Disconnecting battery cables..........

[YukonGMC]

I'm going to be installing a new instrument cluster in the YXL. Should I disconnect battery cables before unplugging / plugging the cluster cable ?

[2000CAYukon]

It might be easier to just pull the fuse that supplies power to the cluster.

Either way, it is probably not a bad idea to remove power to the cluster when working on it.

//2000CAYukon

[94 Jimmy]

Definently, pull the battery negative lead and move it out of the way and tape it there. There are many places where there are very high currents available, get a screwdriver across it and it's time for a fire extinguisher, get a ring or watch across it and it's time for reconstructive surgery.
Really, no kidding, you can burn you finger to the bone, literally in seconds when the rings turns red hot as you pass 100 amps or more through it.
If changing you name to Three-Finger Jack doesn't bother you think of the electronics. Little compter things don't like voltage surges and when you have 10-20 Amps flowing into a short and remove the short your going to get a voltage spike, then poof.
Always, always, always remove the battery voltage whenever your working on the electrics, and always remove any jewelry whenever you work on your car.
If you catch your ring on something and slip or drop what your lifting you can yank your finger off, including the tendon that goes clear up to your elbow. Now your down to being called Two-Finger. Believe me, I've seen it, and it's not pretty.
By the way, when the hood is open, remember to prop it open. Those flakey gas struts can let go and the hood can come down. At a recent safety meeting, a friend told us of his neighbor who was working on his car, he put his hand over the fender and into the engine compartment to get up. Yup, the hood came down across his fingers, then latched. The hood release was inside the car, and it was locked. My friend had to go into his house, find his keys, unlock the door, open the hood and take him to the hospital and he was in a cast for months.
We'll just call you Thumbs.
When ever you working on something as big and powerful as a truck, THINK WHAT COULD HAPPEN, and it probably won't.
Take care
94