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=4722
Printed Date: 14 Jun 2025 at 2:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Battery Disconnect
Posted By: cody91
Subject: Battery Disconnect
Date Posted: 15 May 2014 at 9:47am
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For those of you who have installed a battery disconnect switch on their Pod, which side of the battery terminal (Positive or Negative) did you install it on and why? Thanks, Cody91 |
Replies:
Posted By: outermostpod
Date Posted: 15 May 2014 at 10:21am
| positive side because that's what the instructions said to do! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 May 2014 at 10:43am
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Positive, since the frame of the pod is connected to negative. ------------- 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: 15 May 2014 at 1:53pm
| Thanks for the responses. It seems to me that there may also be advantages to connecting the switch to the negative side (i.e. reduced risk of sparks, etc.). |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 15 May 2014 at 7:36pm
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Also just be aware, you will be disconnecting the positive feed for the trailer breakaway switch for the trailer brakes. Get a hard wired positive feed installed for your breakaway, if you tow with the positive (+) battery disconnect switch off, you have NO emergency trailer brakes.
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 May 2014 at 8:31pm
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That's one reason I have a short checklist taped to the inside of one of the cabinet doors, one for just before taking off, one for when we get into camp.
------------- 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: Markus5
Date Posted: 15 May 2014 at 9:39pm
| Does the disconnect have any other effects that might not be expected? The breakaway note was appreciated. For example, will the clock go back 12:00? |
Posted By: ToolmanJohn
Date Posted: 15 May 2014 at 10:02pm
The microwave clock....Yes...It does on mine anyway. I keep a battery powered LCD alarm clock in the Pod. And my cell phone. Also the propane detector will not work, it is run of the Pod battery, not a 9V battery like the smoke alarm. |
Posted By: Budward
Date Posted: 16 May 2014 at 5:43am
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I always put a cutoff in the positive wire. Actually I use a DC circuit breaker that also functions as a switch. ------------- 2014 179 Towed by a 2015 Ford Transit Diesel Supervised by a German/Aussie mix and a Labradoodle! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 16 May 2014 at 8:05am
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Markus, the microwave clock (and the clock on the tv if it is an AC model) will always be reset when you unplug the pod. The pod's battery doesn't run them. The only other potential gotcha is if you leave your pod unplugged most of the time, you still must charge the battery at least once a month to prevent damage. This means plugging it back in overnight - but if you forget to also reconnect the battery then it will all be for nothing. To be clearer about putting the disconnect on the positive or negative - disconnects, fuses and breakers are ALWAYS on the positive connection for negative-grounded systems. Almost all cars and campers are today, only very old cars used positive-grounded systems. ------------- 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: David and Danette
Date Posted: 16 May 2014 at 8:17pm
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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 |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 16 May 2014 at 10:52pm
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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 |
Posted By: Luv2Q
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2014 at 1:18pm
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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 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2014 at 3:07pm
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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 ------------- |
Posted By: Luv2Q
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2014 at 10:06pm
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 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2014 at 9:38am
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.. ------------- |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2014 at 1:09pm
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"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) |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2014 at 3:27pm
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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. ------------- |
Posted By: kylekai
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2014 at 7:32pm
Worked well for me! ------------- |