Author Topic: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch  (Read 1943 times)

Offline Cudakiller70

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Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« on: June 02, 2016 - 10:18:00 PM »
Want to install a 2 pole 4 post battery-alternator disconnect/kill switch. Need help because electrical is not one of my strong points. Will do the ammeter work around at the same time, but not install a new volt gauge till later in the year. Want to do this for several reasons, storage, electrical fire and maybe some theft prevention.  Read else where to be careful of voltage spikes potentially ruining any electronics if you use the disconnect/kill switch. This car has a 3 wire alternator. Thinking of putting this switch under the battery tray. 
Are their any kits or is this simple to put together?
Any info, advice or direction would be appreciated.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2016 - 10:36:57 PM by Cudakiller70 »
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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« Reply #1 on: June 03, 2016 - 12:46:27 AM »
Simple wiring , run the battery across the large terminals of course & run the green field wire aross the 2 smaller terminals , this will cut the power to both the battery & alt .

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Offline GoodysGotaCuda

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Re: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« Reply #2 on: June 03, 2016 - 12:52:30 AM »
I'd also disregard the concern for "voltage spikes" ruining electronics. There is nothing going on here to promote the failure of electronics, it will be fine.
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Offline Cudakiller70

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Re: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« Reply #3 on: June 03, 2016 - 10:52:01 AM »
Ok Thanks! Looking at mads ammeter drawing and others to help do this right.
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Offline cudabob496

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Re: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2016 - 02:48:16 AM »
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/trd-4988

have this in trunk, next to battery, with neg cable passing through

Lever is outside for easy turn off when trunk lid closed

Has saved me once during an electical small fire.  things started burning
and I could not tell where, so just ran back and flipped switch to off.
72 Cuda, owned 25 years. 496, with ported Stage VI heads, .625 in solid roller, 254/258 at .050, 3500 stall, 3.91 rear. 850 Holley DP, Reverse manual valve body.

1999 Trans Am, LS1, heads, cam, headers, stall, etc! Love to surprise the rice rockets with this one. They seem so confident, then it's "what the heck just happened?"

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Offline Cudakiller70

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Re: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2016 - 09:28:55 AM »
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/trd-4988

have this in trunk, next to battery, with neg cable passing through

Lever is outside for easy turn off when trunk lid closed

Has saved me once during an electical small fire.  things started burning
and I could not tell where, so just ran back and flipped switch to off.
Sounds like doing this was well worth it then, Just seems to make sense to me for an older car and for the extended periods of storage.  :2thumbs:
FWIW l bought one of these on Amazon from Fastronics. Had it for a week went to put it in and after playing with it for awhile it felt funny so I checked it and sure enough the contacts were not closing. Ordered a new one just before 11am and Amazon had a free same day shipping offer, I received a new one at 6 pm that same day. Now to me that's amazing.
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Offline brads70

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Re: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2016 - 09:19:56 PM »
I went to my local electrical supply store and bought a PVC conduit box and mounted the Moroso shut off switch inside it. The lid ( not shown) mounts to a bracket I welded up and that mounts to the trunk hinge support in the trunk ( also where the battery is) Looks clean , cheap and simple and I don't have to worry about stuff bouncing around and shorting out. I ran one wire to the battery for my radio , transmission controller, and gps speedo so I don't loose power to those items when I turn off the main switch. It's great for security, welding, and when your working on other electrical stuff so you don't short something out.

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Offline cudabob496

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Re: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2016 - 06:08:13 PM »
Sounds like doing this was well worth it then, Just seems to make sense to me for an older car and for the extended periods of storage.  :2thumbs:
FWIW l bought one of these on Amazon from Fastronics. Had it for a week went to put it in and after playing with it for awhile it felt funny so I checked it and sure enough the contacts were not closing. Ordered a new one just before 11am and Amazon had a free same day shipping offer, I received a new one at 6 pm that same day. Now to me that's amazing.

Especially handy when you are doing a lot of electrical mods, like adding gauges and stuff.
Helps protect you from a screwup that burns down your car. There's no way you are going
to disconnect your car battery, by itself, in 10 secs.
72 Cuda, owned 25 years. 496, with ported Stage VI heads, .625 in solid roller, 254/258 at .050, 3500 stall, 3.91 rear. 850 Holley DP, Reverse manual valve body.

1999 Trans Am, LS1, heads, cam, headers, stall, etc! Love to surprise the rice rockets with this one. They seem so confident, then it's "what the heck just happened?"

2011 Kawasaki Z1000

Offline Cudakiller70

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Re: Battery disconnect/alternator kill switch
« Reply #8 on: June 27, 2016 - 03:23:37 PM »
Especially handy when you are doing a lot of electrical mods, like adding gauges and stuff.
Helps protect you from a screwup that burns down your car. There's no way you are going
to disconnect your car battery, by itself, in 10 secs.

Yup, right on the mark! Electrical fires are nasty. I have insurance, but really when you think of the time and effort you put into a car insurance never really makes you feel like you were made complete or whole again.

I went to my local electrical supply store and bought a PVC conduit box and mounted the Moroso shut off switch inside it. The lid ( not shown) mounts to a bracket I welded up and that mounts to the trunk hinge support in the trunk ( also where the battery is) Looks clean , cheap and simple and I don't have to worry about stuff bouncing around and shorting out. I ran one wire to the battery for my radio , transmission controller, and gps speedo so I don't loose power to those items when I turn off the main switch. It's great for security, welding, and when your working on other electrical stuff so you don't short something out.



That would make for a clean install! I may have to steal this for future work  :2thumbs:
« Last Edit: June 27, 2016 - 03:27:16 PM by Cudakiller70 »
Auto spell I'm tired of your shirt
The above is just my opinion
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
John Adams