Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Peculiar Electrical Cutoff Switch (Is this normal ??)
| Peculiar Electrical Cutoff Switch [message #195019] |
Sun, 06 January 2013 23:27  |
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SteveW
Messages: 538
Registered: June 2005
Location: Southern California - Ora...
Karma: 1
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Greetings All !!
I'm starting to do some electrical work on the coach. Getting rid of the buzz box and the old fuses and installing an inverter...
I've noticed this before - but never questioned it.
All of my batteries have a cut off switch (knife) and they're all connected to the GROUND side.
Is this normal ??
Makes more sense to me that it would be on the POSITIVE side... But I'm not an electrician nor an electrical engineer.
What say y'all ??
Thanks,
Steve W
Southern California
1973 23'
Steve W
1973 : 23'
Southern California
[Updated on: Sun, 06 January 2013 23:29] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: Peculiar Electrical Cutoff Switch [message #195023 is a reply to message #195019] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 04:33  |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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First off all the cutoff switch is a great idea. That is the only thing that saved my coach from burning to the ground a few years back. But that is another story.
The should I disconnect the positive or the negative cable is an argument that has its roots in the suggestion that you disconnect a negative battery terminal first so you do not short out the wrench to ground when disconnecting the positive cable first.
Practically it makes no difference. I have my knife switches on the positive side. Either side effectively disconnects the battery from the coach.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195032 is a reply to message #195019] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 07:12 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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The knife switch won't short to ground if you inadvertantly lay something metal across it. Same idea as disconnecting the ground first when you're messing with the electrics.... if the wrench you're using on the battery terminal hits the chassis, no problem. If you switch the hot side, the switch will be at 12 volts relative to the chassis, and will have whatever current the battery can supply available - enough to melt a screwdriver and turn a wrench red hot or crack the battery case. In other words, they switched the ground for safety.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: Steve Weinstock <steve.weinstock@cox.net>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, January 7, 2013 12:27 AM
Subject: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff
Greetings All !!
I'm starting to do some electrical work on the coach. Getting rid of the buzz box and the old fuses and installing an inverter...
I've noticed this before - but never questioned it.
All of my batteries have a cut off switch (knife) and they're all connected to the GROUND side.
Is this normal ??
Makes more sense to me that it would be on the POSITIVE side... But I'm not an electrician nor an electrical engineer.
What say y'all ??
Thanks,
Steve W
Southern California
1973 23'
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195050 is a reply to message #195044] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 11:45 |
mickeysss
Messages: 1476
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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a little off thread there is a round white light under the passenger side hood on the left facing the front of the hood
it is a round light for inside the hood. where is the switch to turn this light on inside the hood passenger side? is it 12 or 110 volt.
just wondering how to make it work, i cannot see it if it is on if it goes on with the porch light. mickey 77 palm beach anaheim ca.
On Jan 7, 2013, at 7:54 AM, D C _Mac_ Macdonald wrote:
>
> IMNHO, switching and fusing the hot side is desirable.
>
> Prior to working on the 13 Volt system, switch off the
> positive side THEN disconnect the negative feed cable
> totally!
>
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
> ~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
> ~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
> ~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
> ~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
> ~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
> ~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
> ______________
> *[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
> *--OO--[]---O-*
>
>
>
>> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
>> From: gregg_dan@hotmail.com
>> Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 09:44:31 -0600
>> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff
>>
>> It is a mental thing with me. I switch the hot side and fuse the hot side. The shorting the switched off hot side with a dropped wrench does make me think about changing though. That is a good argument.
>> --
>> Dan & Teri Gregg
>> Dexter, Mo.
>>
>> http://danandteri.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195051 is a reply to message #195032] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 11:45 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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Since my disconnect switches are mounted up high to the body of the coach, dropping a wrench on it will not be a problem unless gravity reverses or I take my coach to Australian where everything is up side down.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195053 is a reply to message #195050] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 11:53 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030
Registered: January 2004
Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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| mickeysss wrote on Mon, 07 January 2013 11:45 |
a little off thread there is a round white light under the passenger side hood on the left facing the front of the hood
it is a round light for inside the hood. where is the switch to turn this light on inside the hood passenger side? is it 12 or 110 volt.
just wondering how to make it work, i cannot see it if it is on if it goes on with the porch light. mickey 77 palm beach anaheim ca.
