I'm sure this has been dealt with in the past but I'm having difficulty finding it. Any chance some kind zeddy could give a mechanical numpty a step by step dummies guide to fitting a battery isolator switch please?
Cheers
Battery Isolator Switch
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Racing Tortoise
- Z Register member
- Joined: Mon 07 Nov, 2005 15:53
- Posts: 894
- Location: SW6
Not seen a thread on this before.
I have a racing-style battery cut-out switch (the red removable key type) fitted in the boot (for obvious reasons) of my Z1 but I got it done by the local specialist. It was very neatly done but turned into an astonishingly expensive exercise because it ended up taking hours to do. So if you can DIY it, I really recommend that!
I have a racing-style battery cut-out switch (the red removable key type) fitted in the boot (for obvious reasons) of my Z1 but I got it done by the local specialist. It was very neatly done but turned into an astonishingly expensive exercise because it ended up taking hours to do. So if you can DIY it, I really recommend that!
Currently: bereft of Z1
Previously: 1991 Ur-grun Z1 and 1991 Traum-schwartz Z1
Previously: 1991 Ur-grun Z1 and 1991 Traum-schwartz Z1
When the battery is still connected to the car it drains power IE clock etc. If vehicle is left unused for long periods of time I suppose it would also save having the battery on constant charge. Also good if you ever smell electrical burning, you can just pop the switch then investigate rather than running around like a headless checking finding a 13mm spanner!Pat Slade wrote:Ian
Can I be really boring and ask why you dont just loosen a battery clamp and leave it off? If it is street security this is obviously inappropriate. How about a Thatcham approved immobiliser if its a street theft issue?
Pat
Open and close with German style and ingenuity!
Hi there,
I've currently got a reasonable trickle charging system (although it is a bit of a faff to connect). I wondered if there was a way of simply switching off any drain to the battery in the situation where the car was definitely going to be unused for a month or two.
I recently was talking to someone who has an 8 series and did something along the lines of flattening a piece of copper pipe, attaching one end to the battery terminal, the other to the body of the car and a toggle switch (presumably) somewhere in between.....? I never saw the mod and hence I'm very sketchy as to how exactly it was done but it definitely sounded very simple and apparently works fine where the car is laid up for a couple of months at a time.
Since then I've also had a request from a friend who has even less mechanical knowledge than I (?!) who owns a Honda Accord and is out of the country every other month and is getting fed up with the car being dead every time he returns. (His location is not ideal for leaving the car on charge.) Like my Zed, the Honda has an immobiliser and alarm and presumably this is the main drain on the battery - of course if disconnecting the battery the car is automatically immobilised anyway. Anyhow, he would like a similar mod....... if it's possible that is..........?
What do you reckon guys?
I've currently got a reasonable trickle charging system (although it is a bit of a faff to connect). I wondered if there was a way of simply switching off any drain to the battery in the situation where the car was definitely going to be unused for a month or two.
I recently was talking to someone who has an 8 series and did something along the lines of flattening a piece of copper pipe, attaching one end to the battery terminal, the other to the body of the car and a toggle switch (presumably) somewhere in between.....? I never saw the mod and hence I'm very sketchy as to how exactly it was done but it definitely sounded very simple and apparently works fine where the car is laid up for a couple of months at a time.
Since then I've also had a request from a friend who has even less mechanical knowledge than I (?!) who owns a Honda Accord and is out of the country every other month and is getting fed up with the car being dead every time he returns. (His location is not ideal for leaving the car on charge.) Like my Zed, the Honda has an immobiliser and alarm and presumably this is the main drain on the battery - of course if disconnecting the battery the car is automatically immobilised anyway. Anyhow, he would like a similar mod....... if it's possible that is..........?
What do you reckon guys?
IMHO if you are not using the car for a couple of months I would definitely put the battery on a maintenance charger. Unless you are in the street it really isn't difficult to arrange a simple connection.
As far as the Honda is concerned I would humbly suggest that if it is a modern one and the electrics are ok (including the alarm) that it needs a new battery!
pat
As far as the Honda is concerned I would humbly suggest that if it is a modern one and the electrics are ok (including the alarm) that it needs a new battery!
pat
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F.Brossaud
- Joined: Mon 17 Nov, 2003 16:43
- Posts: 223
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Hi,
I have been using this switch for years, for severals cars without any problems
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ ... R/B1000.01
The minus point is that you must close your car with driver's door opened (or at least half opened) to turn the swich off
I have been using this switch for years, for severals cars without any problems
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ ... R/B1000.01
The minus point is that you must close your car with driver's door opened (or at least half opened) to turn the swich off
Pat is right. Even if you use an isolator switch for your battery during hibernation or even if you plug it off completely, your battery will discharge itself until it's completely empty. Very slowly, but it will discharge.Pat Slade wrote:IMHO if you are not using the car for a couple of months I would definitely put the battery on a maintenance charger. Unless you are in the street it really isn't difficult to arrange a simple connection.
That's not very good for your battery's life time. So better use a maintenance charger.
