In reconnecting the neg. grd . lead from the 12V battery I got a very beautiful spark, intensely white and mutidirectional. Is this a capacitor discharge from that brake booster box ( loaded with capacitors ) or is it something else. How can it be prevented?? Of course the car was OFF :cheer2:
Even when off, many of the Prius systems still draw some power. The brake capacitor bank in particular can pull a pretty good current. To avoid a big spark you have three options: 1) Don't disconnect the battery. 2) First reconnect through a resistive path, then make the direct connection. 3) Connect very quickly. It will still spark, but not as much. Tom
Since I installed the battery cut-off switch it is not a problem, I just wondered if the Toyota techs bleed this off first. Maybe shutting down the SKS to eliminate the parasitic current. ??
I noticed the same thing too when I removed the negative cable a while ago to sand down the - battyery cable to chassis contact and grease it. When re-connected surprising spark there in standby.
