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Topic ClosedBattery Issues

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techntrek View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery Issues
    Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 6:03pm
Are you positive, or being negative about it?  This subject is very charged.

Tongue
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 5:58am
Originally posted by Tars Tarkas


This is an interesting subject to Google, if you're interested in this kind of thing.  There are strong opinions on both sides of the argument.
TT

Actually, there are 3 sides to the argument. After doing more research by asking "the Google" I've come to the opinion that if you asked 3 "experts" you'd get 3 different answers:
  1. Positive
  2. Negative 
  3. It really doesn't matter one way or the other
I'm inclined to side with expert #3

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jun 2015 at 12:11am
I'd probably put the switch on the positive side if I were to install one, just because that's where most people put it and therefore, if the occasion ever arose, that's probably where they'd look for it if they had to.

The NHRA is concerned with spilled gasoline and cutting off engines after wrecks and they require battery cutoffs on the dash where they are easily accessible by rescuers. 

The idea of a wrench or screwdriver shorting things out doesn't apply once a switch is installed, unless you really make an effort to short the circuit.  Once the switch is flipped on the positive or negative side the circuit is open and there are no more electrons to cause sparks.

The fact that electricity flows from the negative side of the battery to the positive kind of argues for switching the negative side -- cutting off the electricity at the source, but they all stop moving no matter where the circuit is opened. 

This is an interesting subject to Google, if you're interested in this kind of thing.  There are strong opinions on both sides of the argument.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 10:22pm
Doesn't the antenna booster draw a lot of electricity also? I can't remember if it can even turn on unless the Pod is plugged into a power source. I also turn off the backlighting on the radio as well.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 10:21pm
I have done low voltage alarm systems for 20+ years and the only way to be certain is to yank the positive lead.  You can still complete a circuit downstream with a screwdriver touching a terminal too close too the edge of a j box and make some sparks.  

Best to think of batteries as little electrical bombs.  A small 12AH battery will give you 1 amp for 12 hours, 2 amps for 6 hours, 3 amps for 4 hours or a metric buttload of amps for just a few seconds.  I accidentally spot welded a wrench to my motorcycle frame years ago being careless while disconnecting the small battery.  

I hesitate to think what a big RV battery can weld.  Then again I'm an n00b to RV's...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 10:00pm
NHRA rule is on the positive side.  Positive side seems to be the norm for the RV industry.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 4:54pm
Originally posted by CharlieM

 Either lead is OK though convention is to put it in the positive lead. 

Not to be a contrarian, but I just installed a cutoff switch on my 178 dual bank and all my research recommends using the negative side for safety issues. See Youtube video below:









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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 10:34am
The cutoff switch goes in one of the lines from the battery bank to the trailer. Doing so will disconnect both batteries, whether they are two sixes or two twelves. Either lead is OK though convention is to put it in the positive lead. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jun 2015 at 10:01am
just spent an hour searching and hogone cant find.  planning on purchasing the cut-off switch furpod has.  so does it get connected to just one of the batteries or both?  just a little confused as always!!!!  hogone
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2015 at 8:45am
Originally posted by Appocalexx

What kind of batteries are they, I have also read that some people have been given the wronge type of battery from the dealers, sometimes they are given dual purpose batteries and not the stand alone deep cycle batteries. Im actually looking into the dual 6 Volt batteries right now for myself due to them having a longer life span and longer hours of usage for the dry camping.

I don't think I know of single RV dealer that gives true Deap Cycle batteries with the RV. They are really expensive. Most give Marine RV Batteries or dual purpose as you call it. 
Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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