How to Disconnect House Batteries

[MSB68]

You would think I would remember after all these years, but I forgot! What is the sequence used to disconnect the house batteries? I can't remember if you disconnect the negative sides first, or the positive sides first. I will be storing them in my garage and using a Battery Minder on them for the winter.

[Hutch333id]

Negative side first.

[TexasBob]

Originally Posted by Hutch333id

Negative side first.

X2

[pgandw]

From an electrical point of view, it doesn't matter.

From a safety point of view, some say to remove the negative first since the negative side is grounded to the chassis. This avoids, while removing the positive lead, your metal wrench contacting a portion of metal (not the other battery post) that is grounded to the negative post, creating a major sparks shower.

I personally don't worry about the order too much from having worked on live circuits (usually more than 12V). I just make sure the end of my wrench and my hand do not touch other metal (including the other live terminal, which is usually the easiest thing to touch inadvertently) while removing wires.

Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 (A-frame)
2008 Hyundai Entourage (minivan)

[Ford Idaho]

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The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

Negative connector first and last.

[gordonsick]

Originally Posted by Hutch333id

Negative side first.

X3

Sometimes you wind up working on a hot circuit. For example, you might wire in a charger and not be bothered (perhaps foolishly) to disconnect all of the grounds from the batteries.

So, I just take the added precaution of wearing gloves to insulate my hand, particularly my ring fingers, in case I make a mistake.

[RamblerGuy]

If you leave the house cables loose and there's any chance you will start your Georgetown, tape up the positive cable terminals. When you run the chassis engine the battery control center will energize the relay that connects the chassis battery and the coach batteries. If one of the positive cable terminals touches metal it will be grounded and you will at least get a spark. Damage could result.

The same thing could happen if you plug in to shore power. The convertor will send 12 volts to the coach battery cables.

[pmsherman]

I never use a wrench to remove battery cables. I use a socket and a composite socket driver from HFT. No chance of shorting anything out.

Phil

[Rstrahan]

Put a disconnect switch in line. That way you don't have to deal with removing battery cables.

[Bluepill]

I also always try to use a wrench that is shorter than the distance between the battery terminals.


Don't ask why....................






And you don't want to see this........................

[muddyrode]

it is safer to disconnect the negative first but does not rally matter as far as the components themself i have been the telephone switch business for 32 years working with DC power, as a lot of work is done with live current you have to watch out or you can do some welding

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Bluepill

I also always try to use a wrench that is shorter than the distance between the battery terminals.


Don't ask why....................






And you don't want to see this........................

WOW !!!
That is one HOT nut !!!

[j free]

crazy putting the neg and pos les than 1/2 inch apart. That would be a fire waiting to happen.