Been doing it for 20 years.
Yeah that nice positive cable going to the starter no I don't think so and I have no radio.
I do as well. Never had an issue.
The cable on the battery doesn't go to the starter. It goes to the starter relay. There is another smaller wire there that makes all sorts of chit hot. Maybe best to just see for yourself. Open the door so dome lamp is on or better yet pull the headlights on. Remove and replace positive cable at battery. See spark jump. Next try same with neg' battery cable. No spark.
Maybe so, but @RedFish is right. When only disconnecting one cable, it's best practice to disconnect the negative. At my job, we run car fires ALL THE TIME at wrecking yards where "other" fire departments yanked the positive and left it dangling. After some jostling on the tow truck and shifting from being set down in the yard, the positive makes contact and shorts. Boom. The car is on fire.
In our nature unfortunately.
Seemingly conflicting answers, but the differences are actually easily resolved.
Sure its possible. If there is a short to ground, or a cross wire short from feed to a something that wants electric power there could be sparks.
The resistance in poor connections result in heat when current is trying to flow through them.
Murry is correct because he is describing draw, or load.
Those circuits are hot (potential), but there is no flow (current).
Can't group me in we (although I am human, I think. Jury is still out on that one).
Great example of a danger that doesn't often play out but when it does, is really bad.
rvpartsexpress.com
www.rvpartscenter.com
Moroso makes a really slick one, it a battery terminal, with a knob on the top, just rotate the knob, no power.
All the running current except starter go throught the ampmeter. With age corrosion or a poor connection can present their ugly heads to cause a fire. Wiring insulation can break down with age when subjected to underhood heat, UV rays, road salt and vibration. If you carefully inspect the wiring for damage or signs of deterioration, you should not expect a problem. That said we are dealing with Murphy's Law when dealing with lassic and vintage vehicles. But parked at a sshow and shine and disconnecting the battery because you are afraid of a fire is OCD. Preventing theft is a different issue, but I would approach that in a different manner.
Battery life took a powder with the introduction of maintenance free batteries. For a while 2 years was about it for most batteries even when driven daily. Long term storage on old vehicles was basically a matter of removing the key. Now the keep alive memories in ccoccomputer components of modern vehicles require regular use or disconnect the battery. Those draws will drain a battery in a month and when that happens a few times or it is left all winter, that battery is due for a funeral.
Marker lights and 4 way flashers for emergency use bypass the key, as do the head lights and interior light in most cases. As long as their switches are in good condition and turned off, no current flows. There has been some recent recalls due to poor build quality ignition or headlight switches that transfered minute amounts of contact metal that leaves a small current path. Eventually this builds up to the point enough current to get hot transfers. Bean counters cutting corners is the cause. Of course the bean counters finger engineering instead of accepting blame.
Caterpillar had a disconnect switch that used a key. Any Cat Skinner would have a key but the average person would not. Designed for 24V and diesel starter current. Can probably get a good used one from and equipement wrecker.
Simply NOT TRUE
NO KIDDING! Ask me how I know....
