17 replies to this topic

[BigDave99]

Hey all

I am intending to fit a battery cut off switch as an immobiliser, the guy who owned the car before me has run the main +ive cable inside the car so i intend to cut into the cable and fit the switch in the rear bin. Does anyone see any probs with this? I know some people use the cut off switch in line with the -ive cable but is it ok to use the +ive?

All comments welcome

Dave

[bmcecosse]

Yes - that's fine - but make sure it's all VERY well insulated - no chance of a short.

[BenH]

definatly a good idea but make sure you have a spare red key with it.. lost my old one and couldnt use the car untill i had a new one from ebay aha!

[Johneh]

I intend on doing this soon too, seems like a good idea as it would stop any current going from the battery when your parked up, but I wouldnt say it would be a brilliant immobiliser as you could just rip the cables out of the switch either side and twist them together.

[PartySausage]

I intend on doing this soon too, seems like a good idea as it would stop any current going from the battery when your parked up, but I wouldnt say it would be a brilliant immobiliser as you could just rip the cables out of the switch either side and twist them together.

Thats only if you could find it niped in the rear shelf bin! haha

[dklawson]

I assume your question is the subject line... "Battery Cut Off Switch As Immobiliser, Your Thoughts"

If you have any electronics that require a trickle of battery current, it's not a great idea. Things like clocks, modern stereos with presets, etc. will all loose their settings if you disconnect the battery. If that's acceptable to you, there are marine battery terminal clamps that have wing-nuts to allow quick removal of the battery cable from the terminal. There are also "knife edge" type switches you can buy for mounting on the battery terminals. On one of my cars the earth cable terminal has a knob to allow easy removal of the cable. Then of course there are racing-style battery disconnect switches.

[Big_Adam]

Or fuel cut off switch, 10mins to fix, easy to hide, job done.

[Dan]

Don't use a terrible, competition FIA type cut off switch. Use a proper switch rated to a suitable current. The FIA switches are very flimsy and cheap. They fail fairly quickly, they aren't designed to be used daily.

[BigDave99]

Ok guys thanks for all that, some good advice - dklawson - i intend to fit a small fuse holder with a 10amp between terminals so that a trickle can go through for the radio. But as soon as anyway tries to fire up the starter motor the current will blow the fuse. And yes i intend to hide it well, Im just intending to use it as another obsticle for thieves! I have an FIA one at the mo, you wreckon it wont stand up to daily use then?

Dave

[Surfbluegarage]

got one fitted to my clubby estate.. mounted it on a box as to hide the terminals and so on.. ive also bypassed the connection with an inline blade fuse like you stated to allow for alarm,radio ect... find it very useful and good bit of kit really got mine from a mate who has loads.. ex land rover spares..

[dklawson]

I have the marine terminals on my Mini's battery cables with a 5 Amp fuse just like you describe. Just be sure you carry some extra fuses. From personal experience I can tell you that eventually you will forget that you disconnected the main cable and then... you'll pop the fuse.

We have an FIA type switch like Dan mentioned on my father-in-law's Formula-Vee. They meet the requirements of racing, but they are flimsy as he said. The switches that were available "before" were of heavier construction. So, I agree, an FIA type switch is likely to fail if you get in the habit of turning it off every time you park your car.

[Dan]

Lots of racers find they have to replace the switch every now and then, and they don't exactly use them frequently. If you are using it a few times a day it probably won't last long and you can almost guarantee that when it eventually fails it will be at the worst possible time.

[BigDave99]

Cheers for all that lads, dan - what switch would you recommend for regular use then?

[Pooky]

Here are some of VWP's battery isolators CLICKY

[samsfern]

i think that the best place for one is in the boot, that way the thiving *illegitimate person* that tries to steal your mini, will have the added agro of gettin into the boot, taking another 5 minues, thats if he knows where mini batterys are.... And then just to be xtra safe you could fit a switch to the little wire that switches the starter on, by that time id have thought the theif woulve given up