Battery disconnect
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
From: West Slope of the Sierras California
Battery disconnect
Who has these on their cars? I can think of several good reasons to put one on mine.
1. Theft deterrant(sp)
2. Prevent batt. drain during winter time.
3. Worst case scenario...in the event of an electrical short/fire, flip the switch THEN get the extinguisher. (in my 30+ yrs. working on the Hwys I've seen many cars burn to the ground due to electrical shorts)
Question is, can these be set up to provide a small amount of current to maintain memory in stereo, clock, etc? Thanks.
1. Theft deterrant(sp)
2. Prevent batt. drain during winter time.
3. Worst case scenario...in the event of an electrical short/fire, flip the switch THEN get the extinguisher. (in my 30+ yrs. working on the Hwys I've seen many cars burn to the ground due to electrical shorts)
Question is, can these be set up to provide a small amount of current to maintain memory in stereo, clock, etc? Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 760
Likes: 1
From: N.W. Arkansas
yep i use them, on my 78's, my 89' ,, and yes you can put a jumper wire from one side to the other, with a fuse and it keeps the clock, pre-sets, all that going for ya,, !,, ive been told however dont use them on newer vettes,, later rj
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
yes, for a bit more money they come with an extra little wire + fuse that will power your clock and radio memory but will not start the car.
One more benefit, to elaborate a little bit on your worst case scenario, on a hot day, with engine running hot it will get even hotter after you shut down because heat will spread from hot engine while coolant has stopped flowing and fan has stopped moving air (notice how some modern cars will continue to run the electric fan for a few minutes after you shut the engine off). So after you shut the engine off and walk away from the car the extra engine heat can melt 30 year old wire insulation and spark an electrical fire after you have walked away from the car. Using the battery cutoff switch will protect you from this type of fire starting while you are away from the car.
One more benefit, to elaborate a little bit on your worst case scenario, on a hot day, with engine running hot it will get even hotter after you shut down because heat will spread from hot engine while coolant has stopped flowing and fan has stopped moving air (notice how some modern cars will continue to run the electric fan for a few minutes after you shut the engine off). So after you shut the engine off and walk away from the car the extra engine heat can melt 30 year old wire insulation and spark an electrical fire after you have walked away from the car. Using the battery cutoff switch will protect you from this type of fire starting while you are away from the car.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
i use the blade type, there available thru j c whitney, i didnt like the **** type,, after seeing what a electrical short in a ford van did to the neighborhood garage,(,melted the steel beams!!)my car was in that garage 3 days before the fire,,,i was lucky,,,vette would off been a melted blob of burnt plastic........ i put one in my car,when im not in the car i open the switch,no way it can ever short while im not there, if i ever had a electrical short i would just open the switch killing power,,,and use the estinguisher i keep mounted to the passenger side floor
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
this is on my 89 g m c safari- i figured the photo would come out better than trying to get inside the vettes battery box compartment------------------- open position-------------------------------------------------
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...----------item # zx737515b---j c whitney online catalog $26.99----------------------------------------
work real good e z fix for small drains in battery bec you disc when not in use-best insurance against elect shorts no juice to wires no shorts
work real good e z fix for small drains in battery bec you disc when not in use-best insurance against elect shorts no juice to wires no shorts
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
the thing i didnt like with the **** type is when you loosen the **** the 2 halves of the contact seperate opening the circut, the problem is that they are so close together, that i have had them make and break at indoor shows causing that annoying set of alarm signals to go off, the blade type is more expensive 30 bucks a pop as opposed tp a dollar for the **** type,,,,(there on sale all the time at car shows for a buck) but when the blade type is open its open
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 914
Likes: 14
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Have the blade type ... but?
I have a blade type like Carl from JC Whit also. However I can't quite get it to fit in my Batt compartment ....?
Try as I might its still too tight. What gives?
carbster
Try as I might its still too tight. What gives?
carbster
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Here's a couple of shots of the style we've got, and how we re-routed it...
The backing behind the switch is a piece of cardboard, as a temp fix; the previous owner had a leaking rear window seal which caused water damage to the glove box.
The cardboard holds it fairly solidly in there; there's no wiggle when you put the key in to turn on the battery connection, nor is there any problem with the way the wiring runs to it.
I personally don't like the screw type that can be had for like, $5 at most car shows. We've got one on our Jag, and if you unscrew it too far (which seems to be anything more than one full turn) it can make contact again and cause a short which drains the battery. If you can, get a blade type or one like what I've got.
I've seen this style at Summit for about $25-$30, and Wal-Mart also carries it in either their automotive dept or their sporting goods section by the boating supplies, as a battery disconnect for the trolling motors/boat batteries.
The backing behind the switch is a piece of cardboard, as a temp fix; the previous owner had a leaking rear window seal which caused water damage to the glove box.
The cardboard holds it fairly solidly in there; there's no wiggle when you put the key in to turn on the battery connection, nor is there any problem with the way the wiring runs to it.
I personally don't like the screw type that can be had for like, $5 at most car shows. We've got one on our Jag, and if you unscrew it too far (which seems to be anything more than one full turn) it can make contact again and cause a short which drains the battery. If you can, get a blade type or one like what I've got.
I've seen this style at Summit for about $25-$30, and Wal-Mart also carries it in either their automotive dept or their sporting goods section by the boating supplies, as a battery disconnect for the trolling motors/boat batteries.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 914
Likes: 14
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Thanks
Carl,
Thanks, I give it a try again. I don't know why I did not attempt to reorient it? I also tried it on the negetive side...
I'll attack it again when I get back to town...
carbster
Thanks, I give it a try again. I don't know why I did not attempt to reorient it? I also tried it on the negetive side...
I'll attack it again when I get back to town...
carbster
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Originally Posted by firstimer
And thanks from me too, Guys. Several options now! Interesting one, the key type, from Sprzout. Where'd 'ya get that one?
Here's one link to Summit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
I was thinking about trying to put the battery disconnect up under the dash, but I couldn't find a suitable mounting point to put it, and our cables to connect the switch weren't long enough. No biggie...