Thinking Of Installing A Battery-Disconnect Switch, Which One Is Best?

So on the house batteries I would need Two disconnects being there are two ground cables?

No, just put a single knife switch with battery neg post on one side of switch and the 2 negative wires on the other.

DOH!

So, what did you end up with?

I decided to continue living without either battery disconnect switch for now.  Part of the reason is that I have been burned from other inferior (but less critical) China-made parts.  Battery reliability is too important to me.  It's not worth any loss of sleep wondering if I'll regret installing one.  I will continue to use an 8mm wrench on the chassis battery ground terminal and leaving the house connected as I have been doing since switching to AGM batteries 5 years ago.

Ron, you don’t use your rig that often to bother with it any differently than you are now.  For those that use their rigs frequently it’s a nice feature for those 4 -6 week breaks between uses.

For those that use their rigs frequently it’s a nice feature for those 4 -6 week breaks between uses.

I understand the logic in having them.  A battery disconnect switch is not a bad idea.  It's just not for me....not yet anyway.  I might have considered the turn-knob one for the chassis battery if I knew they were top quality.  I kind-of like the concept in the design of it.  But with my luck, our rig would shut down in the worst of driving scenarios.....I imagine opening the hood to find the plastic knob cracked in half.

I completely lost faith in stuff made in the orient.

Our top level LG front load washing machine is the most ridiculous investment because it uses so little water that the clothes don't get clean.  I got around that problem by increasing the amount of water through adjusting a gizmo, just to learn that the main drive motor can't handle the increase in weight that does not require much extra effort to slosh.

Our top level Kenmore Elite fridge also made by LG, has a new "Linear Technology" compressor.  The fridge lasted us 5.5 years.  We got lucky.  Most people replace the compressor during the warranty period and then it lasts just long enough beyond the warranty period, never getting near 5.5 years of use.

Needless to say, we are 100% done with everything LG.  Unfortunately I don't believe the other brands are any different.  The best solution is "avoidance" where applicable as in the case with the battery disconnect switch.

Ron, my thought didn’t take the China side into account. Even if it was made in the states would you have a need for one? When you don’t use something often it’s some times easier to do just as you are with say the battery terminal. I know I would.   

Sorry Ron, but the turn-knob battery disconnect like I recommended is not an appliance. It is a solid piece of brass with an electrical connection that is activated by a plastic knob, yes, but if the knob failed, the connection would not.  I've had these for decades on every vehicle that should have one with no problem. It is the easiest, most efficient way to do the job...wish had I thought of it first, I'd be proud (and have a few more dollars to play with.)
Sure, you can get out a wrench and disconnect the ground cable and do the same thing I do by turning a knob.
Your choice. If you don't need one because you don't use it enough, great. But how about next year if you do use it a lot, or as a selling feature if you are done with it altogether?  You've got seven dollars to lose to prove me wrong. My wife would say it is worth it.
Dougn

After visiting 2 auto parts stores in my small town, neither had a cut off.  Ended up with amazon delivering my 2 pack sometime this morning.  Really don’t see in how they are constructed that there could be much of a problem.  Though brass looking a scratch test will determine that.  Now if my trik l start will ever get here?

I'm not understanding the concern about failure. If it fails you spend a few minutes with a wrench, take it off and put the cable back on to the battery directly. It's no different than having a dead battery. Am I missing something?

Mine came in today.  Twist knob top.  Packaging indicates came from Brazil ???  Appears to be brass in color only.  A few scratches with a knife and bare metal underneath.  But, 2 for less than $10.

Appears to be brass in color only.  A few scratches with a knife and bare metal underneath.

That was another concern of mine.  I will stay with the Ford connection for the time being.

My good battery charger has a similar condition with copper plating over cheap metal.  I am always using sand paper to clean it up.  I don't want to introduce something similar to my chassis.

I'm not understanding the concern about failure. If it fails you spend a few minutes with a wrench, take it off and put the cable back on to the battery directly. It's no different than having a dead battery. Am I missing something?

I am not concerned of the failure itself, but rather the timing of the failure.  I main concern is a failure while driving.

Installed my twist off yesterday.  It has already come in handy on the on/off trik l start install.  Pay attention to the configuration of the 2 connecting points orientation when you shop.  Made a tight fit on the one I got.

Quote from: 2 Frazzled on June 06, 2020, 08:19:01 am

I'm not understanding the concern about failure. If it fails you spend a few minutes with a wrench, take it off and put the cable back on to the battery directly. It's no different than having a dead battery. Am I missing something?

I am not concerned of the failure itself, but rather the timing of the failure.  I main concern is a failure while driving.

Obviously your choice:however, if you are driving... Your alternator will keep the engine going just fine.  Once you stop and turn engine off, then it won't start until you fix the ground.

Don