23 replies to this topic

[tkesmith]

Cooper Sport
2001

Toying with the idea of installing a battery cut off as there are periods where my car is left unused anfd i've laready had a close shave with bringing the battery back from near death!

Has anyone installed a cut off and is it a job suitable for a novice?

Edited by tkesmith, 30 January 2011 - 04:31 PM.

[ibrooks]

Easy enough but I've yet to find a decent one. They tend to melt after a while. Just disconnect the battery earth cable.

Iain

[Tommyboy12]

I have a battery mounted one from Moss Europe. Works fine but its a bugger if you forget to switch it back on and blow the inline fuse for leaving ancillaries on.

[tkesmith]

Lol, cheers Tommy

any thoughts on this
http://www.minisport...S-CAR-NECT.html

seems a pretty straight forward option but a pain to have to fiddle about in the boot!:0(

I was ideally wanting something that i could have in the cabin

[sonikk4]

Although we have not done it yet we will be running the battery cable in the car along the l/h side of the tunnel mounted on 'P' clips with a removable cut off switch mounted close to the gear lever.

[Artful Dodger]

not hard at all! really easy and can get any good one from places such as burton power or sparco ect. all you have to do is separate the positive wire as close to the battery as possible and fit it in:) so simple if your D.I.Y applicable

its impotant to keep it as close to the battery (positive feed) as possible


hope this helps, harri

[sonikk4]

not hard at all! really easy and can get any good one from places such as burton power or sparco ect. all you have to do is separate the positive wire as close to the battery as possible and fit it in:) so simple if your D.I.Y applicable

its impotant to keep it as close to the battery (positive feed) as possible


hope this helps, harri

Ok maybe a stupid question but why is it important to keep it as close as possible to the battery. I have seen rally mini's with the battery cut off in the cabin??

Surely if you are using a good quality cut off mounted correctly then it should not be an issue or am i missing something??

[Dan]

I would not use an FIA type in a road car, they aren't designed for daily use as an isolator and aren't up to it. They are designed as an emergency isolator. They don't last, even on race cars. The Dis-car-nect is ideal. There are other types of more rugged switch available too, look around auto electrical websites such as Pole-Volt or Vehicle Wiring Products. Bringing some of the main cable inside the cabin and mounting the switch there isn't too hard, just make sure the battery is disconnected before you start work!

[bmcecosse]

If the point of this is to try to prevent theft - then fine. But you will need to maintain power to the immobiliser/locking system. So the battery will still run down. To keep the battery up - fit a solar charger from Maplins - ~ £10. You may need two if there is a largish drain - but try one first.

[sonikk4]

I would not use an FIA type in a road car, they aren't designed for daily use as an isolator and aren't up to it. They are designed as an emergency isolator. They don't last, even on race cars. The Dis-car-nect is ideal. There are other types of more rugged switch available too, look around auto electrical websites such as Pole-Volt or Vehicle Wiring Products. Bringing some of the main cable inside the cabin and mounting the switch there isn't too hard, just make sure the battery is disconnected before you start work!

Just had a quick look on both websites quite a few to choose from but will give them a bell to see what they would recommend for a road car. Ta muchly.

[Artful Dodger]

not hard at all! really easy and can get any good one from places such as burton power or sparco ect. all you have to do is separate the positive wire as close to the battery as possible and fit it in:) so simple if your D.I.Y applicable

its impotant to keep it as close to the battery (positive feed) as possible


hope this helps, harri

Ok maybe a stupid question but why is it important to keep it as close as possible to the battery. I have seen rally mini's with the battery cut off in the cabin??

Surely if you are using a good quality cut off mounted correctly then it should not be an issue or am i missing something??

well, long answer, if your running the battery cable through or even under the car and you have a crash and the battery cut of switch is next to your seat inside the car When you turn that off you will still have a cable running underneath you that is LIVE. this is NOT GOOD. This can cause a fire. If its in the boot next to the battery then there is no risk of anything bad like a fire or worse happening.

