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David and Danette View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Nov 2009
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Posts: 1214 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Battery Disconnect
    Posted: 16 May 2014 at 8:17pm
    I just installed a battery cut off switch and searching the internet on the subject I chose the negative terminal. One of the main reasons because I read that  Forest River trailers with factory installed switches, they were connected to the negative terminal. I would think they would be correct for what reason they chose the negative terminal is unknown to me. But I did read that some would say negative and some would say positive.
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab


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Sleepless View Drop Down
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Posts: 556 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 May 2014 at 10:52pm
I disconnect the negative terminal only because I have an addition cable for the electric tongue jack connected to the positive terminal. 
2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD)
2009 Chevrolet Avalanche
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Luv2Q View Drop Down
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Posts: 309 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 2014 at 1:18pm
For two batteries, do I need a 2-battery disconnect?  (Saw one advertised at Camping World.)

Seems to me that a single disconnect should suffice.  I.e., I'm putting a break in the circuit so no matter how many batteries there are, the circuit is broken.  Ergo, they're disconnected.

Am I thinking right on this?  Will appreciate your suggestions, comments.
John & Teri
Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180
E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 2014 at 3:07pm
depends on how you have them wired, if the are currently wired as a single circuit, a regular single cut off will work. The 2 battery disconnects are for people who are, or want to, use the batteries singly, as two separate circuits, selectable. The idea on that is you can't run BOTH batteries dead at the same time, without trying..lol
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Luv2Q View Drop Down
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Posts: 309 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 2014 at 10:06pm
Originally posted by furpod

depends on how you have them wired, if the are currently wired as a single circuit, a regular single cut off will work. The 2 battery disconnects are for people who are, or want to, use the batteries singly, as two separate circuits, selectable. The idea on that is you can't run BOTH batteries dead at the same time, without trying..lol

Sorry .. Should have been more clear.  They're 12 v wired in parallel.  That qualifies as a single circuit, yes?
John & Teri
Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180
E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2014 at 9:38am
Originally posted by Luv2Q

Originally posted by furpod

depends on how you have them wired, if the are currently wired as a single circuit, a regular single cut off will work. The 2 battery disconnects are for people who are, or want to, use the batteries singly, as two separate circuits, selectable. The idea on that is you can't run BOTH batteries dead at the same time, without trying..lol

Sorry .. Should have been more clear.  They're 12 v wired in parallel.  That qualifies as a single circuit, yes?


Yes. We also run 2 12vs in parallel..

We put ours in the top of the box..



I could have sworn I had a picture of the underneath.. will have to find it.. But the switch is just an in-line affair. Hook the cable from the trailer to one side, a cable from the battery to the other post. I have mine on the positive side, either works, both have advantages and disadvantages..
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Podster View Drop Down
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Posts: 1108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2014 at 1:09pm
"We put ours in the top of the box.."

Very nice...clean mod. Does it hamper the inspection/service of the battery? How difficult is is now to completely removed the top of the battery case?
Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178
(1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity)
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2014 at 3:27pm
No problem at all. Unless by "completely remove" you mean "set lid on truck hood"... There is enough cable to move the cover up and out of the way. Battery maintenance is pretty minimal, thanks to the pod having a pretty decent converter/charger from the factory. In four years I once added about a tablespoon of water to most of the cells. Our pod is pretty much plugged i all the time, unless towing or boondocking.
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Posts: 139 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Oct 2014 at 7:32pm
Worked well for me!
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