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08-27-2023, 04:42 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 10
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Battery disconnect (+ or -)
So I'm installing a battery disconnect switch near the battery and I see differing answers.
Can I install it on positive as seen on a youtube video? Or as some say, should I install it on the negative?
Thanks!
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08-27-2023, 04:57 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 516
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The positive lead should be disconnected as it will de-energized 99.9% of all circuits and mishap shorts don’t occur when work is being performed.
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08-27-2023, 05:05 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Missouri
Posts: 924
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ballistic
The positive lead should be disconnected as it will de-energized 99.9% of all circuits and mishap shorts don’t occur when work is being performed.
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X2
Disconnect the hot/positive side.
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Mark B.
2021 GMC 1500
Anderson WDH
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08-27-2023, 06:04 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Payson, AZ
Posts: 3,955
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put the disconnect on the negative battery cable.
there are a couple of reasons.
if you are working and accidentally short a positive cable to ground it will not short as the ground is not connected to the battery.
most times there is only one negative cable going from the battery to the frame ground. putting the disconnect on this cable affects only one cable. almost always there are multiple positive cables going to the positive terminal. you would have to disconnect each of these multiple cables.
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08-27-2023, 06:18 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 449
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHICKDOE
put the disconnect on the negative battery cable.
there are a couple of reasons.
if you are working and accidentally short a positive cable to ground it will not short as the ground is not connected to the battery.
most times there is only one negative cable going from the battery to the frame ground. putting the disconnect on this cable affects only one cable. almost always there are multiple positive cables going to the positive terminal. you would have to disconnect each of these multiple cables.
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X2
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08-27-2023, 06:37 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CHICKDOE
put the disconnect on the negative battery cable.
there are a couple of reasons.
if you are working and accidentally short a positive cable to ground it will not short as the ground is not connected to the battery.
most times there is only one negative cable going from the battery to the frame ground. putting the disconnect on this cable affects only one cable. almost always there are multiple positive cables going to the positive terminal. you would have to disconnect each of these multiple cables.
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My trailer isn’t unique and simply put is wired similarly to most in its class. There are two ground points; one at the battery and one at the power center (that I know of). Disconnecting the main positive lead, either near the battery or near the power center, eliminates all power flow circumstances. Typically speaking for both AC/DC disconnects are always on the hot side as there is not path forward.
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08-27-2023, 07:45 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ballistic
Disconnecting the main positive lead, either near the battery or near the power center, eliminates all power flow circumstances.
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Disconnect your car battery negative (ground) cable from the battery and post what still works, electrically.
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08-27-2023, 07:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,628
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbles
Disconnect your car battery negative (ground) cable from the battery and post what still works, electrically.
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Everything will if engine's running and alternator's good.
[emoji57]
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08-27-2023, 08:25 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bubbles
Disconnect your car battery negative (ground) cable from the battery and post what still works, electrically.
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Hahaha…Trailers and vehicles are two different things. Go disconnect your negative lead on your trailer and then go drag your battery positive lead across the frame on bare metal…I’ll wait for your reply.
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08-27-2023, 08:29 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Southern NM
Posts: 9,732
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Wow.
It really doesn't matter at all, positive or negative side interrupt, as long as the circuit is disrupted.
I almost always put the disconnect on the ground side as it is usually easier, and 1 cable vs several.
But, do what makes sense to you, as you are the one who has to use it.
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08-27-2023, 08:43 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 516
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Battery disconnect (+ or -)
Quote:
Originally Posted by NMWildcat
Wow.
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I was thinking the same thing.
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08-27-2023, 09:39 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 87
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This is used on the negative post
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08-27-2023, 10:11 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 7,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike
Everything will if engine's running and alternator's good.[emoji57]
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That's true but that would mean the trailer would have to be on shore power though and I thought it was for storage.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ballistic
Hahaha…Trailers and vehicles are two different things. Go disconnect your negative lead on your trailer and then go drag your battery positive lead across the frame on bare metal…I’ll wait for your reply.
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A battery is a battery. Disconnect the negative lead from your trailer battery (no shore power) and drag the positive battery lead across the chassis and if you get sparks you need to let someone know so the batteries can be made without that pesky negative post and associated cable along with all 12Vdc systems power return wiring.
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08-28-2023, 01:33 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,213
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I suppose it depends on what kind of disconnect you will use. If you are installing a disconnect that mounts on one of the battery posts, probably better to use the negative side. If you are installing a downstream version that has a removable key, then I would use the positive. That is how Rockwood/Flagstaff installed mine. It is on the A-Frame under the propane tanks. There are several leads hooked to the downstream side of the switch. It looks like one of these:
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08-28-2023, 01:57 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 10
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Thanks all, I think I'll put it on the positive.
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08-28-2023, 03:38 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 449
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Animize
Thanks all, I think I'll put it on the positive.
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Same switch I have, clearly shows it wired on the negative side. Like it's been said, six of one-half dozen of another, do what makes you happy. 
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08-28-2023, 04:07 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by latner
Same switch I have, clearly shows it wired on the negative side. Like it's been said, six of one-half dozen of another, do what makes you happy. |
The OP is running a single battery setup. Photos are worth a thousand words, however it’s the few words under the photo that make the difference.
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08-28-2023, 04:56 PM
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#18
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ballistic
Attachment 292029
The OP is running a single battery setup. Photos are worth a thousand words, however it’s the few words under the photo that make the difference.
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Thats for the drawing below which shows two batteries.
The single settup clearly shows it on the negative side,
But this video shows same switch installed on positive side.
Hence my confusion.
https://youtu.be/Qn1gx3ZG9S0?feature=shared
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08-28-2023, 05:21 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2021
Posts: 516
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Fair enough.
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08-28-2023, 06:30 PM
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#20
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Pickin', Campin', Mason
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,511
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These threads are always fun but the truth is... it does not matter.
Electrons can't magically jump/flow from a disconnected post (either one) to complete a circuit from the battery. Doesn't matter if you touch a wrench/screwdriver to a hot lead somewhere in the R/V (and also to ground) if the ground cable is disconnected/isolated from the battery. There simply can't be current flow through a cable where the positive or negative is not connected to a power source. (battery)
Put it on either side that is most convenient.
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