Master Disconnect Ground Circuit Resolved

leo

leo

Well-known member
Just thought you may want to know how this played out. As stated, my location of the master disconnect switch (MDS) was the drivers side motor mount. The standard 19 inch negative cable connects from the negative battery terminal to the starter as normal. I purchased a 24 inch AWG #1 cable which was routed from the positive battery terminal to one terminal of the MDS. The length of 24 inches allows the cable to be located along the frame rail so it does not come near the clutch and brake pedals. The third cable I had was the 16 inch cable which Bratton's sells to go from the MDS to the starter, instead I connected it from the second terminal of the MDS to a bolt holding the bell housing to the flywheel housing. Please advise me if you have an idea for any improvements.
 
When I had my '29 Special Coupe, it arrived with the + terminal (ground) connected from the battery post to one of the starter mounting bolts.
An excellent way to get max current from battery to stater.
Like Tom, I don't use a master disconnect switch.
Regards,
herb
 
I understand that the factory ground on the frame cross member may not as good of a ground as directly attaching to some larger mass of metal, BUT is there an advantage to attaching the ground to the starter bolt vs. transmission/Bell housing.
 
I did my speedster like you did, but on my tudor it is installed in front of and between the seats for easy access. I used an old piece of welding cable with terminals soldered on the ends.
 
leo said:
Just thought you may want to know how this played out. As stated, my location of the master disconnect switch (MDS) was the drivers side motor mount. The standard 19 inch negative cable connects from the negative battery terminal to the starter as normal. I purchased a 24 inch AWG #1 cable which was routed from the positive battery terminal to one terminal of the MDS. The length of 24 inches allows the cable to be located along the frame rail so it does not come near the clutch and brake pedals. The third cable I had was the 16 inch cable which Bratton's sells to go from the MDS to the starter, instead I connected it from the second terminal of the MDS to a bolt holding the bell housing to the flywheel housing. Please advise me if you have an idea for any improvements.
Click to expand...

Leo, I think I connected mine the same way as you did on my huckster except I used a bracket from the bottom bolt of the starter to attached the MDS to. Then I put the other end of the 16 inch cable on the same starter bolt rather that the bell housing as you did.

But now I am confused again! I am trying to put a disconnect switch on my 29 coupe and get confused from all the suff I pick up from FB when I search for info on a disconnect switch. Some people just put the 16 inch cable from the one terminal of the MDS to the starter switch. Then then hook the cable that did go on the starter to the other terminal of the MDS. They leave the battery to frame ground strap the same way as it was. Doing this method a person saves on having to get another 19 inch cable to go from the pos battery to the second terminal of the MDS but in doing this method you are changing which wire gets shut off.

There has been a lot of discussion on this subject in the past as to which wire to shut off. So I think I will stick with the same method both you and I used on my huckster. Anyone want to kick a "dead horse" again on this subject?
 
Fred, I switch my ground, a little more involved but a safer solution IMO. If the switch comes apart and hits the frame if it is on the ground side no harm done, but if its the hot thats a whole other thing. Darn dead horses anyways. Have a good one....Clyde......now off to breakfast then to Sharon WI
 
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