MCI 5 Battery disconnects

[mcilee]

I am ready to put battery disconnects on our MCI 5. I was looking for a quick and easy way to disconnect the batteries while putting the bus in storage as well as limiting the chance of starting a fire from an electrical malfunction.  I ordered 3 master disconnects from Del City Wire and when I received them the instructions said to install them on the positive side of the system. I have used disconnects on our travel trailers and also several more pieces of equipment on our farm. I have always installed them on the ground side of the circuit just as when I disconnect the batteries manually, I unhook the ground. Question is this,,, Is there a real reason for the disconnects on the positive side other than protecting the alternator? FYI. I am planning to use three, One for the ground on the bus batteries and one for each 12 volt side of the house batteries. I have eight 6 volt batteries for the house.
Any insight as to why I should not do it as I have for years would be appreciated.
Thanks.

[RJ]

Lee -

My 1978 MC-5C came from the factory with an OEM chassis battery disconnect, located inside the front baggage bin on the shared bulkhead with the chassis batteries.  It breaks the positive.

Others will chime in with the reason, has to do with current flow, but I'm having a senior moment right now as to why. . .

FWIW & HTH. . .

[daddyoften]

Link belt cranes use two, one for the positive and one for ground. They don't state which to shut off first and it doesn't seem to matter and the do have some sensitive computers to. Most other construction equipment just disconnect the ground but some do just the positive.   I think I will just disconnect the ground when I build mine....
Eric

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[Lin]

The 5a also has a factory battery disconnect on the positive side.  Check in the front baggage bay right next to the battery compartment on the inside of the curbside wall.  

[luvrbus]

Your fine with the disconnects on the ground for the older stuff,all the newer electronics on engines,chassis and transmission they disconnect on the positive side my sine inverter say to disconnect on the positive side because of all the electronics. Every MCI I been around disconnects the positive new or older models fwiw 
good luck  

[mcilee]

Ours has that same disconnect but is wired to connect the bus and the house batteries, or not.

[Midwilshire]

I have blade disconnects on my 5C -- negative side on both batteries.  Only niggle I have is that I have to pull out the top battery each time because there's not enough room in there for the throw.  Bottom battery is no problem. 

I had a parasitic drain, so the factory positive cutoff didn't totally preserve the batteries.  That's why I put the disconnects on there.  I have since put in a relay for the 12v tap, and that seems to solve the drain, but I still cut the blades every time I park for more than a few days.  That way, I'm darned sure the bus is going to fire up in three months.