BCM Community

First post here although I have read and learned from this board for a long time. I have an electrical drain on my engine batteries that will discharge them over the course of about a week. Both batteries were replaced in the last year. I disconnected the positive cables and put a meter between the positive terminal and the cable which showed voltage. As opposed to trying to track this down through all of the wiring on the bus I figured I would just install a battery disconnect. I am trying to figure if a couple of the automotive type disconnects that go on the positive terminals would handle the load or if I should go with a single marine type disconnect in the engine bay. I am not sure how many amp capacity I am dealing with here with the starter load. The engine is a DD 8v71. Any input or your thoughts are appreciated.

You probably have a ghost drain from something. I did too, installed a master batt disconnect, good to go now.

Get a heavy duty switch, marine is plenty ample for our use.

Paul

BTW, Welcome to another Eagle Owner!

Tmathis, a Eagle will draw on the batteries without a disconnect the alternator is the draw.  
Don't buy the cheapo disconnect switches if you have the 2 origanal 8 D batteries install a disconnect on each that is way it came from the factory.
At the lower corner on the passangers side in the engine compartment there should be a bracket were they were mounted
Cat dealers have the best disconnect keyed or with a handle for about 40 bucks or less each, it will melt the cheapo type.
And you are dealing with 900 to 1200 amps for starting plus the lights that come on with the key switch  


good luck

I figured this was a "known issue" Thanks for the advice!

Might want to try MCI. They have a real heavy duty disconnect.

If you have a drain from the alternator you need to put a new diode in and that will stop the drain.
Jack