Roadmaster 766 - User Manual

Installation Instructions
Remote Battery Disconnect
part number 766
ROADMASTER, Inc. 6110 NE 127th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98682 800-669-9690 Fax: 360-735-9300 www.roadmasterinc.com
All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Note: Do not use this product on vehicles with diesel
engines, as they draw too much current and will cause non-
warranty failure of the solenoid — use the 767 Manual Battery
Disconnect instead.
CAUTION
Not for use with all vehicles. Intended only for use on
vehicles whose batteries must be disconnected for towing,
as per the owner’s manual.
Failure to verify the safety of disconnecting the battery
cables or failure to follow the owner’s manual instructions
for towing may cause non-warranty damage to the vehicle’s
components.
It is the owner’s responsibility to make certain that the
battery cable can be safely disconnected for towing, and
that all instructions in the vehicle owner’s manual regard-
ing towing are followed.
CAUTION
The Remote Battery Disconnect is a convenient way to
disconnect the vehicle’s battery; however, disconnecting
a vehicle’s battery will affect the vehicle’s electronics —
• You may need to reset dashboard presets, such as
radio presets or seat and brake pedal presets.
• You may need to re-wire aftermarket electrical acces-
sories, such as supplemental braking systems.
• Vehicles equipped with a Roadmaster braking sys-
tem will require a brake light switch connected to the
positive post on the vehicle’s battery. Otherwise, the
motorhome monitor will not indicate braking activity.
Severe damage to the towed vehicle’s brakes may result.
continued on next page
Time Tested • Time Proven
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Safety Definitions
These instructions contain information that is very important to know and understand. This information is provided for
safety and to prevent equipment problems. To help recognize this information, observe the following symbols:
WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, could result in property damage,
serious personal injury, or even death.
CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, may result in property damage,
or minor or moderate personal injury.
CAUTION
CAUTION used without the safety alert symbol in-
dicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, may result in property damage.
NOTE
Refers to important information and is placed in italic type.
It is recommended that you take special notice of these
items.
85 5476 -11 06. 23
Remote Battery Disconnect wiring
Not to scale; please see the instructions
for complete information.

Summary

Remote Battery Disconnect Installation Instructions

Wiring Diagram Overview

Diagram illustrating the wiring connections for the remote battery disconnect system, including solenoid, fuse, and switch.

General Cautions and Warnings

Important notes on vehicle compatibility, potential effects on vehicle electronics, and responsibilities for safe towing.

Safety Symbol Definitions

Explanation of safety symbols like WARNING, CAUTION, and NOTE used to convey hazard information.

Installation Steps

Solenoid Mounting and Cable Attachment

Instructions for choosing a mounting location, drilling, and attaching the solenoid, including grounding and cable routing.

Battery Cable Connection Procedure

Steps for connecting the battery cables to the solenoid and battery terminal, emphasizing proper insulation with shrink tubing.

Switch Mounting and Harness Routing

Guidance on selecting a switch location inside the vehicle, routing the harness, and securely mounting the switch.

Final Connections and Fuse Installation

Steps for reattaching the negative battery cable, installing the fuse, and securing the wiring harness.

Operating and Safety Procedures

Activating Tow and Drive Modes

How to switch between 'tow' and 'drive' modes using the disconnect button, following owner's manual instructions.

Critical Operating Precautions

Essential safety rules, including not disconnecting while the engine is running and timing for switch operation.

Keyless Entry Lockout Prevention

Advice on avoiding lockout with keyless entry systems when the battery is disconnected.

Vehicle-Specific Components

Brake Light Switches

Explanation of why brake light switches are necessary for supplemental braking systems during towing.

Wireless Supplemental Braking Monitor

Details on a monitor that reports towed vehicle braking activity to the motorhome, including alarms and status notifications.

Fuse Master System

Information on a component that simplifies fuse management for towing by using a switch.

Charge Line Kits

Description of kits designed to maintain the towed vehicle's battery charge while in tow.

Overview

1. Function Description
2. Important Technical Specifications
3. Usage Features
4. Maintenance Features
5. Important Considerations and Warnings

The Roadmaster Remote Battery Disconnect (part number 766) is a device designed to conveniently disconnect a towed vehicle's battery for towing, as specified by the vehicle's owner's manual. It is intended for use only on vehicles whose batteries must be disconnected for towing and is not suitable for diesel engines due to high current draw, which can cause non-warranty solenoid failure (the 767 Manual Battery Disconnect is recommended for diesel engines).

