

Dave5Cs · July 17, 2014, 09:49:49 AM

In one of the bays you should have a battery disconnect. Just turn the handle to off when you aren't going somewhere with the bus. Just remember it won't start at all with it in the off position.

bevans6 · July 17, 2014, 10:31:52 AM

I would try to find out what is causing the batteries to drain when the rear switch is on. It's supposed to be on all the time, normally, and not drain anything. At least mine is that way. I never turn mine off unless I want to kill the engine and I'm using that panel to start and stop the engine.

Brian

harleyman_1000 · July 17, 2014, 11:36:42 AM

When the rear switch is on the radio is on as well as other things like the satellite dish, and several other things that I can't recall now. I was told something about using a 3 way toggle instead of a 2 way switch. The previous owner redid the interior and added many lights and other things that run off the start batteries including the new generator, which also does not charge either the start or house batteries, and will run the start batteries down if left running.
I believe the cause of the batteries running down this last time was from the old satellite dish continuing to run and find a satellite until the batteries went dead. The satellite dish is older and won't work with the new faster receivers.

bevans6 · July 17, 2014, 01:07:01 PM

It seems really odd to have so much stuff controlled by that switch. It should be there just to pass power to the starter solenoid when the front starter button is pushed. Power to all that stuff should be controlled by the front master switch, I would think. Maybe you need to redo some previous owner wiring... On the MCI setup that switch is a three way, it has front, rear and momentary for rear start.

Brian

Mex-Busnut · July 17, 2014, 05:08:19 PM

Somebody certainly wired all of that stuff to the wrong 12-volt or 24-volt source. That rear switch is used for starting the engine from the rear when you are working on it.

harleyman_1000 · July 17, 2014, 07:36:18 PM

Quote from: Mex-Busnut on July 17, 2014, 05:08:19 PM
Somebody certainly wired all of that stuff to the wrong 12-volt or 24-volt source. That rear switch is used for starting the engine from the rear when you are working on it.

Shouldn't all the 12 volt be wired to the house batteries?

Dave5Cs · July 17, 2014, 09:11:57 PM

Scott put the Generator on its own Battery first of all. If it runs down the start batteries as it is connected now maybe the alternator on the generator if it has one ? is bad or see if it is even hooked up to it. See if it is putting out any voltage? Sounds like the start batteries are supplying a sub panel somewhere? Can you shut down any switches on that panel (if there is one)to disconnect those loads why you track everything down so you don't keep draining the starts?
Dave

Mex-Busnut · July 18, 2014, 06:24:40 AM

Quote from: harleyman_1000 on July 17, 2014, 07:36:18 PM
Shouldn't all the 12 volt be wired to the house batteries?

If you have a separate "house battery bank", yes. Not everybody does. The problem he has is it is wired through that aux engine-start switch in the engine compartment.

This is the switch I got to disconnect the start batteries.