battery disconnect
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2380
Printed Date: 15 May 2025 at 6:10am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: battery disconnect
Posted By: Robwid
Subject: battery disconnect
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2012 at 10:17pm
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I'm just about to pick up my brand-spankin' new HRE 177. I went with the battery upgrade that includes 2 - 6V batteries. I'd like to put in a disconnect switch to prevent the batteries from draining during storage. Does anyone have a suggestion for a robust but simple switch or device to disconnect the batteries? Maybe I can simply disconnect the ground? Thanks in advance for the advice. Rob |
Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2012 at 5:53am
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I replaced the nuts on the battery with wingnuts. When not in use I remove the leads. I have to open the battery box, but it is simple and foolproof.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: turncoat3
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2012 at 9:39am
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http://www.amazon.com/Pico-5575pt-Master-Isolator-Switch/dp/B001RPUZS4/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1329229957&sr=8-14 -
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.
http://www.amazon.com/Pico-5575pt-Master-Isolator-Switch/dp/B001RPUZS4/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1329229957&sr=8-14
------------- Ben & Lorrie 2013 Surveyor 264 |
Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2012 at 5:01pm
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I installed the same battery cutoff switch on my battery box. The copper posts on the switch extended fairly deep into my box. I didn't want the bare posts to touch the battery posts...so I installed the switch on the side of the box where the battery posts are farthest away. No accidental chance of a large short circuit! The red key stays in the battery switch when the switch is on. So if your TV-Pod wiring allows you to charge the battery from the TV while traveling the key is in the switch. I lucked out...two keys came with the switch. I keep one as a spare in a Pod drawer, just in case the traveling key gets removed and lost.------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2012 at 5:04pm
------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2012 at 5:08pm
======================= 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 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2012 at 8:14pm
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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 ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2012 at 9:03pm
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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 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2012 at 8:30pm
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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 ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Robwid
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2012 at 11:04pm
Posted By: Robwid
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2012 at 10:40pm
| Thanks for all the good advice! |
Posted By: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2012 at 3:10pm
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 :. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2012 at 4:13pm
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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.
------------- |
Posted By: smarsh102
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2012 at 9:55pm
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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. |