Auotomotive electrical advice needed

[Ben]

When fitting a battery isolator (to prevent current drain when machine is not used) should it be on the earth or live cable?

I only ask because common sense seems to suggets 'live', but the local engineers suggested using the earth.

Advice , as always , much appreciated

Ben

 

[scud]

I defo would have thought to cut the live... surely?

 

[Timolgra]

The marine applications I am familiar with fit the isolator to positive.

 

[cookie]

put it on the earth & you have less unfused connections

 

[shugie]

Normal practice would be to isolate the live, not the earth, unless there was some good reason to do otherwise. That way if the live gets shorted to earth, current can not flow through other, non-isolated, circuits.

 

[Greg Masters]

The motor-racing standard is to put the isolator switch on the 'live' side of the battery and to mark the 'earth' side in yellow.

In theory, you then have two methods of isolating the battery:

1. use the isolator switch
2. put some bolt-croppers through the earth lead

Greg

 

[Jhenshall]

My race car has this on the "Live" lead.

 

[Rob Farmer]

When fitting a battery isolator (to prevent current drain when machine is not used) should it be on the earth or live cable?

I only ask because common sense seems to suggets 'live', but the local engineers suggested using the earth.

Advice , as always , much appreciated

Ben

Is this on your 1200? If it is, what are the implications of powering down the system for a long period of time? will you just need to reset the TPS or will it be more involved?

 

[Ben]

No not 1200, just a boring old 30hp Mitsubishi tractor.

So 'Live' it obviously is. Many many thanks, one and all!

Ben