Alternator fire!

[Cooter]

Yep, every time car gets parked battery cable comes off. Just good common sense if you've ever watched one burn.

[six-tee-nine]

Theoretically its safer to disconnect the neg first.

If you need to unscrew the pos terminal and hit with your wrech against the chassis or anything metal bolted to the body while the neg is still connected you create a short with huge sparks as a result.

I always disconnect the neg terminal or put a batt switch between it.

[Dino]

I just installed cam lever bolts on my wires so I can easily remove them.  I only ever disconnect my battery when the car won't be running for more than a few days.  Since most of the time it's a daily, I always left it hooked up, mostly to keep the radio memory intact and because I want to get in and go.  I may have to rethink that.

Glad to hear you still have your car and home Paul! 

[71 SE3834V]

Theoretically its safer to disconnect the neg first.

If you need to unscrew the pos terminal and hit with your wrech against the chassis or anything metal bolted to the body while the neg is still connected you create a short with huge sparks as a result.

I always disconnect the neg terminal or put a batt switch between it.

[JRH LEE3]

I have ALWAYS pulled the Negative battery cable off once I park it.  Chargers aren't wired the best in my book from the factory.  Most problems with Chargers I have found over the years are mostly wiring harness problems.

[Windsor]

Another reason that I am glad I put a disconnect on mine. As for radio and alarm, those are wires separate from the main harness to keep power even with the cable disconnected.

[ACUDANUT]

Either or is fine. If your not driving your car, pull the battery and charge it every now and then. 

[tan top]

   arrrh nooo , !!  good job you caught it  , glad the charger is ok !! scary moment forsure ,    yeah I always  pull the negative black off the battery any time I leave the charger  parked ,  even though ive completely gone through the charging set up & redesigned it ! protected every thing with  fuses     seen a good few mopars with dash / engine bay harness fires , & the fusible link still in tacked  even mine  had a few harness meltdowns / fires   long before I bought & had some jerry rigged repairs , but the original fusible link was still there , all be it the insulation all burnt off & just wrapped with insulating tape 

[Paul G]

I went with a Powermaster square back alternator. Powermaster alternators are brand new, 78 rated amps. The test tag that came on the alternator took it it to 92 amps. Still undecided about how to use the battery disconect. To really get the full benefit of a battery disconect the battery cable, be it pos or neg, needs to be completely disconected or there is still risk of a short and fire in the electrical system of the car. I like the radio saver idea, a 9 volt battery plugged in to the cig lighter. The battery tender cable can still be connected to the battery terminal at the battery disconect.

[TPR]

Timely advice.
I bought a disconnect switch two weeks ago and am yet to put it on. Will do it tomorrow while off work.
Glad to hear a crisis was averted.
TPR