battery cut-off switch - instructions? - Land Rovers Only

hermanpj · 07-03-2009, 09:10 AM

I bought a heavy duty battery cut-off switch - the simple kind with the big red key. anyway, it didn't come with instructions. Has anyone mounted one of these and if so have instructions. i can guess the cutoff switch should mount between the battery ground post and the ground cable, but a pic or description of what to mount it to would be helpful. thanks

OldnDirty · 07-03-2009, 11:01 AM

My RRC had one in it when I bought it. The PO installed it in the passenger side inner fender, near the battery. You just cut the main battery ground cable, solder ring terminals on the cable ends, and attach those ring terminals to the switch. All you are doing is making a break in the ground circuit with the switch. Hope that helps.

hermanpj · 07-03-2009, 07:39 PM

thanks dude.

mbrummal · 07-03-2009, 08:55 PM

I thought you would put it on the positive side. Well, either way disconnects the battery so it won't die from parasitic loads.

hermanpj · 07-09-2009, 08:06 PM

does anyone have knowledge whether it should be on positive or negative side?

ArmyRover · 07-09-2009, 08:09 PM

I had always done it on the positive cable.

OldnDirty · 07-09-2009, 09:40 PM

Mine is on the negative side. It doesn't really matter as long as you're breaking the circuit. Mine was done before I bought it. If I were to do it myself, I would probably do it on the positive side now that I think about it.

Rineheitzgabot · 07-10-2009, 05:58 AM

I just installed one a couple of weeks ago on my Series. I put it on the positive cable.

If you want, I can post some pics when I get home.

-Gary

lwbblue · 07-10-2009, 09:30 AM

pat,

this is not a nonchalant issue! It must be installed on the positive side. Most race cars have the switch you are talking about, and at technical inspection it is always checked to show that when it is off there is not juice running through the wires looking for a ground. The big example is; the battery cable connects directly to the starter. Mount the switch on the ground side then poke around the starter with a wrench, good way to burn your finger off. Mount it on the hot side for safety and live with punching in the radio code each time.

good luck geneo

antichrist · 07-10-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanpj

i can guess the cutoff switch should mount between the battery ground post and the ground cable, but a pic or description of what to mount it to would be helpful. thanks

How you mount it really depends on what your goal with the switch is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwbblue

Mount the switch on the ground side then poke around the starter with a wrench, good way to burn your finger off.

Please explain how you get any arching at the starter when the ground post on the battery is part of the circuit.

On race cars I could see it wanting to be on the pos since in a wreck the ground post of the battery could be in contact with crunched metal and thus complete a circuit.

hermanpj · 07-11-2009, 08:20 PM

reinnheitsgebot, please post a pic im interested what you anchored the switch to.

AC, my goal with this switch is to better preserve battery and insulate it from parasitic drain.

thanks, Army.

Rineheitzgabot · 07-12-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanpj

reinnheitsgebot, please post a pic im interested what you anchored the switch to.

AC, my goal with this switch is to better preserve battery and insulate it from parasitic drain.

thanks, Army.

Hope this helps:
Picasa Web Albums - Garrick

Picasa Web Albums - Garrick

Picasa Web Albums - Garrick

I had a 5-wire plug used for towing there, that was obsolete, so I used it as the mounting hole for the switch.

antichrist · 07-13-2009, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanpj

AC, my goal with this switch is to better preserve battery and insulate it from parasitic drain.

Then it doesn't matter if it's on the Neg or Pos.

Populus · 07-14-2009, 10:37 PM

ECU needs current !!!!

The battery cutoff is just that ! Its main function is to close all electrical contacts in a crash or other emergency situations. Either (-) side or (+) side as long as you have severed the connection.

Now if you have a drain , the cutoff will only mask the problem, but its not a fix,and you can create more problems with the ecu and or alarm systems.

Find the drain first !

Divied245 · 07-15-2009, 06:26 AM

It goes on the positive side... why do you think the switch and key is red? the goal is to keep current from getting to anything. just because you interrupt the ground side of the battery doesn't mean there isn't power flowing anymore.

but, like populus said... Find the problem of what its doing.