Battery disconnect

[K Man]

I am going to buy two new batteries and need to take my existing batteries with me for sale. I am currently plugged in to shore power.
My question - is it safe to remove the batteries?
and do I need to switch off the inverter while the batteries are removec?

[K Man]

I am going to buy two new batteries and need to take my existing batteries with me for sale. I am currently plugged in to shore power.
My question - is it safe to remove the batteries?
and do I need to switch off the inverter while the batteries are removec?

[rjf7g]

Think in reverse of what you want to do when you install your new ones...

...install new batteries (includes closing the battery disconnect)
...turn on inverter and test 12V system
...plug in to shore power to test 110V system

So, unplug 110V, turn off inverter, disconnect everything (if you don't know how things connect up, take or draw pictures of this - connecting a battery incorrectly can be dangerous and expensive)...

[Cruzer]

The biggest thing is that you don't want to allow a spark to jump when you remove the battery cables. That will etch the battery posts and cable connections at the least and could even ignite the hydrogen gas venting from the battery and blow the thing up in your face at the worst. Plus, you may need a change of underwear after it goes "snap".

The best way to avoid the jumping spark is to remove all current passing to and from the batteries at that time. This includes charging systems as well as loads. So, I'd be sure to hit the battery disconnect solenoid to shut off the coach loads. Then, consider that most coaches with large inverter/chargers connect to the batteries prior to the disconnect switch. So, ev en with the disconnect switch off, you still have a large current flow between the batteries and inverter/charger. So, I'd shut off the inverter so that it can't invert or charge. That should minimize and current flow so that it's safe to remove the cables. However, I'd still flip the shore power breaker off just to be on the safe side. Technically, you shouldn't have to as long as the inverter's charge and invert modes are switched off but it's good to have a bit of redundancy "just in case".

The previous post regarding making a drawing is also a good idea. You want to be sure the cables go back on in the same place.

[K Man]

Thanks for the replies. I have taken a photo of the current setup and made a drawing for me to replace the new batteries. I was not sure if while the batteries were removed it was OK to stay on shore power.