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cody91
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Joined: 12 Feb 2014
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Topic: Battery Disconnect Posted: 15 May 2014 at 9:47am |
For those of you who have installed a battery disconnect switch on their Pod, which side of the battery terminal (Positive or Negative) did you install it on and why? Thanks, Cody91
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outermostpod
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Posted: 15 May 2014 at 10:21am |
positive side because that's what the instructions said to do!
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techntrek
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Posted: 15 May 2014 at 10:43am |
Positive, since the frame of the pod is connected to negative.
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cody91
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Posted: 15 May 2014 at 1:53pm |
Thanks for the responses. It seems to me that there may also be advantages to connecting the switch to the negative side (i.e. reduced risk of sparks, etc.).
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ToolmanJohn
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Posted: 15 May 2014 at 7:36pm |
Also just be aware, you will be disconnecting the positive feed for the trailer breakaway switch for the trailer brakes. Get a hard wired positive feed installed for your breakaway, if you tow with the positive (+) battery disconnect switch off, you have NO emergency trailer brakes.
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techntrek
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Posted: 15 May 2014 at 8:31pm |
That's one reason I have a short checklist taped to the inside of one of the cabinet doors, one for just before taking off, one for when we get into camp.
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Markus5
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Posted: 15 May 2014 at 9:39pm |
Does the disconnect have any other effects that might not be expected? The breakaway note was appreciated. For example, will the clock go back 12:00?
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ToolmanJohn
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Posted: 15 May 2014 at 10:02pm |
Originally posted by Markus5
Does the disconnect have any other effects that might not be expected? The breakaway note was appreciated. For example, will the clock go back 12:00? |
The microwave clock....Yes...It does on mine anyway. I keep a battery powered LCD alarm clock in the Pod. And my cell phone.
Also the propane detector will not work, it is run of the Pod battery, not a 9V battery like the smoke alarm.
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Budward
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Posted: 16 May 2014 at 5:43am |
I always put a cutoff in the positive wire. Actually I use a DC circuit breaker that also functions as a switch.
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2014 179
Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel
Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle!
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techntrek
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Posted: 16 May 2014 at 8:05am |
Markus, the microwave clock (and the clock on the tv if it is an AC model) will always be reset when you unplug the pod. The pod's battery doesn't run them. The only other potential gotcha is if you leave your pod unplugged most of the time, you still must charge the battery at least once a month to prevent damage. This means plugging it back in overnight - but if you forget to also reconnect the battery then it will all be for nothing.
To be clearer about putting the disconnect on the positive or negative - disconnects, fuses and breakers are ALWAYS on the positive connection for negative-grounded systems. Almost all cars and campers are today, only very old cars used positive-grounded systems.
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