Home Grown Solutions

[HueyPilotVN]

Here is what you need Cico. I am sure you can find it.



I installed it with quick ties in the area in front of trhe battery and tethered the key to it so I would not lose it. Leave it off all the time when not in use.

[Matt]

I think McMaster has some nicer options too.... i remember ordering one when i was fixing up my dads boat and think i got it from there...

Edit: ok maybe it wasn't mcmaster. Just tried searching and couldn't find it.

[cico7]

Here is what you need Cico. I am sure you can find it.



I installed it with quick ties in the area in front of the battery and tethered the key to it so I would not lose it. Leave it off all the time when not in use.

Excellent idea. I will find one of these tomorrow at
Advance or Jegs.

[IamJEEP]

Nice write up and mod Don, but I would switch it as well (which you already said you are doing). One of my co-workers was side swiped in the front and the insurance company "totaled" the vehicle because of excess "wire harness" damage. The car can be repaired but it'll take too much $$ the re-wire the engine compartment. So, it doesn't take a huge impact to damage the wiring, just the right hit will do.

[NeilSmith]

I guess that switch is the same as used on a race car, just a battery shut off. Jegs or Summit has them. The threat of a fire starting in a collision is a real possibility. I think its rare, but it can still happen. I have seen a lot of torn up vehicles in 26 years in the collision business, yet I havent seen any in the shop that caught fire. I guess the ones that catch fire usuall burn to the ground and never see a body shop. BMW has a nice idea. A lot of times their battery is located in the trunk. Their main positive line running to the front has a big fusible link in it. If I understand correctly, this link blows with a certain amount of force, possibly blows along with the triggering of an airbag. We replace this harness all the time. Some models are a pain cause the harness is one piece all the way up front, some models its a very short harness that need replacing. I know germans tend to over-engineer a lot but this seems to be a good idea.

[Matt]

FWIW... im not German, but i tend to over engineer everything as well lol

[cico7]

Ok, so I go to Advance Auto and ask for a battery cut off switch. After 2 or 3 minutes typing, the guy says
what are you trying to do? Disconnect the battery so I can shut off power to a terminal.

Oh, you can use a little rocker switch for that......
When I waked into Jegs, the guy said, it is over here...Now i have a power disconnect switch.
Jegg's has the Anderson power disconnects like I used for the connector, $19.99 compared to my ebay price of $8.

[Matt]

I have to admit.... I'm upset with myself for not thinking of a switch earlier. I've installed them in a lot of boats (common failure if cheap ones are used in salt water applications ) but never put one in a vehicle because 30 amps has been enough for any accessories I've installed thus far (haven't designed my winch circuit/harness yet).

[LWM]

Another great idea and helpful discussion, Thanks Guys!

[IamJEEP]

I had to fab up a quick switch panel for my roof/driving/fog lights before ECCC. This is what I came up with.........................

Grabbed some textured 1/8" plastic and cut it the shape of the cubby pocket thing (Technical term). Then I used a heat gun to form it like the front of the cubby. I drilled 4 holes for the mounting screws and test fitted it. Then, i made some back brackets out of some metal I had found. I bent the ends so it grabs the inner lip of the hole. Once I got it to fit the best I can get it, I cut out the switch area and cleaned it up. I first sprayed the panel a light grey I had laying around, but it did'nt match the dash. So, I re-sprayed it black (Ishould of used matte black but all I had was gloss). I installed the switches, wired them up and installed the panel to the dash......I still have to finish wireing the whole set-up but it's done for today...Here's the pics, enjoy.





















If and when I re-do the panel, i will use smaller screws and pay more attention to detail. Also, I want to use different switches. All in all, I think it looks good.