Turn off the ignition. Remove the key to your apparatus. Discover and disconnect the vehicle’s 12-volt battery. Document these actions (photo 1).
We all have heard this and have been taught it repeatedly. But how many of you and your crews do it regularly? Vehicle power is not your friend. It is even harder to isolate vehicle power today. We face numerous batteries, in different and unusual locations, and with unfamiliar configurations (photo 2). Additionally, vehicles have more power accessories than ever: seats, windows, doors, and hatches. Not only do we need to size up the vehicle quickly and comprehensively, but we also have to reposition power accessories and then isolate vehicle power.
Why is power isolation so important today? Twenty years ago, power isolation wasn’t critical. However, with the advent of air bags and other vehicle safety systems, power isolation is now more complex. The brain of the vehicle supplemental restraint systems (SRS) includes power capacitors that store enough power to activate the system in case the battery is damaged in a crash. To drain those storage capacitors, we must disconnect the 12-volt battery.
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