Battery Disconnect ???

[wowens79]

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]

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]

"Did you get that disconnect switch turned on"?--to traveling partner.
"MMmrph, gedichns sure"

[BulldawgFan]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[Sam_Spade]

wowens79 wrote:
I want to add a disco switch so I don't have to undo the battery boxes, and disconnect the Cables all the time.

Am I missing anything with this line of thinking??

Maybe.
I'm not sure what that first sentence really involves but you can completely disconnect the batteries, electrically, just by disconnecting everything from the negative battery posts.
Everything else can be left in place.

[downtheroad]

wowens79 wrote:
I want to add a disco switch

This is the "disco switch" we have in our rig. (sorry, I couldn't resist)...:B

[SoundGuy]

wowens79 wrote:
I'm assuming I can just connect the inverter cable and the normal cables to the switch.

That's how I do it.