Battery cut off switch |
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Battery cut off switch |
dgraves |
Oct 23 2017, 04:58 PM
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#1
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1974 914 2.0 Group: Members Posts: 180 Joined: 6-June 16 From: Montana Member No.: 20,076 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
I've got a slow drain in my battery. My guess is that it's from the 911 dash installed by a previous owner. After about a week, the car may or may not start. Is anyone out there using a battery cut off switch? There are a lot for sale, but many look similar and several have some bad reviews.
Thanks |
mobymutt |
Oct 23 2017, 06:33 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 553 Joined: 16-December 13 From: Kingston, Ontario, Canada Member No.: 16,770 Region Association: Canada |
I got this for my car:
https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/top-...tch/A-p4210962e As simple as it gets, but you do have to open the engine cover every time. |
Mark Henry |
Oct 23 2017, 06:43 PM
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#3
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that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
I've had a Moroso switch on my bug for years, never a problem.
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thelogo |
Oct 23 2017, 07:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member Group: Retired Members Posts: 1,510 Joined: 6-April 10 Member No.: 11,572 Region Association: None |
I've had a Moroso switch on my bug for years, never a problem. I also ha e the moroso on my 914 , mark knows his stuff I also use a trickle or float charger too when the batt gets disconnected The trickle chager go's on I assume this will make the bat last longest as possible (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif) |
SKL1 |
Oct 23 2017, 08:09 PM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,625 Joined: 19-February 11 From: north Scottsdale Member No.: 12,732 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
I have the one shown by mutt above on both cars. Don't have the bypass wire as neither car has anything with "memory" - they're 45+ years old!!!
Works fine- easy twist and power is off. |
Dave_Darling |
Oct 23 2017, 09:20 PM
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#6
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 15,048 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
You should still figure out where the problem is.
--DD |
Rand |
Oct 23 2017, 09:43 PM
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#7
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Cross Member Group: Members Posts: 7,409 Joined: 8-February 05 From: OR Member No.: 3,573 Region Association: None |
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thelogo |
Oct 23 2017, 10:27 PM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Retired Members Posts: 1,510 Joined: 6-April 10 Member No.: 11,572 Region Association: None |
You should still figure out where the problem is. --DD Sorry i should started with i use the cutoff because My modernish sony radio clock supposedly drain the batt Or Or i had ! an optima and let it drain down , left on the lights And so im paranoid Aggreed dave , find the source of drain isnt a bad idea |
ThreeV8s |
Oct 23 2017, 11:12 PM
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#9
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Member Group: Members Posts: 116 Joined: 11-March 17 From: West Chester, PA Member No.: 20,915 Region Association: North East States |
We just pulled a battery out of my father's car after 16 years because we wanted to switch to agm for corrosion prevention. The battery was still cranking strong with the same style cut-off switch as post 2 (without the wire and never charged it). I'll be adding the same switch when I replace the battery that's in my 914 if there's room. The only downside of that style is the fact that it can still leave a slight connection to the battery if it's sticking at all. A blade style is probably best but finding the clearance with a rain tray would be a challenge.
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Mark Henry |
Oct 24 2017, 07:29 AM
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#10
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that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
You should still figure out where the problem is. --DD For sure. There's a parasite on board. I like cutoff switches, but, don't allow one to hide while you shut it off. Pull all your fuses, replace one at a time, tap the ground cable on the - battery and look for sparky. Doing this will hopefully narrow your search to one circuit. MSD is on all the time, as in it will charge the capacitors, so if you have an MSD disconnect it for this test. |
drem914 |
Oct 24 2017, 10:05 AM
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#11
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,041 Joined: 16-May 08 From: Trabuco Canyon, CA Member No.: 9,062 Region Association: Southern California |
Pull all your fuses, replace one at a time, tap the ground cable on the - battery and look for sparky. Doing this will hopefully narrow your search to one circuit. MSD is on all the time, as in it will charge the capacitors, so if you have an MSD disconnect it for this test. Mark, Thanks for the sequence, as I too, like many here, have got a parasite power drain. I was not sure how to go about narrowing down the offending circuit. If I don't leave a trickle charger on it I will have a dead battery w/in 2 weeks. |
Keith914 |
Oct 24 2017, 11:34 AM
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 248 Joined: 29-April 16 From: Laguna Beach, California 92651 Member No.: 19,948 Region Association: Southern California |
I also had a battery drain issue. I conducted testing by removing the negative battery lead, then carefully moving it towards the battery terminal looking for a spark which occurs about 1/16" distance (low surrounding light helps to see the spark) from the terminal. After researching this issue, I removed two in line fuses installed with a modern radio plus self powered woofer. This almost removed the significant spark at the battery (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) There is still a very small spark remaining which I assume is a discharge of capacitors in the MSD system. So far so good.
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GregAmy |
Oct 24 2017, 11:39 AM
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#13
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,383 Joined: 22-February 13 From: Middletown CT Member No.: 15,565 Region Association: North East States |
As simple as it gets, but you do have to open the engine cover every time. Leverage Mark's "hot start relay" idea: Ford starter solenoid in the battery line with a SPST switch hidden under the dash. Switch off, battery solenoid open. Switch on, battery solenoid closed. That's what I do on one of my race cars. And a replacement is easy peasy to find, should I need it. |
Mark Henry |
Oct 24 2017, 12:18 PM
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#14
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that's what I do! Group: Members Posts: 20,065 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Port Hope, Ontario Member No.: 26 Region Association: Canada |
Yes I meant to add the radio too should be disconnected as it will give a tiny spark as well. Old school radios without a clock should be OK.
Once you narrow it down to one circuit you can start by disconcerting wires from things on that circuit. I'd disconnect the MSD just to rule it out. |
forrestkhaag |
Oct 24 2017, 02:14 PM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 935 Joined: 21-April 14 From: Scottsdale, Arizona Member No.: 17,273 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Check with Keith914 for possible clues / he just recently chased down the same problem / and solved it.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) |
dgraves |
Oct 26 2017, 05:49 PM
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#16
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1974 914 2.0 Group: Members Posts: 180 Joined: 6-June 16 From: Montana Member No.: 20,076 Region Association: Rocky Mountains |
Check with Keith914 for possible clues / he just recently chased down the same problem / and solved it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) All replies were helpful, guys. Thank you. I've been away for a few days. I may have it narrowed down to a "modern" radio install. I always thought it looked funky. As always, the help in this forum is great...even for people not as mechanical as most of you. Best regards, Dan |
PlaysWithCars |
Oct 26 2017, 11:57 PM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 528 Joined: 9-November 03 From: Southeast of Seattle Member No.: 1,323 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I've always used a lever type battery terminal clamp to be able to quickly disconnect the battery. I usually only use it on one lead to break the circuit. I've used the lead style ones over the years but on the most recent installation use this steel style. I was skeptical but ffor 3+ years its been working fine.
quick connect terminal I don't like the disconnects shown in post #2 because they are too tall and frequently cause clearance issues. |
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