Its deffinatly the most safe place to put it an me and my dad (racing driver and mechanic all his life) highly recommend you put it there,


hope this helps, Harri

[tkesmith]

not hard at all! really easy and can get any good one from places such as burton power or sparco ect. all you have to do is separate the positive wire as close to the battery as possible and fit it in:) so simple if your D.I.Y applicable

its impotant to keep it as close to the battery (positive feed) as possible


hope this helps, harri

Ok maybe a stupid question but why is it important to keep it as close as possible to the battery. I have seen rally mini's with the battery cut off in the cabin??

Surely if you are using a good quality cut off mounted correctly then it should not be an issue or am i missing something??

well, long answer, if your running the battery cable through or even under the car and you have a crash and the battery cut of switch is next to your seat inside the car When you turn that off you will still have a cable running underneath you that is LIVE. this is NOT GOOD. This can cause a fire. If its in the boot next to the battery then there is no risk of anything bad like a fire or worse happening.

Its deffinatly the most safe place to put it an me and my dad (racing driver and mechanic all his life) highly recommend you put it there,


hope this helps, Harri

Only been on this forum for slightly over a day and i can't believe how helpful you lot are. Excellent points to think about. Cheers all.

Solar charger is a good call

[AzMaN]

not hard at all! really easy and can get any good one from places such as burton power or sparco ect. all you have to do is separate the positive wire as close to the battery as possible and fit it in:) so simple if your D.I.Y applicable

its impotant to keep it as close to the battery (positive feed) as possible


hope this helps, harri

Ok maybe a stupid question but why is it important to keep it as close as possible to the battery. I have seen rally mini's with the battery cut off in the cabin??

Surely if you are using a good quality cut off mounted correctly then it should not be an issue or am i missing something??

well, long answer, if your running the battery cable through or even under the car and you have a crash and the battery cut of switch is next to your seat inside the car When you turn that off you will still have a cable running underneath you that is LIVE. this is NOT GOOD. This can cause a fire. If its in the boot next to the battery then there is no risk of anything bad like a fire or worse happening.

Its deffinatly the most safe place to put it an me and my dad (racing driver and mechanic all his life) highly recommend you put it there,


hope this helps, Harri

Sorry but i disagree with this slightly, if its in the boot and you have a crash, its useless, you would have to get out the car, unlock the boot and opperate it.

Now if you wanted to be fussy the correct way would be a relay opperated switch with the relay mounted in the boot next to the battery. A small switch mounted on a pannel switching a ground would make the relay or break it, and if you wanted it to turn off in the event of a cash, maybe an inertia switch too.

The downside to this is you wouldnt have any power to the alarm/radio/whatever else which is fine in an emergency, but day to day would be a pain. therefore you would need a fues perment live from the battery to run these, and then the risk comes back in again all be it smaller but in the correct situation a little spark can do alot of damage.

so depends if your looking for ultimate safety (which to be honest you cant be driving a mini) or practicality.

Edited by AzMaN, 30 January 2011 - 10:30 PM.

[Cooperman]

Just one small additional point. If you turn the battery cut-off switch to 'Off' whilst the engine is running,unless the cut-off switch incorporates an ignition cut-off as well, you can easily burn out the alternator as the engine will continue to run and the current generated will have no-where to go.
Personally on my rally cars I use an FIA-Approved cut-off switch which cuts positive power and ignition which is the only type of switch approved for international competition.

[sonikk4]

Just one small additional point. If you turn the battery cut-off switch to 'Off' whilst the engine is running,unless the cut-off switch incorporates an ignition cut-off as well, you can easily burn out the alternator as the engine will continue to run and the current generated will have no-where to go.
Personally on my rally cars I use an FIA-Approved cut-off switch which cuts positive power and ignition which is the only type of switch approved for international competition.

Like this one, second one down.
http://www.vehicle-w...ns/battisol.php