jerryp58

I was just wondering before I buy one, are the any disadvantages to using one of these (besides having to reset your clock)?

Jughead

The disadvantage I see is that everytime I park the car I have to open the battery door and disconnect the switch. After a while it becomes tedious. I disconnect the battery each time I park the car. Anytime I leave the Vette for more than 1 minute, I'll disconnect the battery. Maybe that's excessive but I guess better than taking a chance on having a sudden fireball appear. You probably remember some of the horror stories here about the Corvettes that caught fire! After I read the first one, I bought an extinguisher and the battery disconnect.

Even if my clock worked, I don't think I'd mind it stopping and starting. When I'm in my other cars I used the clock sometimes. In my '70, I use all the other gauges and not my clock:D Eventually I'd like to replace the clock with a vacuum gauge!




[Modified by 1970 Stingray, 7:29 AM 9/23/2001]

78Vette-SA

I use it and love it. I only disconnect the battery if I am going to be working on the car or if I am not going to be driving it for a while. You have to reset the clock and any preset FM stations if your stereo requires it, but that's it.

GaryS

First of all recognize that there are two distinct types of cut off switches. One is screw type and the other is a knife blade type. I have used both recently on my 72 and but I discontinued using the screw down type. I had a couple of instances where the screw had to be turned very tight to keep the contact plates together. The knife blade type takes 5 seconds to use.

There have been a few pictures on this board of classic Corvettes that have burned to the ground because of old wiring. I find that using the cut off switch is a pain but I do it every time I leave my car. Besides, who knows if it may prevent someone from taking it. Sure the bad guys know about these things but perhaps someone out for a joy ride may not.

Gary

Rocket Ron

BTW there is a screw type cutoff switch that has a pigtail with a fuse in it.The pigtail supplies enough current to keep the clock and computer powered up.

dually4wd

You could also use the thumb switch type used for drag racing. Then, you could mount it through the bulkhead behind the seat so you don't have to open the battery door to turn it on, and run a separate un-switched wire to your clock/radio memory. I did this with a trunk-mounted battery in a Chevelle; works like a champ.

yellow 72

I installed a Moroso thumb style switch in the rear center compartment
that is reachable from the drivers seat.
Switching it off before I get out of the car has become second nature...

ksbunting

Sorry to sound dumb, but what is the thumb type switch that is used in drag racing?
Thank you,

Pedro'74

Kurt,

I think this is the kind of switch they are talking about:


http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...160&prmenbr=76

I have a regular screw type switch, and I've been disconnecting it whenever I leave the car unattended. It's kind of a pain when I have the T-Tops in the storage compartment. I think it'd be nice (and safer!) to have one of these Moroso switches installed in a more accessible place...

-Pedro

yellow 72

Dat's da one :yesnod:

67HEAVEN

Just another example of the great wealth of information available from so many people on this forum.

Well done! :smash:

Paul 75 L82

Why don't you just buy a Sears Security battery and make this task much easyier.

jerryp58

What's a Sears Security Battery?

RMS73

I use the screw type disconnect with a fuse holder bypass to keep the claock and stereo powered up. I fabricated a lug to get the screw type unit on top of the battery to improve access. The knife type I thought took too much room to mount. I turn the power off when I park the car in a parking lot or when I'm going to be gone from the house for several days. I like the Moroso cutoff switch, but I keep stuff in the compartments so that room is not available.
Roger

PRNDL

I have a Sears security battery (and I love it) but it does not entirely replace the battery cutoff switch. The Sears battery I believe will not shut off power to the engine while it is running. I can imagine a situation where you would want to turn the battery entirely off - a switch would do the trick - but the security battery remote control would not stop all current from the battery. I plan to install a manual cutoff switch even with my security battery. MJ