where to locate cutoff switch.

Skeezixx

Skeezixx

Senior Member
I bought a cutoff switch bracket from one of the suppliers which was supposed to mount at the lower starter bolt.

It never made any sense and no photo of it installed was supplied. With modifications It was installed facing forward. Now the brake pedal chafes against the battery cable.

It looks like you can "simply" relocate the battery cable but that's not the case. There ain't no other place that's free.

What would be a good alternative location for this type of switch? I was trying to avoid making a hole in the firewall.
 

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You will have to get longer cables, try mounting it on the floor just in front of the seat riser on the drivers side. Or just under the seat if you have a two door sedan. It should be out of the way but still within easy reach.
 
Or, sell the cut off switch at a swap meet and just pull the fuse and lay it on top of the engine head. Then, when you get ready to go just snap it back in place -- and check the oil, since you already have the hood open.
 
Here is how I mounted mine. Glad that I have it.

P. S. Some of us wear briefs and some wear boxers. Personal preferences.
 

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it should go on the hot wire, its like house wiring, you never break the ground, only the hot wire, where ever you put it put it where you can get to it in a hurry, does no good to put it under the hood when your driving down the road at 50 mph and need to get to it
 
I mounted mine an inch or two above the starter button so I can kick it off and on with my foot.
I could not imagine a more convenient location.
I use the reminder RIGHT ON when I check to see if I had flipped it off upon my return to the car.
 
ford1 said:
it should go on the hot wire, its like house wiring, you never break the ground, only the hot wire, where ever you put it put it where you can get to it in a hurry, does no good to put it under the hood when your driving down the road at 50 mph and need to get to it
Click to expand...

ABSOLUTELY INCORRECT. More than one electrical fire has been reported by placing a vehicle cutoff switch in the hot lead. Half the switch and the lead to it remain potential current sources to ground even though the switch is off. Anything scraping through or touching the cable path from the battery "hot" to the switch, as well as the switch terminal, are short circuit faults the switch will NOT disconnect if installed in the "hot". Not so with the switch in the ground lead. This has been beat over on fordbarn several times. If you like it in the hot lead, good for you. It is NOT like house wiring, you do not have two opposite phases sharing a common neutral bus, thus requiring disconnection of the AC source. And as far as house wiring is concerned, you obviously don't understand the difference between neutral and ground.
 
Put it in the "ground" and in the cab where you can reach it in a hurry if you need to if the wiring is smoking while you're driving in traffic
Bill!
 
I intend on using the recomendation provided by MikeK and change the starter motor mount location, using the hot wire, to the seat riser on my Fordors using the positive ground wire. Welding cable with shielding in the appropriate locations are cheap insurance. Terminal boots will also be used on the cable ends, to prevent accidental arcs from tools etc. Lot easier to get to the switch in an emergency or accidently leaving it on. Thanks Mike and Bill !!

I will now have three switch brackets for sale cheap !!
 
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Has anyone tried the battery disconnect switch that snyders sells which attaches directly to the battery post. It's part # A-14300-db. Seems like it might be under rated for 6 v but like the simplicity.
 
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