Anyone installed a battery kill switch?

[vintaylor]

Hi Guys,

 

Has anyone installed a battery kill switch in their esprit?

 

Was looking at installing something like this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIA-Approved-Competition-Battery-Cut-Off-Kill-Master-Switch-With-1-8m-Pull-Cable-/271417054751?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f31b7961f

 

[molemot]

I have a master switch fitted to the battery terminal. A similar switch to the one you illustrate; except it's one originally intended for marine applications and doesn't have any of the remote operating gubbins. It's easily accessible by simply lifting the rear hatch cover. I made up two short copper busbars, one goes from the switch to the battery positive terminal and the other from the switch to the wiring connections. Good thick copper is more than strong enough to support the switch with no further bracketry needed...my busbars ar about 1" wide by 3/16" thick.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Duty-Battery-Master-Isolator-Cut-Off-Kill-Switch-UNIVERSAL-/150773689804?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item231acfedcc

[vintaylor]

Hi John,

 

Were did you mount the switch?  Wouldn't it be ideal to have a pull cable leading to the cockpit in case of a fire?

[esprit22]

If a fire started, forget killing the electrics, pull a handle that activates a fire extinguisher..

[vintaylor]

wouldn't you want to stop the fuel pump going ? I'm planning on having both installed

[molemot]

To stop fuel pump, turn off ignition! Always a good idea if you're on fire....! As I said, the busbars themselves are more than strong enough to mount the switch....one side is bolted through the busbar to battery +ve and that acts both as connection and mount. Unless you intend to race the beast, in which case the switch has to be externally accessible, this works fine. I use it as a way to ensure the battery doesn't flatten itself keeping the radio stations tuned over the winter and to prevent people casually thieving it. As Chris says, if you want a handle in the cockpit, make it an extinguishing system....

Best of all, prevent it catching fire in the first place by regularly changing the flexible fuel pipes, and using Goodridge braided hoses instead of the standard rubber ones....also keep an eye on the carburetters to make sure they don't develop any leaks. Primary safety rather than secondary safety.....I always recommend changing the fuel pipes when you change the cambelt.

[vintaylor]

That is true and I will be sure to check all fuel lines etc...

 

All are being done new at the moment.  I would still like the actual kill switch installed even for convenience when working on the car... Please excuse my lack of knowledge, but what do you mean by busbar?

 

I will definitely by installing the extinguisher pull handle in the cockpit

[Roger 912]

I agree with John. I also have installed a kill switch mounted right at the battery terminal.

 

Whenever the car is parked off in the garage, I automatically turn the battery kill switch and sleep soundly.

 

Should there be a fire, turn off the ignition and yes, I would agree with you, kill the battery and hope the fire extinguisher works.

[vintaylor]

But wouldn't you be letting in more air into the engine bay if you have to lift it up to turn off the kill switch?

 

Roger, would you have a photo of the killswitch installed?

[molemot]

As long as you don't lift the actual engine cover itself, I don't think you'd be increasing the oxygen availability by enough to make any difference. A busbar ....just a solid copper bar, in my case around 1" across by 3/16" thick. It has a battery connector bolted to one end to fit on to the +ve terminal; then there's a 90 degree bend after about 2" or so, to bring the bar horizontal...then there's a hole through which the master switch bolts to the busbar. Power goes through the switch, and the other switch terminal has the +ve connections bolted to it, using suitable ring connectors crimped (for the thin wires) or soldered ( for the heavy gauge stuff) to the wiring.

I never intended it to be a safety feature...just so that I would know that there would be no chance of anything untoward happening whilst parked or in the workshop; and it would be a useful anti theft device, any casual attempt at stealing would hit problems enough to make the tealeaves think again. 

[ChrisJ]

I'm quite interested in the kill switch, any photos?

 

For plumbed in fire extinguishers I've got this installed in my Esprit. 

 

[vintaylor]

Hi Chris,

 

Do have pictures of the pull mechanism ?  Did you mount it in the cockpit?

[ChrisJ]

Hi Vin

 

A long time ago I foolishly installed it like this - I have no idea why it was put in that position - it should have been a couple of inches higher.

 

 

There are two nozzles in the engine bay. One here

 

and the other here:

 

 

[marcbria]

So, umm having had an engine fire a few comments:

- After turning off the ignition, the starter motor started running (With the keys in my hand).

- Lifting the rear cover, to disconnect the battery positive whcih was a tad loose, did not fan the fire much since the engive cover was on. I closed the rear again after.

- A hand extinguisher up under the engine from the right hand side put out the fire, fortunatly I had one.

