How to Install a Master Battery Disconnect Switch on a Travel Trailer or RV

In this video I demonstrate how to install and battery disconnect switch on a travel trailer with external deep cycle batteries. By installing this switch it will help conserve your battery life while in storage and help to save your deep cycle battery's life.
Switch- amzn.to/3S9sLKo
Cable- amzn.to/3YL7glv
Please like and subscribe!

[@RedneckChamp]

Just what I needed for a camper I'm about to pick up. Thanks for the informative but precise video!

[@alexsegal5653]

Thank you! I thought my disconnect switch was not properly hooked up. But your mention that the lights will draw from the tow vehicle battery solved my issue.

[@dennisfrancis1126]

Thanks for the info. BTW, any idea what size the smaller threaded post is on the battery? I see where it gives different size lug hole options for the cable

[@chasetan1059]

From what I red you should hook the disconnect to the negative. Great video though

[@chasetan1059]

I was wrong it should be the positive you were right all along! Sorry

[@ridge69]

​@chasetan1059 no, you're right. Always hook these to the ground

[@bobjensen361]

Read lol

[@keithhall8862]

If you look at Grainger and McMaster-Carr battery cut-off switches, they are all designed for the NEGATIVE polarity.

[@georgehayduke6717]

Placement depends on where you want to put it !!!still good info

[@G_RAThbun]

I see you ran your positive wire through the switch. Is there a reason you did that rather than the ground wire?

[@Jeffrey7348]

So how would i attach my electric tongue jack to the disconnect? It only has 1 wire and is currently wired to positive terminal on my 1 battery. I don't like that because its always hot. Id like it hooked to my disconnect switch so i can shut off like rest of camper?

[@theodoremckenzie5491]

Did you install fuses for protection

[@sunroy1]

Which side of battery (positive or negative) is an ongoing argument in the rv world, but professionals say it should go on positive side! 😮

[@charleshansen3393]

As an Electrician I agree. Positive it is.

[@2hotscottpro]

@@charleshansen3393hey I’m wanting to isolate 2 bat banks with 1 shutoff switch.And Y from Solar charge controller to the second shutoff switch to select which bat bank gets charged. Have 2 90ah agm bat in front and 1 100ah lithium in a outside closet .I guess hook both banks up to inverter and just switch between banks.I’ll also have to switch the charge controller between agm n lithium for proper charge.Sound right?

[@MoroniGivens-jq9mi]

neg on rv positive boat. If you put tool on positive against frame bzzzzz,.

[@scottzimmerman6485]

they sell the disconnects in black , I would get a 4 position switch and switch the negative side that will not only disconnect the lead to the trailer but also from battery to battery so the weaker of the two batteries is not always draining the stronger ( this only adds 1 extra wire to the system )

[@G5_Ohana]

Is that second cable needed if I only have one battery?

[@ridge69]

Always better to hook these to the negative wire, not the positive. You still break the circuit which prevents a drain on batteries but you're not messing with the hot wire.

[@arowe2140]

Only problem with that is other devices in the car may have local grounds, so if the hot is still on, the drainage will occur.

[@ridge69]

@arowe2140 lol. No. The battery has to be grounded for it to drain. If the battery itself is not grounded the circuit is not complete. It cannot drain.

[@arowe2140]

@@ridge69 that’s simply not true…I have a disconnect on my battery ground and still have a parasitic drain in my 1973 Chevy blazer…The other accessories things still turn on with key on despite the battery not being grounded….There are other grounds in and around the car….so I get what you’re saying but it simply isn’t true.

[@ridge69]

@arowe2140 it simply is true. If the battery isn't grounded there is not a complete circuit and it cannot be draining or anything powered by it be turning on. You may have a disconnect on main cable, but there must be another small wire attached to terminal post that is grounding battery. It will not work no matter how many things are grounded to the frame unless the battery is somehow connected to the frame. The cable connection at the post likely has a large wire and a small wire coming out if it. If so both of these have to be run through the disconnect. To prove my point unhook the negative terminal and see that nothing is touching negative terminal and none of those things will light up unless they have an accessory power source. This is why before hooking up a stereo, starter, or anything electrical they say to disconnect the negative battery cable

[@arowe2140]

@@ridge69the only other wire on the ground terminal is for the remote relay that I use to connect and disconnect the ground. There’s no way that the rest of the car can be trying to ground through the relay.

[@billyharris7426]

Is it just me or do the instructions say it gose to the negative side to prevent possible sparking

[@christopherginn]

Any concerns with the terminal being exposed to the weather?

[@DataCentre007]

That was going to be my question as well

[@jimr2351]

Should be on negative side

[@mkleyn99]

Why not leave the positive cable attached to the neighboring battery? I don’t see the point to connect each battery to the disconnect if they are in parallel. Anyone have an answer?

[@vadimlitv]

You cna do ut either way. You can leave the batteries connected as they were and just intercept the wire going to the inside of the rv.

[@dougcrowe1226]

If you have a 1,2 ,or both switch, which i prefer you would want them both on the switch

[@nickxguitairist]

should b on ground

[@boondock6055]

Well your battery will still be dead if you store it for a long time regardless,but would be useful for a parasitic draw

[@2hotscottpro]

Yah there’s a carbon monoxide detector that drays

[@kingthetonto]

that what it is about....the parasitic draw. You can place a trinkle charge on the battery to keep it up.

[@dougcrowe1226]

Im tryin to figure out how to keep water out of the switch

[@wgooden3]

Same here. Also, wouldn't a switch on the negative side allow a short if the positive side somehow came into contact with the the frame?

[@That_Stoney]

You could run a bead of silicone around where the switch sits against the battery cover or whatever you're mounting it to.

[@2hotscottpro]

I forgot to turn mine off a few times each year bahahaha

[@MoroniGivens-jq9mi]

should be neg