Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Just kidding -
Given the undecidedly negative opinions of the device that appear below I thought I would hide my un-educated purchase by giving it away.................


Original post:
I've never used one of these before.

On a positive ground setup - which terminal do you put it on?

When you disconnect - do you just loosen the green knob or do you unscrew and separate it?

Thanks again....
http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictur...ictureid=20288

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect
 

John, When I purchased my '40 Conv. it had one of these disconnects installed. I believe it was installed on the negative post. A word of caution...I noticed a big drop in juice to the starter when using this type of disconnect. When I removed the disconnect from the battery and connected the cable directly to the battery, the starter turned over much faster. There are better battery disconnects available, in my opinion. Good luck, Pat

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect
 

Generally you would disconnect the hot side. In other words, the negative post.
With this type of disconnect, simply back off the green knob.
Just a word of caution for you... if you have trouble on the road (what seems like a dead battery) look at this disconnect. they are not of very good quality.
The old ones that look like this were solid brass. Those worked well. Like most things, the manufacture found a way to make them cheaper while sacrificing quality.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect
 

I have the blade style, I have them on the pos side. Unless you have a clock that you absolutely have to have running:rolleyes:.

I'm 12V, it does not matter as long as one is dis-connected.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect
 

This should keep you busy!http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...light=positive

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect
 

They are pretty much junk. There are better ones out there. Thats why there cheap to buy. ken ct.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect
 

Those green knob devices are good at disconnecting the battery when you want it connected, the plastic melts ---when it works you just loosen the knob, they are not designed for the amperage of a 6V system, and have trouble with a 12V system, i have fixed many cranking and charging problems by removing it, they are good for buisness, ---tow truck buisness, battery sales, light bulb sales ---even a good insurance fire repair job once

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I have one on my old 12V car and it's been working fine for the past 8 years. It should be installed on the GROUND side of the battery. Just loosen the knob.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I bought one recently at a swap meet. They seem to be made to fit the positive terminal ok but won't tighten very well on the negative terminal which is a little smaller. Overtightening them can make them snap off.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

When you take a file to that nice looking brass piece you'll find pot metal underneath. Those cheap ones aren't worth the postage. If you feel the need to disconnect the battery remove a cable.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Maybe I should get rid of those I have. I have seen them work lose also corode. What should I look for a Carlisle?

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Same here. I had to look hard to find a US-made one, but never had an issue on a 12V battery that I had it on.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I just take off the ground cable. But if you use it, put it on the ground side of the battery (positive in an old Ford).

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Turning this around for a Positive spin.

IMO a battery disconnect switch is a way to generate peace of mind. When the sucker is OFF there's nothing that can catch the car afire from its own electrical system. Sleep well at night - stop worrying about that smouldering short which can not only burn up the car but the garage as well.

The device mentioned here is really junk - though as Kubes has stated they 'used to be' good and well made.

We use a Cole-Hersee battery disconnect switch rated at 250Amps @6v.
There is no power loss caused by the introduction of the switch. Ours is installed in the positive (ground) leg. We used extra heavy duty cables from NAPA.

The switch was about $25.00 and the cables about $40.

Regards

Henry

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I have one like that, haven't instaled it yet but will instal and use it.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I keep a 1/2" handy and take off the cable and remove all doubt

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Find a CAT master switch. Not only heavy duty, but has a removable key. Problem is, all CAT keys are the same!

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

None of them are very practicle on 36 and befor (under the floor batteries).

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

6 Volt systems draw twice the current (amps) as 12 volt systems. If the contact surface area on this unit is too small, it might heat up and fail, and also cause voltage drops.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Agree about the convenience on our '36 (Henry above is my dad).

We ended up putting the Cole-Hersee unit on the flat of the passenger floorpan as close to the tunnel as we could. Required cutting a hole in the floorpan. Have to lift the mat to get to it, it's not visible. It's close enough to the seat that your feet never get involved. Routing the cables didn't take a tremendous effort. I like the peace of mind. Our car has some wiring that is original and the fabric sheathes (sp?) are very fragile. Had a blown fuse when we were in Maine last fall.

-VT/Jeff

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect
 

Thanks Pat/Ohio I used the same cheap batt. disconnect on the battery and also have a big twist kill , after reading your post about the engine turning slow I took mine off , left it sit about a week and it never turned over so fast !! thanks

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

The readily available £5.00 battery isolators with the green or black knob are in my opinion RUBBISH ! They are not brass but gilded pot metal.

I had one on my 1932 B Cabriolet and found that after a few seconds of operating the starter that the switch warmed up.

I pulled the switch apart and got a piece of 3/4 " square brass bar. Using the lathe I managed to create a reasonable replica. I created the taper for the positive terminal by first boring a parallel hole the diameter of the top of the tapered positive terminal then created the taper by using a SNAP ON terminal and lead cleaning tool. In effect a reamer.

Bored the terminal hole first then the clamp bolt hole and lastly cut the slot.....not shown in the picture.

Needs to be noted that the cheap Chinese £5.00 versions are made for negative earth cars and thus they do not fit positive terminals.

With the home made version on the car it appears to start much easier !:):):):)

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I am using two of the original USA made disconnect switches. They are black in color with an American flag in the center. Those cheap green ones are Chinese knock offs of this switch. Available on ebay out of Crystal, Ill, cost 10.95 postage paid.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Another great job:Keep them coming / I love the see it when there is a problem then
Someone moves in on that problem & overcomes the problem. !!!

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Thanks Bill......I'm working on everlasting shock absorbers......don't hold your breath though !

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I all ready have those ~ BUT they are all worn out :eek:
BUT will last forever.
What you need to make is EVERLASTING WORKING :D shock absorbers.

LOL / LOL

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I presently have several of those "greenies" in use, including one on my 2007 Chrysler Pacifica. I have had 2-3 of them corrode a little over time, I just toss it and put a new one in. On the old cars I don't drive them that often so they work well for me. On the Chrysler (my daily driver), the switch works fine. I put it on the Pacifica because the battery caused a lot of corrosion ( I tried lots of tricks to stop it, nothing worked ) and it ate the original clamp. I put the greenie on there and used the hole in the end to bolt on the original cable. When the battery died after 6 years I put the whole set up on the new battery, it's been over a year with no problems. I know they are cheap but my experience has been OK. I do keep a close eye on the cars that have them in use however.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

I have the Cole Hersee switch on 2 of my cars, it's a 1st class product sold by aircraft, construction equipment, and truck vendors. The company is here in Boston and has been in business for years, with great customer support.
I put the switch on the ground side of the battery. The drawback to switching the positive side is, if something grounds between the battery & switch you have an unwanted circuit. With the ground side switched off, nothing happens, because the battery is totally isolated. I would be interested in hearing opinions on this method.

Re: Battery Quick Disconnect - Available - you pay shipping only
 

Had one on a 6 volt system. It was on the ground side. After about a year had problems starting. The problem was because the disconnect.