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Battery master switch (prevent theft / battery drain)

Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 10:11 pm
by jessef
There are many ways to do this and many products.

Putting this out there for those that don't know about them.

It's a good safety device for two reasons.

1. Switching it off (cutting circuit between battery and rest of the vehicle electronics) isolated the battery and will prevent any drain from accidental (on) electronics.

2. Switching it off (cutting circuit between battery and rest of the vehicle electronics) disconnects electricity to the starter/ignition. This prevents anyone from breaking into your vehicle (knock on wood) and forcing it to start.

Relatively inexpensive one at princess auto :

http://www.princessauto.com/trailer/tru ... off-switch

$7.99

There's better (heavy duty/rated) one's that I would get, but you get the idea of what it does.

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http://www.princessauto.com/trailer/tru ... off-switch

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http://12voltguy.com/web/index.php?page ... &Itemid=43

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Re: Battery master switch (prevent theft / battery drain)

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 1:10 pm
by after oil
8-)
i wonder how to fit this in to the two battery system. its pretty full in there (doesnt help that i got relays for the wvo in there)
if i installed one of these, perhaps i would bypass it for the stereo to save the settings.

Re: Battery master switch (prevent theft / battery drain)

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 1:24 pm
by fexlboi
after oil wrote: i wonder how to fit this in to the two battery system.
8-)

Re: Battery master switch (prevent theft / battery drain)

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 4:45 pm
by Firesong
The only sucky thing about these is I don't like resetting my
stereo settings, it takes a LONG time.

FS

Re: Battery master switch (prevent theft / battery drain)

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 5:28 pm
by fexlboi
Firesong wrote:The only sucky thing about these is I don't like resetting my
stereo settings, it takes a LONG time.
FS
Why not wire your radio straight to the battery?

Re: Battery master switch (prevent theft / battery drain)

Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:07 pm
by RichD
You don't need to switch off the main vehicle power to use a switch to kill the starter. The starter power line is separate from the main vehicle load line. Just switch that one and your radio and other stuff will work as usual, but the ignition will be defeated.

This is what I did in my setup; my battery selector has an off position which controls power to the starter motor alone. Vehicle power is hard connected to the starter battery.