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Mickey,
There is a small push button door switch mounted near the hinge of the hood. It is suppose to turn on the light when you open the passenger side hood door.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195062 is a reply to message #195056] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 13:28 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Harry wrote on Mon, 07 January 2013 10:03 |
| Ken Burton wrote on Mon, 07 January 2013 09:53 |
| mickeysss wrote on Mon, 07 January 2013 11:45 |
a little off thread there is a round white light under the passenger side hood on the left facing the front of the hood
it is a round light for inside the hood. where is the switch to turn this light on inside the hood passenger side? is it 12 or 110 volt.
just wondering how to make it work, i cannot see it if it is on if it goes on with the porch light. mickey 77 palm beach anaheim ca.
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Mickey,
There is a small push button door switch mounted near the hinge of the hood. It is suppose to turn on the light when you open the passenger side hood door.
|
It is also an extension cord light. Take it out of the holder and take it for a walk.
|
I have found it to be a pain to rewind and not worth it. So, I leave it under the hood and do not try and unwind it to use elsewhere. Besides, several that I have tested have ground wire issues and only work if held against a ground.
If you need light somewhere other than under the hood, use a flashlight. They make some nice LED ones.
That said, some have added leads to that light and use it for quick troubleshooting of under hood issues.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195066 is a reply to message #195043] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 13:38 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Senior Member |
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I've a couple or three high powered UPS systems (``35KVA) with giant battery packs. A SpinTite<tm> nut driver across the pack output + connection to the frame inadvertantly will turn red and then melt in less time than you can grab the handle and remove it from where it was dropped. Ask me how I konw this.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: Dan Gregg <gregg_dan@hotmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, January 7, 2013 10:44 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff
It is a mental thing with me. I switch the hot side and fuse the hot side. The shorting the switched off hot side with a dropped wrench does make me think about changing though. That is a good argument.
--
Dan & Teri Gregg
Dexter, Mo.
http://danandteri.blogspot.com/
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195067 is a reply to message #195045] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 13:39 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Well, since the current flows through the ground side as well as the plus side, you should get eactly the same arc regardless which side you disconnect, since the same current is flowin in both.
--johnny
'76 23' transmode norris
'76 palm beach
From: James Hupy <jamesh1296@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Monday, January 7, 2013 10:56 AM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff
"NORMAL" practice by manufacturers is to fuse the positive side before the
load, and to disconnect the negative side before working on the coach. I
see a secondary advantage of little or no arcing if a load is in use when
disconnect is operated when it is on the negative side. It is the way that
I install disconnects. Just the way General Motors trained me, as well as
Mercury Marine and Outboard Marine Corp.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 Gmc Royale 403
On Jan 7, 2013 7:44 AM, "Dan Gregg" <gregg_dan@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> It is a mental thing with me. I switch the hot side and fuse the hot side.
> The shorting the switched off hot side with a dropped wrench does make me
> think about changing though. That is a good argument.
> --
> Dan & Teri Gregg
> Dexter, Mo.
>
> http://danandteri.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195073 is a reply to message #195062] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 14:25 |
Bruce Hart
Messages: 1501
Registered: October 2011
Location: La Grange, Wyoming
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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I have used this light on a couple of occasions. Unlike most flashlights
you can put it on the ground and it lights up the underside of the coach. I
had to change out my starter at dusk on a trip and it came in very handy.
Unlike a flash light I would have had to use one hand to put the light on
the bolts and connections. Mickey most likely the ground connection has
deteriorated and you need to clean up the ground wire
On Mon, Jan 7, 2013 at 12:28 PM, Mike Miller <m000035@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> Harry wrote on Mon, 07 January 2013 10:03
> > Ken Burton wrote on Mon, 07 January 2013 09:53
> > > mickeysss wrote on Mon, 07 January 2013 11:45
> > > > a little off thread there is a round white light under the passenger
> side hood on the left facing the front of the hood
> > > >
> > > > it is a round light for inside the hood. where is the switch to turn
> this light on inside the hood passenger side? is it 12 or 110 volt.
> > > >
> > > > just wondering how to make it work, i cannot see it if it is on if
> it goes on with the porch light. mickey 77 palm beach anaheim ca.
