Why do some people use a battery cut of switch and others do not? I am trying to decide if I need to install one.
Thanks
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Why do some people use a battery cut of switch and others do not? I am trying to decide if I need to install one.
Thanks
On a road going car, for safety and security. When in storage the battery is switched off for safety against fire hazard. Should you ever be in an accident, it gives the police and fire dept. ready access to disconnect power. Many have a cutoff switch on the back panel between the seats, there is also a type that goes on the negative battery terminal.
Mandatory on race cars.
Hi PetetH,
Why is that different than a car I use on a daily basis or is that the difference?
That's a good question. I have them on a few classic sports cars, because they're old, even though wiring looms have been replaced, they do sit around alot. To me the fact these are home built cars, even though we're careful during the build, benefit from the peace of mind cutoff's provide. Should something short unexpectedly, you can shut it down quickly.
Nobody wants to steal you daily beater, nor mine, and you likely won't drive your daily at the race track.
I've got a keyed battery switch, a coil cut out switch, a secondary starter switch & removable steering wheel.
Since I work in New Orleans, I want to drive it on fare-weather days and be sure that it is still where I parked it when I'm ready to go home.
Thanks for the responses, i get it now. I'm assuming I want to put this switch were it is easily accessible but not easily seen?
Security????? If an expert wants your roadster, the battery cut off switch isn't going to prevent him from rolling up with a low boy trailer and yanking the car onto it with a winch or two buddies. Besides, the switches are keyed. Most use a universal switch actuator.
For me, the battery cut off switch was piece of mind that the car is electrically powered down when I want it to be. I placed mine on the back wall of the cockpit between the seats. Battery is under trunk so it was a short run to the switch. I wanted the switch visible for aesthetics.
Last edited by Dave Howard; 03-23-2017 at 02:00 PM.
SECURITY / YES
I park, when at work, in a covered garage so car trailers won't get in there and the ceiling is way too low for a wrecker of any type.
Since most thieves don't drive around with a car dollies or trailer, nor do many drive wreckers I think these security redundancies can and do help.
Plus these redundancies are all hidden in different locations on the car, with an emphasis on hidden.
Aye & Good Day From The Dirty South!
Last edited by GoDadGo; 03-23-2017 at 02:11 PM.
It's required equipment for most race classes. The Cobra is essentially a race car with a license plate. I think a lot of people install them because it's part of the visual and functional package. You really don't want to be using it very often, though. It will eventually fail and leave you stranded.
.boB "Iron Man"
NASA Rocky Mountain, TTU #42, HPDE Instructor
BDR 1642: Coyote, 6 Speed Auto, Edelbrock Supercharger
Member: www.MileHiCobraClub.com
www.RacingTheExocet.com
From the extra security standpoint where to mount it depends on where your battery is. When mine was in the rear the switch was in the trunk. On the rare occasions that I wanted to feel better, I turned off the switch, took the red key w/ me, and locked the trunk. You could do similar w/ the battery up front since the trunk latches are keyed. In some installations you can also make the wiring simpler w/ something like this.
http://www.eastwood.com/battery-shut...FV61wAod_roLWA
FFR MkII, 408W, Tremec TKO 500, 2015 IRS, DA QA1s, Forte front bar, APE hardtop.
I put one in for both piece of mind that the power was off (except for the clock and EFI memory) and as a small measure of security. I tucked it on the horseshoe below the dash. With the flag key out, the socket almost disappears into the black carpet, so you have to know it's there. I know it won't stop a pro that really wants the car, but it can't hurt, right?
John
FFR #7388 - Mk 4 Complete Kit w/ IRS, Ordered 10/21/10, Delivered 12/8/10. 302 with FiTech and Under Car Exhaust, Heat & A/C, Rod Top. Hard top and shop built side curtains added 2023.
James
FFR33 #997 (Gen1 chassis, Gen2 body), license plate DRIVE IT says it all! build thread
My build: 350SBC, TKO600, hardtop, no fenders/hood, 32 grill, 3 link, sway bars, 355/30r19
Previous cars: GTD40, Cobra, tubeframe 55 Chevy, 66 Nova, 56 F100
I mounted my cut off switch on the small angled panel at the rear of the tranny cover. If i was to do it again, I would mount it somewhere up by the dash, or perhaps up at the front of the tranny cover. As it is now, it would be very hard to reach when strapped in to the harness, especially if you were hanging upside down.
FFR6803RD, MK 3.1, 302 EFI, fr/rr disc brakes, WC-T5, c/w Hurst Competition Plus shifter, 3 link rear, Koni adjustable coil over shocks, dual roll bars, BBK 4-4 headers, 3.55 rear gears, BBK rear lower control arms c/w poly bushings. Ivy Green Metallic Arrived-02/08, On road 09/2010