Forum Discussion

wowens79's avatar
wowens79
Explorer III
Sep 25, 2016

Battery Disconnect ???

I want to add a disco switch so I don't have to undo the battery boxes, and disconnect the Cables all the time.

My set up is typical 2 batteries, wired in parallel. My only thing that is different is I have a residential fridge with an inverter. The way it is connected is the inverter had its own cables going directly to the battery, and I also have the normal cables going to the battery.

I'm assuming I can just connect the inverter cable and the normal cables to the switch.

Am I missing anything with this line of thinking??
  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2016
    SoundGuy wrote:

    Although this may not apply to you.............


    As you get older, things that could not POSSIBLY happen to you....DO.
    Trust me on this one. :S
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2016
    "Did you get that disconnect switch turned on"?--to traveling partner.
    "MMmrph, gedichns sure"
  • BulldawgFan's avatar
    BulldawgFan
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2016
    SoundGuy wrote:
    BulldawgFan wrote:
    Just like the guy in the "Scary, but true, hitch story" thread always hitcehs his coupler to the ball. It only takes once.


    Although this may not apply to you I'm one who prefers to manage my trailer rather than have it manage me. I've never driven off with the coupler not properly hitched to the ball and I've never driven off with the battery disconnect switch in the off position. :W


    I agree, and nor have I. However, the greater point here is that people (not you or I of course) make mistakes. People, in a rainstorm or rush, miss a step. Because of that fact, wiring the disconnect on the + side (behind the breakaway) removes the human factor.

    Again, not for you or I, we have our checklists, rituals and routines and never miss a step.
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2016
    BulldawgFan wrote:
    Just like the guy in the "Scary, but true, hitch story" thread always hitcehs his coupler to the ball. It only takes once.


    Although this may not apply to you I'm one who prefers to manage my trailer rather than have it manage me. I've never driven off with the coupler not properly hitched to the ball and I've never driven off with the battery disconnect switch in the off position. :W
  • BulldawgFan's avatar
    BulldawgFan
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2016
    SoundGuy wrote:
    spike99 wrote:
    And, connect its Emergency Break Away "+" wire directly to the battery "+" post. Thus, your trailer will have emergency brakes - if your manual switch is accidently left in the OFF position.


    I never "accidentally" leave my battery disconnect switch in the off position when towing as I always want the truck charge line supplying power back to the trailer ... always. ;)


    Just like the guy in the "Scary, but true, hitch story" thread always hitches his coupler to the ball. It only takes once.
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2016
    spike99 wrote:
    And, connect its Emergency Break Away "+" wire directly to the battery "+" post. Thus, your trailer will have emergency brakes - if your manual switch is accidently left in the OFF position.


    I never "accidentally" leave my battery disconnect switch in the off position when towing as I always want the truck charge line supplying power back to the trailer ... always. ;)
  • spike99's avatar
    spike99
    Explorer
    Sep 27, 2016
    If installing a manual battery disconnect switch, remember to install on the "+" side of the battery. And, connect its Emergency Break Away "+" wire directly to the battery "+" post. Thus, your trailer will have emergency brakes - if your manual switch is accidently left in the OFF position. If one installs on "-" post and forgets to turn ON before towing, then trailer won't have emergency break away brakes.

    re:

  • TheCusters's avatar
    TheCusters
    Explorer
    Sep 26, 2016
    Bussman Circuit Breaker


    Just get something like this and wire the fridge and inverter/converter on the outgoing side. I have one. Mounted it to the inside of the tongue, right below the batteries. Works great.
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2016
    prichardson wrote:
    The problem with sound guy's diagram is that the inverter is energized AT all times.


    I figured it would only be a matter of time before someone popped in with "expert" opinion. :R. In reality, there's no issue at all and I didn't wire it this way because I didn't consider it but because I deemed it unnecessary. If I did I'd have simply wired a disconnect switch into the inverter's input feed ... but it's not necessary in the slightest as the inverter draws zero power when turned off ... and yes, I've measured it. ;)
  • prichardson's avatar
    prichardson
    Explorer
    Sep 25, 2016
    The problem with sound guy's diagram is that the inverter is energized AT all times. I would connect it to the load side of the disconnect switch. Just be sure the switch is rated for that much load.

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