R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: battery disconnect
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic Closedbattery disconnect
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
smarsh102 View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 06 Mar 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: battery disconnect
    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.
Back to Top
furpod View Drop Down
Moderator Group - pHp
Moderator Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
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.
Back to Top
HuronSailor View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 10 Jun 2009
Location: Owosso MI
Online Status: Offline
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 :.
Back to Top
Robwid View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 31 Oct 2011
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 67 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Feb 2012 at 10:40pm
Thanks for all the good advice!
Back to Top
Robwid View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 31 Oct 2011
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 67 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Feb 2012 at 11:04pm
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Feb 2012 at 8:30pm
yeah, but they could raise the cost to the end-user by $9.  IMO a battery cutoff is just as essential as an LP detector.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
dsmiths View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 10 Oct 2011
Location: Southern Ind
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 866 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 2012 at 9:03pm
Cost, eg, if it costs 9 dollars per unit and We produce x amount of units per year, x times 9, you get it.
Dane and Donna Smith
2011 RP-172
2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4
lift kit
prodigy wireless brake controller
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Feb 2012 at 8:14pm
Coleman used to include a cut-off disconnect with their campers, don't know why all camper manufacturers don't do it, it is absolutely necessary.  I installed a 30 amp blade fuse holder next to my battery box.  When it is parked I pull the fuse and leave it on the counter.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
Footslogger03 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Location: Laramie, WY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 362 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2012 at 5:08pm
Originally posted by turncoat3


[COLOR=#000000 size=2">a simple battery cut off switch is to connect the ground wire to the switch listed below and use the key to disconnect the battery from the POD.  I use it and it works well without opening the battery box.  We love our 177.  We use it a lot for weekends.[/COLOR">

[COLOR=#0088ff">[/COLOR"> 


=======================
This is almost identical to the one I bought - - but haven't installed yet. Waiting for the snow to melt ?

Mine did not come with installation instructions though. 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   ...

MJ
Livin' the Dream    ...'Slogger
Back to Top
Footslogger03 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Location: Laramie, WY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 362 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Feb 2012 at 5:04pm
Originally posted by turncoat3


[COLOR=#000000 size=2">a simple battery cut off switch is to connect the ground wire to the switch listed below and use the key to disconnect the battery from the POD.  I use it and it works well without opening the battery box.  We love our 177.  We use it a lot for weekends.[/COLOR">

[COLOR=#0088ff">[/COLOR"> 

Livin' the Dream    ...'Slogger
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz