Battery Terminal Disconnect RESOLVED :-P

[RRoller123]

?????????? Shorting out, to what? it is a Ground after all. And the Battery box is plastic. Admitting confusion.

[4uall]

just the messenger

[RRoller123]

Not being critical, sorry if I seemed terse! LOL. <{:^)
I guess if it were used on the positive side things could get ugly! But I'm only looking for one to use on the negative side. Seems a lot safer there.

[4uall]

no worries, that is what I thought. why not just keep it on the neg terminal post? Oh well I have one on order I may be giving away. I trust a physical dis connection rather than a plastic/metal part made in China when it comes to my life. I still have this fresh in my mind http://forum.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtop ... =6&t=17838

[Marmeister]

Hi Jay,
The battery cable purchase/pictured (nascar) may not be what you need, because you'd still have to connect the "lug" end of that cable, to your existing in-car battery cable.

I'm assuming the existing battery cable is long enough and if you just bought a battery cable connector (Can Tire) sometimes sold in pairs... red one for +ve post, black for -ve post, that should work, unless I'm missing something..

You'd only need the black connector, which is really made up of two connectors in one. One end tightens down on the stripped end of your existing battery cable (from where the old crimped connector slipped off), and then slip the other end of the same connector onto the negative battery post and tighten that down too.

Now when you get your battery disconnect switch, there are instructions/pic with it, or follow the instructions on the first link you posted. The disconnect switch SHOULD be on the negative post. If you have a plastic battery cover, you may have to play/swivel a bit with the final position of the disconnect switch on the negative post so most of it is over the battery, not on the side of the battery, so that its not in the way when you put the battery cover back on.

With the disconnect switch's "knob" removed, there should be an open circuit between the negative battery post and the stripped end of your existing battery cable. This should confirm you're free to work on the car.

Hope this helps ......as opposed to create more confusion !!
Adham

[4uall]

I actually did remove the original negative cable and replaced it with this newly purchased one tonight. It worked perfectly.

[RRoller123]

Pic please, if you have the disconnect installed. I still am not sure how to attach that thing without a cut/strip/crimp on the 4AWG wire.

[4uall]

disconnect has not yet arrived only installed new neg terminal wire

[RRoller123]

Got it. I am going out at lunch today and see if I can find one of those things.

Pete

[RRoller123]

Found this little unit at Advance Auto Parts. The battery cable is stripped and clamps to it. I added nuts on the back and had to fold over the copper wires to get enough thickness for a good clamp (~50 lbs pull, no failure.)



The attachment to the battery terminal has a swivel so it can be turned out of the way of the battery box. Fits fine.



Here it is disconnected:

[4uall]

Nicely done sir

[Marmeister]

Good man, Jay. I didn't realize the ground strap for the battery was that short - thought it was grounded to the chassis further away and possibly a pain to replace.

I like the battery disconnect you bought, RRoller! It seems to be more compact than the "green knob" I got at IAP, so should tuck nicely under the plastic battery cover.

[RRoller123]

Thanks. It was a cheap little critter, like 5 bucks or something like that. I would rather have a solder connection or a Crimp made in a good press with proper die, but with folding the conductor wires over to make the bundle thicker it holds ok. The first time I clamped it in without folding (and this is 4 AWG) it pulled right out at about 10 pounds !!!! I reused the existing ground strap, as it was overall in good shape, just the head was beat up. Just cut the head off really close and there is more than enough cable to make it work.

Pete

[DocGraphics]

RRoller, I see that one completely disconnects from the battery, I like.

Anyone, does the "green knob" one come apart like that or just do an internal disconnect?

[Marmeister]

Hey DocGraphics,
It doesn't disconnect like RRoller's. The green knob unscrews and comes off completely so you can put it in your pocket and walk away, presumabely as a theft deterrent. Battery cable connector stays on battery post. The knob has a conductive metal thread that "makes" the connection when its threaded in and "breaks" it when its removed.