DC Disconnect Switch for Battery Bank with 2/0 wire.

KJ7YM

I am seeking advice for a reasonably priced 24 volt DC disconnect switch for my battery farm/inverter.
Like so many things as soon as something gets an exotic label, like Aquaponic, or Solar, or HVAC, etc., etc, some of the simplest devices suddenly cost hundreds of dollars.

I wish to put a simple disconnect switch on my battery bank that can handle 2/0 wire.I am beginning to think I will need to build my own, because even as an Air Conditioning guy in a gioeld that is just full of customer abuse and unethical over charging, I find the Solar Industry to be surprisingly proud of every re-branded or Chinese made item that caries a tag saying solar.

I am hoping that someone else may have already gone down this road before me and found a generic manufacturer or at least a semi-reasonable solution to this dirt simple switch. I am a master industrial engine mechanic, generator repair tech, HVAC tech, and went to college for a industrial electrical degree. So I guess if I have to I can cobble something together on my own. But what I am asking is do I really have to. I obviously m willing to pay, even sometimes somewhat unreasonable amounts to have someone else do the work for me. But there is just something about this bone simple switch that is going too far in my opinion. Thanks for letting me rant guys. Maybe I am just being overly sensitive today. But really? Really? :-)

Larry

KJ7YM

I did find this which looks somewhat promising: store.mwands.com/wire-terminals-connectors/dc-disconnect-switch-for-battery-banks-and-power-sources/
Am I allowed to post links to vendors? If not please let me know and I will delete it. I am just trying to show the product as an example. I do not even know who this store is.

Larry

BB.

Relevant links to hardware from other vendors is fine. No problem at all.

-Bill

KJ7YM

Ah! Better yet this looks promising If I am going to have to modify something to work. It is rated at 7200 watts, is a double pole which gives me a much more warm and fuzzy feeling when it comes to isolating a Batter Bank in an emergency. I wish I could see inside of this thing to get a better view of what is up. I will have to check and see if my inverter needs to pull more that 300 amps at surge :-)


http://www.zoro.com/i/G1231133/?utm_...2CkaAlSD8P8HAQ

Anawa

Here is a product you may want to consider. There are various designs that could fit your configuration, but not sure about your pocket book. Yeh, this "Green Thing" is all about the Green(bucks).

Blue Sea: https://www.bluesea.com/products/6006/m-Series_Mini_On-Off_Battery_Switch_with__Knob_-_Red

Paul

mike95490

Why not a Midnight box and a pair of DC breakers. Midnight carrys switch duty rated breakers.

i've heard of issues with contact tension and high resistance on Marine disconnects running high amps for high hours.

cupcake

This is what you want:




Midnight Solar MNDC250...

One box for ALL of your DC shutoffs.

The big 250amp breaker is included and shuts off your battery-bank/inverter
Then there is a 5 spot DIN-rail to mount shutoff breakers for your panels and charge controller, and then another spot for your GFID breakers


That's all you need...


-cake

solarix

Ditto on the big 250A breaker, but seriously - that's only if you need permitting and inspections. This is just 24Vdc, technically below the 50V code threshold and therefore exempt. For many years, before solar got civilized, everyone just wired the batts directly so no question about voltage drop in the disconnect. Need to disconnect the battery? just unbolt the wire at the inverter end.

cupcake

What is this "50v code threshold" that you speak of? Enlighten me. Here in the Republic I've not yet heard of such a thing. Altough it is well known that the Republic has the strictest codes in the nation...

-- cake in a cup

2twisty

A friend of mine had a used 3-phase AC breaker where the center pole's cable clamp was damaged. Its rated for 300A, and 4/0 wire. So I have both my positive and negative going through this breaker. It's huge overkill, and I've got fuses of lower value to protect the wiring, so I can use the breaker as a disconnect switch.

unseenone

If you also want to physically disconnect, you could also do Anderson plugs in addition to a switch or breaker. I wanted that, so I could easily completely disconnect that battery.

KJ7YM

I just read one of my earlier comments about 3 or 4 down from the top, and noticed it was full of typo's. I must have been sleepy when I typed that.

Also I would like to thank all those that commented you guys are wonderful!

Corrected comment:

Ah! Better yet this looks promising If I am going to have to modify something to work. It is rated at 7200 watts, is a double pole which gives me a much more warm and fuzzy feeling when it comes to isolating a Battery Bank in an emergency. I wish I could see inside of this thing to get a better view of what is up. I will have to check and see if my inverter needs to pull more that 30 amps at surge :-)


http://www.zoro.com/i/G1231133/?utm_...2CkaAlSD8P8HAQ

KJ7YM

I just read one of my earlier comments about 3 or 4 down from the top, and noticed it was full of typo's. I must have been sleepy when I typed that.

Also I would like to thank all those that commented you guys are wonderful!

Corrected comment:

Ah! Better yet this looks promising If I am going to have to modify something to work. It is rated at 7200 watts, is a double pole which gives me a much more warm and fuzzy feeling when it comes to isolating a Battery Bank in an emergency. I wish I could see inside of this thing to get a better view of what is up. I will have to check and see if my inverter needs to pull more that 30 amps at surge :-)


http://www.zoro.com/i/G1231133/?utm_...2CkaAlSD8P8HAQ