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Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?
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56D500boy
Posted 2018-07-26 1:02 PM (#567224)
Subject: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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I just bought one of these at Walmart. The instructions suggest that it should be connected to the negative terminal. Does that make sense?




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wizard
Posted 2018-07-26 1:13 PM (#567226 - in reply to #567224)
Subject: Re: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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I'm positive that you shall connect it to negative
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Old Ray
Posted 2018-07-26 3:30 PM (#567236 - in reply to #567224)
Subject: RE: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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I think it should go on the positive, that is what I am going to do. I also wish I could remember all the reasons why !
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Lancer Mike
Posted 2018-07-26 3:52 PM (#567238 - in reply to #567236)
Subject: RE: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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I have mine connected to the negative.  It is a negative cutoff switch - I am not sure what a positive connection would do.  Maybe it would work just fine, maybe the whole car would go ka-blouie! 

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wizard
Posted 2018-07-26 4:37 PM (#567243 - in reply to #567224)
Subject: Re: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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In practice, it does not matter where in the circuit you break the power if you want to make a system powerless, but there are exceptions.

If the disconnector is located in a different location than in the space where the battery is located and therefore must have a cable between the battery and the separator. Then, the discnnector should be connected to the negative pole of the battery.
The reason for this is that if you pull a positive cable (in a minus car) directly from the battery to the disconnector, this cable is unprotected by the disconnector. Should this cable cause damage to the insulation and ground to the body, short circuit occurs and then the disconnector is ineffective since the short circuit is in front of the separator.
For this reason, the separator (this also applies to fuses) should be as close to the battery as possible.

Most disconnectors is designed to be mounted battery's negative pole which has a smaller diameter.


Also, every fsm always state that the negative Cable should be disconnected before any electrical work is done on a car.



Remember, the disconnector only protects your electrical system while the car is parked…………


This was the reason why the fuse links was invented…………………..
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ttotired
Posted 2018-07-26 4:38 PM (#567244 - in reply to #567224)
Subject: Re: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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It should go on the negative, you will notice that the neg post is smaller than the pos post, so there not really interchangeable, although
that said, I have fixed a few cars with batteries that were fitted backwards.

Electrically, it makes no difference which side you isolate, but normally, its done on the neg side to reduce the chances of short circuits (not much chance with this style) and
because there is normally less wiring to the neg post

As for the terminal isolators like that, they can give trouble and I personally wouldn't use one, but they do work and are more aesthetically pleasing than a real isolator switch

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60 dart
Posted 2018-07-26 5:15 PM (#567248 - in reply to #567224)
Subject: Re: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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if one is careful disconnecting and connecting the oem cable , it's easier and faster than the fancy coupling . i just don't like the fancy so called fast disconnect ............ period! --------------------------------------------------later
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51coronet
Posted 2018-07-26 6:53 PM (#567253 - in reply to #567248)
Subject: Re: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?


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Another reason is you are more likely to be at the negative polarity than the positive when working on the car. Just by leaning on the car this is true. Current flows with that difference of potential so say it was on the positive side, you are working on the positive and therefore at positive polarity and lean on the car you now complete the circuit and enough current can flow to be dangerous depending on multiple variables. Bottom line its safer on the negative side.
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57chizler
Posted 2018-07-28 5:18 PM (#567339 - in reply to #567253)
Subject: Re: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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I've used the shutoff switch in the OP and the choice of terminals is a matter of convenience. In all my FL cars the positive terminal is at the rear of the battery and easier to hook up and access.

Also, I hate the look of the battery terminal clamped on that switch, I prefer to drill and tap the existing hole in the switch and attach the cable with a ring terminal and bolt.
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Old Ray
Posted 2018-07-28 6:21 PM (#567341 - in reply to #567224)
Subject: RE: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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I think I remembered why it should be on the positive terminal of the battery;

If it is on the negative terminal any accidental contact with that terminal and ANY ground would complete the circuit and turn on anything possible (fingers in blower fan);
For the circuit to be completed with the switch on the positive terminal the accidental contact would have to be from the battery across the disconnect switch.
Much higher probability with the negative side, with more opportunity for Mr. Murphy.

This is the one I am going to use, the handle can be removed as a theft deterrent.





(battery switch.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments battery switch.jpg (201KB - 139 downloads)
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56D500boy
Posted 2018-08-03 8:15 PM (#567757 - in reply to #567224)
Subject: RE: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?



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56D500boy - 2018-07-26 1:02 PM

I just bought one of these at Walmart. The instructions suggest that it should be connected to the negative terminal. Does that make sense?


After hearing the pro's and con's of negative vs positive, I realized that the disconnect that I bought only works on the negative terminal so that is where I installed it, as shown below:

By the way, if anybody has a lead on an OE battery hold down, please let me know, this generic one is starting to annoy me.





(WalmartSchumacherSwanTerminalDisconnectInstalled.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments WalmartSchumacherSwanTerminalDisconnectInstalled.jpg (179KB - 145 downloads)
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rebel
Posted 2018-08-03 8:49 PM (#567763 - in reply to #567224)
Subject: RE: Adding a battery disconnect switch - which post?


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I looked for years for an original battery hold down without any luck. I finally fabricated my own, based only on pictures. The hardest part was the formed pieces at the hold down bolts. The rest was simple. I made it out of 16 gauge sheet metal and then had it powder coated with the rubbery type powder coat, just like the original.
Bob



(Chrysler battery hold down 001.JPG)



(Chrysler battery hold down 002.JPG)



(Chrysler battery hold down 005.JPG)



(Chrysler battery hold down 006.JPG)



(Chrysler battery hold down 007.JPG)



Attachments
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Attachments Chrysler battery hold down 001.JPG (105KB - 153 downloads)
Attachments Chrysler battery hold down 002.JPG (106KB - 141 downloads)
Attachments Chrysler battery hold down 005.JPG (99KB - 147 downloads)
Attachments Chrysler battery hold down 006.JPG (96KB - 154 downloads)
Attachments Chrysler battery hold down 007.JPG (131KB - 148 downloads)
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