Function Description:

The Remote Battery Disconnect utilizes a solenoid with a latching relay to control the connection of the vehicle's positive battery cable. When activated, it disconnects the battery, preventing power drain and potential damage to the vehicle's electrical system during towing. A switch, typically mounted in the passenger compartment, allows the user to toggle between "drive" (battery connected) and "tow" (battery disconnected) modes. The device includes a 7.5 amp fuse for protection.

Important Technical Specifications:

• Part Number: 766
• Fuse: 7.5 amp
• Wiring: Includes a solenoid with latching relay, pigtail, gray two-wire harness, and butt connectors.
• Installation Hardware: Bolts, nuts, ring terminal, self-tapping screw, shrink tubing, and protective loom.
• Switch: A two-wire switch for passenger compartment mounting.

Usage Features:

• Convenient Disconnection: Provides a simple way to disconnect the battery without manual cable removal.
• Switch Operation: A single button press switches between "drive" (battery connected) and "tow" (battery disconnected) modes.
• Aftermarket Accessory Integration: Allows for the connection of aftermarket accessories, such as a BrakeMaster break away switch, directly to the positive post of the vehicle's battery, ensuring they remain energized while towing. Crucially, no accessories should be connected to the solenoid itself.

Maintenance Features:

• Fuse Protection: A 7.5 amp fuse protects the circuit.
• Anti-Corrosion Recommendation: Roadmaster recommends using an anti-corrosion battery terminal spray on all exposed connections to prevent corrosion and ensure longevity.

Important Considerations and Warnings:

• Vehicle Compatibility: Only for vehicles whose batteries must be disconnected for towing per the owner's manual.
• Diesel Engines: Not for use with diesel engines; use part number 767 instead.
• Owner's Manual Compliance: It is the owner's responsibility to ensure safe battery disconnection for towing and to follow all vehicle owner's manual instructions regarding towing. Failure to do so can lead to non-warranty damage.
• Electronic Impact: Disconnecting the battery will affect the vehicle's electronics, potentially requiring resets for dashboard, radio, seat, and brake pedal presets. Aftermarket electrical accessories may need re-wiring.
• Braking Systems: Vehicles with a Roadmaster braking system require a brake light switch connected to the positive battery post. Without this, the motorhome monitor will not indicate braking activity, potentially causing severe damage to the towed vehicle's brakes.
• Solenoid Installation:
  • Mounting location must be strong, protected from road spray, and allow the "BATTERY POST" cable to reach the positive battery post.
  • The solenoid MUST be grounded using the provided white ground wire.
  • The black tip of the solenoid MUST be pointed downward.
  • When rotating cables on the solenoid post, ALWAYS hold the inside nut stationary and ONLY rotate the outside nut. Rotating the inside nut will cause non-warranty failure.
• Cable Connections:
  • Ensure star washers are positioned correctly as shown in the diagrams.
  • If the vehicle's battery cable end is smaller than 5/16", enlarge it with a 5/16" drill.
  • Slide shrink tubing over connections, ensuring NO METAL IS EXPOSED. Exposed metal can cause a short circuit and electrical fire.
  • Cover both cables with the provided protective loom to prevent short circuits and electrical fires.
• Wiring Harness Routing: Route the wiring harness to avoid moving parts, sharp edges, fuel lines, or hot components (engine/exhaust system). Improper routing can cause short circuits, damage to the electrical system, or even ignite fuel, leading to property damage, personal injury, or death.
• Operation Warnings:
  • NEVER operate the battery disconnect in any way other than instructed. Randomly pushing the switch can damage the vehicle's transmission, electronics, or other systems.
  • NEVER disconnect the battery while the engine is running. This can cause a 'Check Engine Light' and require dealership reset.
  • Do not turn the switch ON or OFF within a 30-second period during initial start-up, as this can cause system malfunction.
  • When disconnecting/reconnecting the battery for dinghy towing, ALWAYS follow the vehicle owner's manual step-by-step. Operating out of sequence can result in significant, non-warranty damage.
• Keyless Entry/Lockout: If the vehicle has keyless entry or other powered features that could inadvertently lock you out, use a manual key or roll down a window first before disconnecting the battery. Refer to the owner's manual for dead battery situations.

Roadmaster 766 Specifications

General

Brand	Roadmaster
Model	766
Category	Cables and connectors
Language	English