Hey guys, I have the battery disconnect switch pictured below as well as the circuit branch shown in the diagram. My intention is to use it as a poor man's anti theft device to give thieves one more obstacle to overcome. I'll "hide it" under the seat or something like that. But I am unsure about which circuit to put the switch in. I am thinking it should go on red wire 2A between the circuit branch and the starter solenoid BAT stud. Is that right or should it go in a different circuit? Thanks! Tyler

 

I don't know if its right or wrong but, I have the same switch on my truck and I have it between the negative cable and the frame (neg cable runs to the switch and then to ground )


I have used it this way since 1999

 

Ok thanks. So with that set up, I assume the switch is under your hood? T

 

Hey Tyler,
We went with a hidden fuel pump manual switch. So far the only person
it's worked on is me. My son Zack will switch it off & I'll go out to drive the truck & it won't start no matter what I do....


Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Outsmarted by low tech!! Unfortunately for us, our fuel pump is mechanical

 

We have one similar on our deuce and a half. It is between the main negative and the negative post on the battery.

Is this just a switch to turn or is the red thing a removable key? Ours was just a switch but we replaced it with a switch with removable key.

 

Yeah the red thing is a removable key...

 

My other thought was to put it in the 12V supply wire going to the hei distributor. Would that keep the car from turning over? It would wouldn't it? And more difficult for a thief to circumvent? T

 

No, it would still crank over but would have no spark.

 

Those heavy duty switches are designed to be a safety switch, master disconnect switch. If you have an electrical short, cut this switch off and save the truck. Most any toggle switch installed in the coil circuit and hidden anywhere would work as an inline ignition cut off.

 

You can put a simple toggle switch inline with the HEI 12v line, I used one before on a car as an anti theft device and had it mouned under the dash. That large disconnect you have as stated is to be a master disconnect on a battery cable.

 

Ok thanks guys. I guess I went with this switch cuz it has a key. But maybe a simple hidden toggle is the way to go in the ignition supply line. T

 

I like the style you bought because if done the way I do it on the ground side EVERYTHING is off and no risk of fire. Just like you took a cable off the battery

 

Be real careful the switch is rated high enough for cold weather cranking duty, or you'll just create a new problem. Most of these are Hecho en Chine now and copper is expensive... so most are rated under 300 amps. That may be fine for a modern 4-banger with gear-reduction starter, not so much for an old V8 with field coil starter on a cold day. The marine switches are generally higher quality, I believe these are required equipment on most I/O boats, and have some kind of UL/CE rating.

Tyler, you could mount that switch on the inner fender, so you can switch it by reaching thru the wheel opening. Or up under the dash, as close to the battery as possible, with the handle on the inside.

 

The switch we used is for a Caterpillar 'dozer. It's heavy duty and fairly water proof.

Ross is right about the marine switch. It would also be resistant to water and corrosion.