Battery disconnect pics

[wwsmith111]

When working with batteries it is recommended to disconnect the negative terminal first. That way one doesn't have to worry about shorting the positive side cables to ground when one takes them loose. Since my dual batteries have several cables going to the plus side including my inverter cables and dual battery cables I'm going to install a disconnect switch on the negative side which has only one cable and goes to ground. It isn't going to hurt to leave everything else hooked up including the fuse since by removed the negative connection to ground everything is electrically dead and isolates the batteries.

 

[cvclub]

Newbie question, why bother with a switch in the first place? Are you concerned about phantom drain,etc??

I also notice, you have a locking system for the batteries? Are batteries a high theft item?

Thx!

 

[Crabman]

Newbie question, why bother with a switch in the first place? Are you concerned about phantom drain,etc??

I also notice, you have a locking system for the batteries? Are batteries a high theft item?

Thx!

Yes there are parasitic drains on the battery, in fact it will die in one to two weeks if left connected without being plugged into shore power. I learned this one the hard way on my previous trailer.

 

[cvclub]

I like your locking system....can you explain your design? Also like the digital readout...did you give any thought to placing the switch inside vs outside?

 

[jwunsch]

My battery has a fuse weatherproof cap along the battery. I pulled the fuse out and the lights still comes on. Where can I kill the battery in storage. I don't want to drain the battery.

 

[jtownstumpjumper]

I like your locking system....can you explain your design? Also like the digital readout...did you give any thought to placing the switch inside vs outside?

This is the way I made my battery locking devices....you might want something stronger than aluminum...Bought a 1/8" X 1 1/2" X 8 ft. flat aluminum from Home Depot...bent and formed it around battery box...I did use a 1 1/2" hinge in one corner to make it easier to put on and take off...realize I'm only keeping out the not so good thief but maybe it'll turn them away because they'll have to do some work to get to them.......also, placed the lock on the back side near the bottom of the batteries just to make it a little more difficult to get in and cut or saw anything.

 

[fmichaels]

Here's what I did.