 

So what do I want to do differently:

- Kill switch accessible from passenger compartment.

- Remote fire extinguisher with a pull handle in the passenger compartment. With a pin preventing accidental discharge.

 

Just my thoughts, it appears the fire was electrical so might be related to why the started began running.

 

Brian

[Alec Grimsey]

Hi,

 

When I purchased the car it had a dismantled alarm on it which wasn't working, so I have used the key switch which was mounted below the drivers side fuel cap as an extra safety device by cutting the power to the fuel pump. It is just simply connected to the earth lead of the fuel pump so when switched off the fuel pump will not work.  This helps prevent the car being stolen and also gives a reasonably quick way of stopping the fuel pump from working if you need to.

I have also connected a switch (sorry don't have a picture at the moment) as you mention above the battery on the side panel.  It has the main red lead from the starter motor going to it and then another red power lead to the battery.  When the car is in the garage I always turn this off to stop any drain on the power.  Also when out take the key with you and its another deterrent to anyone taking the car.

I hope this helps.

 

Alec

[vintaylor]

So, umm having had an engine fire a few comments:

- After turning off the ignition, the starter motor started running (With the keys in my hand).

- Lifting the rear cover, to disconnect the battery positive whcih was a tad loose, did not fan the fire much since the engive cover was on. I closed the rear again after.

- A hand extinguisher up under the engine from the right hand side put out the fire, fortunatly I had one.

 

So what do I want to do differently:

- Kill switch accessible from passenger compartment.

- Remote fire extinguisher with a pull handle in the passenger compartment. With a pin preventing accidental discharge.

 

Just my thoughts, it appears the fire was electrical so might be related to why the started began running.

 

Brian

 

Hi Brian,

 

To make the kill switch accessible from the passenger compartment wouldn't you need to install a pull handle?  Or is it possible to extent the battery cable enough to reach the cockpit?

 

Also do you know of a pull cable that includes the accidental pin preventing system?

[ramjet]

Just a note that you may wish to ask several auto electricians about. I had a battery isolation switch on my skiboat which was connected on the +ve side of the battery. Both of the auto electricians that I showed the circuit diagram to for the boat told me to change the kill switch to the -ve terminal.

 

Now don't get me wrong. If I was installing one, I would have put it on the +ve as well. Both of them said in the event of a fire, you kill the earth. They both categorically stated that this is better than cutting the +ve.

 

For some reason, it still seems counter-intuitive.

[molemot]

I'd love to know the reasoning behind putting a master switch in the -ve lead. Every master switch I have ever come across (and there have been quite a few!) has been in the +ve lead; boats, cars, aeroplanes...always on the +ve lead. The only reason I could think of would be if the engine was still running, and the alternator producing voltage...then this could still complete a circuit to ground if the earth lead was still connected. However, this doesn't ring true to me.....Michael, can you go back and ask these auto electricians to explain why they'd put  the master switch in the -ve lead?

[ramjet]

Nope. Not any more. This was over 6 years ago. They live over 4,000 miles away and I have no contact details for them. It was along the lines of what you said. That has triggered my memory. Alternator producing current and a circuit to earth. Remove the earth and everything stops.

 

As I said, I would have put one in the +ve and have always seen them like that as well. I rewired mine to be on the -ve, but thankfully never had to use it for a fire.

[marcbria]

Hey Vin,

 

Yes I'd like to install one with a pull handle, but have not found one yet. The one you linked to, do you know how it works with the handle? Does the handle simply pull the red key out or do you need to set it up to turn it?

 

Brian

[vintaylor]

Hi Brian,

 

This looks good .. it includes the killswitch, pull handle and wiring diagram...

 

I am assuming it just hook up to the key through the hole and you simply pull the handle to disconnect the battery

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIA-APPROVED-BATTERY-CUT-OFF-KILL-SWITCH-T-PULL-CABLE-/270608020222?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f017eb2fe

 

[markt]

I installed one of those years ago Vin and is quite good. A different model to yours, but you get the idea where it's mounted.

On

 

Off

 

And pull out the key and take it with you for piece of mind

[ChrisJ]

I like this position. On mine, it would be one side for the fire extinguisher, the other for a battery kill switch. A nice bit of symmetry, and a good use of a void.

 

Chris.

[qwerty123]

Here's one going cheap...

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LMA-MERIT-Battery-FIA-Cut-Out-Switch-2-Terminal-HD-LMA785-Race-Rally-Motorsport-/121331474991?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Other_Vehicle_Parts_Accessories_ET&hash=item1c3feb622f

[espritmania]

Would a kill switch effect the ECU if I fitted one to myS4??