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Topic Closedbattery disconnect
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Robwid View Drop Down
Groupie
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Joined: 31 Oct 2011
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 67 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: battery disconnect
    Posted: 22 Feb 2012 at 10:40pm
Thanks for all the good advice!
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HuronSailor View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
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Joined: 10 Jun 2009
Location: Owosso MI
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Posts: 704 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2012 at 3:10pm
Originally posted by Footslogger03

My original inclination was to put the key switch in-line with the "+" terminal. Is everyone certain that the correct wire to use is the "-" terminal   ...

In my experience with boats, the generally accepted way to install the switch is to put it in the "+" line. In "The Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual" by Nigel Calder (a boatyard bible of sorts) every schematic that includes a cutoff switch shows it in the "+" side. The same is true in every drawing in "Boatowner's Illustrated Handbook of Wiring" by Charlie Wing, another respected reference. The ABYC (American Boat and Yacht Council) standards for boat wiring say in section 11.7.1.2.1. "A battery switch shall be installed in the positive conductor(s) from each battery or battery bank." So that's the way I do it. So there.

But whats the reason? In an AC installation you want the ground to be continuous, so switching the hot side makes sense. But really, that has nothing to do with the DC system on your RV, so either the "+" or the "-" side should work for the pod. 

I've heard boatyard arguments for both sides, but I've only seen one boat with a cutoff switch on the "-" side. It was at least 20 years old and hadn't caught fire yet, ha.
.: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :.
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furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb 2012 at 4:13pm
Based on the shape of the key and price, that looks exactly like the one I have. I added a lanyard so the key is affixed to the battery box body. I put mine in the + side. It's DC, I don't think it makes a difference, but I know the factory installed one on our other camper is also on the + line, so that is why I used that line.
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smarsh102 View Drop Down
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Joined: 06 Mar 2011
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Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Feb 2012 at 9:55pm
I would put the switch on the negative wire. Why? Because it is always safer to disconnect the negative wire first. If you accidentally touch the frame of your trailer while undoing the Positive lead on your battery, sparks will fly and possibly weld your wrench to the trailer and cause a fire (if your negative wire is attached) if you have disconnected the negative first nothing will happen. However if you touch the frame of your trailer while undoing the negative wire nothing will happen (even with the positive wire attached).  So it should be standard practice to disconnect your Negative wire first. The opposite is true for the install. Positive wire first then negative.

Electrically it makes no difference.

I haven't done the switch mod yet but am planning to this spring right after I buy 2 batteries and will be switching the negative wire.
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