Battery cutoff switch

DelMN · Oct 23, 2021

Ok, which cable do you put the battery cut-off switch the positive(red) or negative(black). I have had a lengthy discussion about which to use but no one knew for sure. Thanks for your advice in advance!

Geo-TH,In · Oct 23, 2021

The one that's easier to get to.

matthies · Oct 23, 2021

Ground side.

Richard G. · Oct 23, 2021

I agree on the one easiest to get to, but if you have other wires coming off the hot side, I prefer the ground cable for the cutoff.
I like this type as it breaks all power on whatever cable you put it on.
Richard in NW SC

old-9 · Oct 23, 2021

The ungrounded side. Just like in your house, you do not switch off the neutral (or fuse it). joe

fixerupper · Oct 23, 2021

Ground side. It eliminates any chance of shorting something between the hot battery terminal and a nearby ground. Most of us have touched the half inch wrench to ground while loosening the battery cable bolt. Cmon on now, admit it!

the tractor vet · Oct 23, 2021

Ya install them on the ground , this is not a HOUSE . When ever your working on equipment you always unhook the GROUND, when working on car/ trucks ya always unhook the ground .

redforlife · Oct 23, 2021

Well, if it were me, I would pretend in my mind for a minute, that I was just replacing the battery cables. And then I would add the battery dis-connect switch to the easiest cable to replace. If both cables about the same (headache wise) to replace, THEN I would add it to the shortest one, with attention in regards to the location that is easiest to use the switch.
My reasoning behind this is, if you were ever to have to replace a cable or wanted to eliminate the dis-connect later on, your not sawing in half and adding connections to the hardest one to replace now. Might save you some grief down the road.

rustred · Oct 23, 2021

ok , for the ones that dont know for sure... they go on the GROUND. same deal as removing battery cables, ground is ALWAYS first to remove and last to hook up.

K in Iowa · Oct 23, 2021

I always switch the ground side if the switch is mounted to a ground like the frame. If there is a short circuit inside the switch and it's in the power side, you could have a short to ground and all the arcing that goes with that.

If it's in the ground side and a short occurs, it's a non issue.

K

504 · Oct 23, 2021

Ground side,you always hook the ground last when you install a battery(no sparks near a battery.)

timcasbolt · Oct 23, 2021

(quoted from post at 10:37:14 10/23/21) Ok, which cable do you put the battery cut-off switch the positive(red) or negative(black). I have had a lengthy discussion about which to use but no one knew for sure. Thanks for your advice in advance!

Racing sanctioning bodies have differing opinions on this question. NHRA, for example, requires the switch on the positive side. Others mandate it be on the ground. Either one works, and there is an argument to be made against each.

kcm.MN · Oct 23, 2021

Less chance of arcing if cutoff switch is connected to Negative.

Unlike what another poster commented, this is not a house. This is not AC (Alternating Current) electric.

For negative-ground vehicles, connecting to Negative terminal is normally preferred.

guido · Oct 23, 2021

DelMN,

The ground side,

Guido.

Russ from MN · Oct 23, 2021

The ground cable, regardless of polarity. I just put one on our Farmall C yesterday, Amazon, about $7.50 delivered!

DoubleO7 · Oct 23, 2021

Negative side.
I always take negative cable off first as in when swinging the wrench to get the neg. cable off you do not have to worry about contacting nearby metal.
Then you wrench the positive side and again do not have to worry about the wrench hitting the nearby metal when on the positive clamp.

55 50 Ron · Oct 23, 2021

Either one works,

I agree with Tim

timcasbolt · Oct 23, 2021

(quoted from post at 12:39:11 10/23/21) Less chance of arcing if cutoff switch is connected to Negative.

Unlike what another poster commented, this is not a house. This is not AC (Alternating Current) electric.

For negative-ground vehicles, connecting to Negative terminal is normally preferred.

here is no chance of arcing when a master disconnect is being used. None, zip, nada.

sms · Oct 23, 2021

Unless there is parasitic current draw?

timcasbolt · Oct 23, 2021

(quoted from post at 16:12:48 10/23/21) Unless there is parasitic current draw?

o. That's why we have master disconnects. (along with a few other reasons)

rustred · Oct 23, 2021

well no there cant be when things are all in good working order. lots of heavy duty equipment comes with a master switch.

kcm.MN · Oct 23, 2021

(quoted from post at 12:46:44 10/23/21)

(quoted from post at 12:39:11 10/23/21) Less chance of arcing if cutoff switch is connected to Negative.

Unlike what another poster commented, this is not a house. This is not AC (Alternating Current) electric.

For negative-ground vehicles, connecting to Negative terminal is normally preferred.

Click to expand...

here is no chance of arcing when a master disconnect is being used. None, zip, nada.

I'll try to remember to check that out sometime Tim. I know that current can jump open air, given correct circumstances. This is common with 120VAC. Not sure about 12VDC. Handheld bug zappers zap, but they use a much higher voltage.

I have a couple of blade-type battery switches. Will try to remember to do a test some time and see if I can make an arc, hooking to both + and - terminals - one at a time, of course. *lol*

Battery cutoff switch

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