Re: disconnect switch

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/10/9 9:37:53

The best of the switches, the rotary Cole-Hersee, is not built to be diassembled for cleaning and in fact should never require any attention - I know of many including my own that have been happily switching for 40 years or so with flawless performance. This may not be the case with cheaper switches.

The major safety issue with using a switch of either type is the potential for getting a dead short across the battery usually with very severe consequences. If a battery terminal type is mounted on the "hot" post and should have very close proximity to the (metal) battery hold down bracket, any slight movement at the fixed post portion that could cause contact which would be a dead short. If the rotary type, even when switched off, one pole is hot and if, for example, mounted underhood where a wrench or other metallic part could contact it, again a dead short. Thus using a switch to break the ground side can be far safer in those circumstances.