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=4684
Printed Date: 09 Jun 2025 at 9:20pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Battery Disconnect
Posted By: cody91
Subject: Battery Disconnect
Date Posted: 05 May 2014 at 9:28am
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I'm planning to mount a battery disconnect switch directly to my battery box. Does it matter if I configure the switch to disconnect the positive or negative cable? Also, does it matter what gauge cable I run from the switch to the battery? It looks like the main battery cables are 6 gauge. Thanks. |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 May 2014 at 12:04pm
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Put the disconnect on the positive side. Go as large as you can with the wiring, but don't worry if you can't use the same size as the existing wiring. The new wiring has a very short run and you aren't running a high- amperage appliance like a starter so there won't be much of a voltage drop with smaller wiring. I used a pre-wired weatherproof fuse that had 12 gauge wire, but I don't worry about it since the new wire is only a few inches long. ------------- 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: cody91
Date Posted: 05 May 2014 at 1:51pm
Thanks. I was having trouble finding 6 gauge wire. Cody91 |
Posted By: outermostpod
Date Posted: 05 May 2014 at 2:00pm
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I was able to find the correct wire at West Marine. They had a short length of 6 gauge with connectors already attached. Probably most marine places would have it though. You can order any length any gauge you want from Westmarine.com Connected to a marine-grade battery cutoff switch to the positive side.
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Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 05 May 2014 at 5:17pm
Just use a couple of http://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/Schumacher-BAF-424S-Switch-to-Starter-Battery-Cable/6000088282941 - starter cables - they're perfect for the job and available most everywhere automotive parts are sold.
------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 May 2014 at 9:47pm
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Very cheap at Walmart, I used about 18 of them to connect a bunch of deep cycle batteries I had for years. ------------- 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: Seanl
Date Posted: 06 May 2014 at 7:48am
I was just going to say that I converted my Rig over for Dual battery and I used starter cables to connect them. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 06 May 2014 at 8:34am
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I recently went to dual (6v.) batteries too and found starter cable on sale @ Tractor Supply for $5.99! Bargain. Yesterday, I bought 40' of 10AWG thin stand for adding a couple more 12v. outlets. Home Depot - $0.39 a foot. Thought that was a pretty good deal too. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 06 May 2014 at 9:45am
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If anyone is coming through MD you are welcome to some of the ones I have. I dismantled my big battery bank last year (which I used http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?12962-Using-a-Prius-as-a-generator - with this system ) when it died and now I use a much smaller one. No need for those cables. ------------- 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: fwunder
Date Posted: 06 May 2014 at 9:54am
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Wow Doug. That is so cool! What died? The Prius or the UPS? I get "the look" when I just walk around my wife's car - not brave enough to do what you did. Now I gotto look up the towing capacity of a Tesla! fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 06 May 2014 at 1:31pm
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The big battery bank died after 4 1/2 years. I bought cheap batteries so I only expected it to last 5 years, so I got close. At that point I modified the Prius to power the UPS and it made much more $ sense to use that for long-term base loads than to spend the big $$$ to replace the big battery bank.
The Prius burns about 0.13 gallons/hr to power my house, and I just ran a test last weekend with my new inverter-generator Honda and it was about 0.15. Far cheaper than replacing that big battery bank for overnight and daytime use. ------------- 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: Tbslants
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2014 at 11:44am
| Newbie to R-POD..The switch instruction said to connect it to the negative side...is that an issue? Does it matter which side?Thanks |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2014 at 1:57pm
Electrically there's not much difference between positive or negative. Convention usually dictates disconnecting the positive as Techntrek suggests. From a safety standpoint some suggest disconnecting the negative cable in a vehicle. This is because a loose negative cable hitting the frame or chassis of the vehicle will do no damage, but a positive cable hitting the vehicle chassis could cause a short circuit. This is only a problem if there is another source of current such as a running alternator or on-board converter/charger. For permanent installation I prefer the disconnect in the positive side. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Tbslants
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 8:45am
Thanks CharlieM 
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