Battery Disconnect Question

[Jimylee in VA]

I have a Ford 8N that is still 6 Volt, Positive Ground. I want to put a battery disconnect on it. Does it matter if the disconnect is attached to the positive terminal or the negative terminal? I think it would be best on the positve terminal, but most disconnects I find on Ebay or Amazon are made for negative terminals.

 

[Keith True]

The disconnect should always be on the ground side.Positive or negative,doesn't matter,but on the ground side.If you put it on the hot side,and you have a problem between the battery post and the switch,or in the switch itself,you can have a short to ground,and have a real problem.If it is on the ground side and has a problem,it will just quit,no real harm.On things that sit around a lot I have had a lot of trouble with those little screw type switches with a knob on top.They might look good,but they corrode internally.I avoid those things like the plague.

 

[Jimylee in VA]

I guess that is why all the disconnects are made with the small posts and holes. Everything is negative ground on newer vehicles now, so the disconnects are made for only negative ground.

 

[JMOR]

Use this type and battery post size/shape/etc. won't matter.

 

[Jimylee in VA]

Sorry, I have never seen one like that before. Where did you get that one?

 

[Texgasser1]

What is the point of a battery disconnect. Bought an old lawn tractor with one on it.

 

[Jimylee in VA]

I don't use the tractor much and it sits for long periods of time. I want to prevent the battery going down.

 

[Fawteen]

What is the point of a battery disconnect. Bought an old lawn tractor with one on it.

Parasitic draws will eventually cause a dead battery and can be a real challenge to find. For a rarely used vehicle, or one that you just can't find the problem, a disconnect is a great work-around.

 

[wore out]

Use this type and battery post size/shape/etc. won't matter.
View attachment 118883

JMOR's battery disconnect is HUGELY superior to the ones mounted on a battery post that battery acid, dirt, and debris will eventually work their way into creating a current leakage path that will eventually render the disconnect USELESS.

 

[Jim.ME]

A battery disconnect can lessen the chance of rodent chewed or cracked, failing insulation allowing a short circuit leading to a fire.

Used on some equipment as a security measure. mounted out of site and off it can hinder a thief, especially those with a removable key.

 

[4wdtom]

A battery disconnect can lessen the chance of rodent chewed or cracked, failing insulation allowing a short circuit leading to a fire.

Used on some equipment as a security measure. mounted out of site and off it can hinder a thief, especially those with a removable key.

I also like the idea of them (don't have anything with them though), as an emergency cut off in case of a short and electrical smoke starts showing up.

 

[JD Dave]

Best to disconnect the ground side with a high quality switch.

 

[Hobo,NC]

This what I use now

Latest Battery Disconnect

I could not find the disconnect I usually use so settled for this one. Amazon Battery Switch, 12V 24V 48V Battery Disconnect Master Cutoff Switch for Marine Boat RV ATV UTV Vehicles, Waterproof Heavy Duty Battery Isolator Switch (On/Off) It is a lot more work to drill and tap it fits...

forums.yesterdaystractors.com

This is the one i use on automotive so far so good. Amazon

High Current Battery Disconnect Switch 12V 500A, Universal Battery Kill Switch for Car Engineering Vehicle Truck RV Trailer, Manual Battery Cut Shut Off Switch​

https://www.amazon.com/Current-Battery-Disconnect-Universal-Engineering/dp/B0B129WYBZ

 

[Brendon-KS]

From the electricity's perspective it doesn't matter which side the disconnect is on. Either way breaks the circuit between the positive and negative battery posts and the same result is achieved - a fully isolated battery. You'll find people arguing for one way or the other but ultimately it doesn't matter.

 

[Tony in SD]

With a vintage tractor like the 8N, it doesn’t really matter. But if there is aftermarket electronic equipment, you may want to be careful. In a former life, i installed and repaired electronic equipment on many different types of vehicles. Most do not care which lead is opened first but some circuits do. The ones that do, have a catastrophic ending when the ground is lifted first.

 

[RJKeith]

I don't use the tractor much and it sits for long periods of time. I want to prevent the battery going down.

I always just remove the negative (grounded) cable. If you want to keep the battery from going down, you might consider a battery maintainer. I found a 2A solar one on Amazon and it will bring back a dead battery. Takes a few days.

 

[Hobo,NC]

I have a Ford 8N that is still 6 Volt, Positive Ground. I want to put a battery disconnect on it. Does it matter if the disconnect is attached to the positive terminal or the negative terminal? I think it would be best on the positve terminal, but most disconnects I find on Ebay or Amazon are made for negative terminals.

I was getting them from Northern Tool but they don't list them any more. I went with ones I found on Amazon google this. Recently they added a volt meter to the switch "LIKE" ; ) The ones from Northern were a Tee Handel pull and twist unlike the ones that have a key that I don't like.

Upgrade Battery Disconnect Switch with Voltmeter, DC 5-60V Master Isolator Cut/Shut Off Switch for Marine Boat Car Truck Camper RV Trailer Vehicles Engine Application (On/Off)​

I have installed in the second google link on automotive applications that use a push button they are not HD I have yet had an issue with them.

High Current Battery Disconnect Switch 12V 500A, Universal Battery Kill Switch for Car Engineering Vehicle Truck RV Trailer, Manual Battery Cut Shut Off Switch​

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