Battery Disconnect Switch

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
A MF 699 is discharging the batteries when not in use. As a temporary fix we would like to install disconnect switches, there are two batteries. Is the switch normally installed on the positive terminal or the negative terminal? Seems the negative terminal would have less corrosion.
Also, can someone recommend a switch. I see many types on e-bay. The batteries are very accessible so I would like to put the switch right at the battery. Paul
 
The military used a switch like this. They were called master switches and were installed in the ground cable and this isolated the battery from being grounded. Hal
a166029.jpg
 
Battery disconnect switches are GREAT for equipment or vehicles that have a small,hard to race battery drain problem, or just simply aren"t used very often.

In the last few years, I have jumped on that bandwagon and installed several on LGT"s that see only seasonal use, and a couple of pickups, with GREAT success.

Unless someone can give a compelling reason otherwise, it really doesn"t matter WHICH side of the battery ( + or -) you install the switch on.

For those that may want to argue about that, how about the electrical systems of the 40"s, 50"s. or early 60"s that were (+) ground, for some perceived advantage... they have all fallen by the wayside and (-) ground is the norm.

So, no need to obsess over which side to install the switch on... just git 'er done!
 
that is correct, they go on the ground.
just as when you disconnect a cable from batt. the negative comes off first... standard procedure.
 
Before I spent money on a disconnect switch. I would disconnect the battery positive post and hook a battery charger to the positive cable and to the tractor frame. This will give you how much current is being drawn and can tell you what may be drawing the amps. Then I would start pulling fuses and watch to see if the charger goes to zero. Once it goes to zero you found what is drawing your battery down. I would look at what is always hot like a voltage regulator, cigarette lighter if it has one, light switch for head lights or dome light.
 
(quoted from post at 14:19:30 08/16/14) A MF 699 is discharging the batteries when not in use. As a temporary fix we would like to install disconnect switches, there are two batteries. Is the switch normally installed on the positive terminal or the negative terminal? Seems the negative terminal would have less corrosion.
Also, can someone recommend a switch. I see many types on e-bay. The batteries are very accessible so I would like to put the switch right at the battery. Paul

Flaming River master disconnects are the best We ever found, installed dozens of them on our whole fleet at Monsanto, they required them for lock out tag out purposes. Never ever had one fail, 250 amp continuos and 2500 amps for 5 seconds. All of them are on the positive cable.
 
I've installed cutout switches to the negative terminal on every military vehicle I've restored for my friend. They look like the one in Hal's pic. I don't know where he gets them. Not only can it save a battery it can prevent a possible electrical fire that can burn up your antique and all the antiques around it. Jim
 
Thanks everyone for your answers and pictures. I will likely head to Harbor Freight tomorrow. Thanks again.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top