> > >
> > > Mickey,
> > >
> > > There is a small push button door switch mounted near the hinge of the
> hood. It is suppose to turn on the light when you open the passenger side
> hood door.
> >
> >
> > It is also an extension cord light. Take it out of the holder and take
> it for a walk.
>
>
> I have found it to be a pain to rewind and not worth it. So, I leave it
> under the hood and do not try and unwind it to use elsewhere. Besides,
> several that I have tested have ground wire issues and only work if held
> against a ground.
>
> If you need light somewhere other than under the hood, use a flashlight.
> They make some nice LED ones.
>
> That said, some have added leads to that light and use it for quick
> troubleshooting of under hood issues.
>
>
> --
> Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
> (#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23'
> Birchaven Side Bath
> http://m000035.blogspot.com
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
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Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
1977 28' Kingsley
La Grange, Wyoming
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195085 is a reply to message #195050] |
Mon, 07 January 2013 17:01 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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It is 12 volt. The switch is on the upper lip of the door frame below the windshield of the passenger side. When you open the door the light comes on.
When you unwind the wire it will reach all the wayba k to the rear. Great light go changing a tire. I have two. I mounted the second one in the propane compartment.
Emery Stora
On Jan 7, 2013, at 12:46 PM, Mickey Space Ship Shuttle <mickeysss@me.com> wrote:
>
> a little off thread there is a round white light under the passenger side hood on the left facing the front of the hood
>
> it is a round light for inside the hood. where is the switch to turn this light on inside the hood passenger side? is it 12 or 110 volt.
>
> just wondering how to make it work, i cannot see it if it is on if it goes on with the porch light. mickey 77 palm beach anaheim ca.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 7, 2013, at 7:54 AM, D C _Mac_ Macdonald wrote:
>
>>
>> IMNHO, switching and fusing the hot side is desirable.
>>
>> Prior to working on the 13 Volt system, switch off the
>> positive side THEN disconnect the negative feed cable
>> totally!
>>
>> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
>> ~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
>> ~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
>> ~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
>> ~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
>> ~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
>> ~ ~ ~ ~ TZE166V101966 ~ ~ ~ ~
>> ~ ~ ~ '76 ex-Palm Beach ~ ~ ~
>> ~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
>> ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
>> ______________
>> *[ ]~~~[][ ][|\
>> *--OO--[]---O-*
>>
>>
>>
>>> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
>>> From: gregg_dan@hotmail.com
>>> Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 09:44:31 -0600
>>> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff
>>>
>>> It is a mental thing with me. I switch the hot side and fuse the hot side. The shorting the switched off hot side with a dropped wrench does make me think about changing though. That is a good argument.
>>> --
>>> Dan & Teri Gregg
>>> Dexter, Mo.
>>>
>>> http://danandteri.blogspot.com/
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Peculiar Electrical Shutoff [message #195121 is a reply to message #195074] |
Tue, 08 January 2013 01:05 |
mickeysss
Messages: 1476
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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holly sherlock, i have been looking for that hyper link for months, i saw one time and could never find it again it is my favorite hyper link.
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/free-12-volt-test-light-battery-charger/p11192.html
I am going to get it tatooed on the back of my arm. I love this hyper link. It shows how to test the whole thing from one place i think.
thanks. Now i can try and find out what my po did with the light. thank you Mr. Fisher, great all of you to help. This is the best info in months
it is almost better than the traveling bidet. i found at home depot for $14 dollars good bye toilet paper in the black water tank.
here is a new article i found concerning that as well, not the hand held one from home depot but the beverly hills one.
while you check out this site priceonomics is very interesting i got it from CNN but look what i found about my annal brain teaser bidet tooling.
Sorry i am always in the gutter some how. THanks for this site wowwwwww! yeeehaaaa
my po has made this light stay in one place it seems. I have to go test it. thanks all mickey 77 palm beach anaheim ca.
off thread sorry about that, take it back home. :-)
On Jan 7, 2013, at 12:39 PM, gene Fisher wrote:
>>>>> a little off thread there is a round white light under the passenger
>> side hood on the left facing the front of the hood
>>
>
> here is what I do with the light
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/free-12-volt-test-light-battery-charger/p11188.html
>
> gene
>
>
> --
> Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
> “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
> -------
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/
> Alternator Protection Cable
> http://gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
> _______________________________________________
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