Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

[Roger O.]

Just wanted to share a modification I have been doing to the small wheel type battery cutoffs for awhile. I like these little switches and they work well with this minor mod. In some cases without this mod you have to turn the wheel forever to get them to disconnect and in my 1st pic you can see why,they spread apart because the stiff battery cable is pushing on them. Often some think its disconnected only to come back and find the power is still on in their car. Its also not uncommon once it spreads for the wheel to fall out and then has to be threaded back in,sometimes cross-threading occurs. In the 3rd pic you can see by the arrow it was making very poor contact causing the engine on this car not to start when hot ( this was a cross-thread). In the 4th pic you can see my very easy to perform mod. 2 plastic ties around the body of the switch. Letting the ties sit squaring the corners and adding heat allows for a tight fit. Don't use anything metal the ties need to be non-conductive. If you position the tie ends correctly the cutoff tie ends will not be pointing up towards the wheel to snag your fingers. After I get the ties good and snug I go back with some black liquid electrical tape painted over the ties just to be sure they don't slide off but this is not needed. If you do use the liquid tape take care not to get it under the contact surface of the wheel.One other note I like putting the cutoff on the negative terminal of the battery, its safer. Thanks for allowing me to share.

[Ara G.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

Roger, I just put a set of original styled cables on my car today from Lectric Limited. They are nice, and the spring type. However, the terminal styled cut off switch I have is too loose to fit in the sleeve in the cut off. The input from the cut off is too small to be snug at all in the cut off switch. Anyone out there have any advice on how to fix this?? I tried squeezing the battery terminal with a vice, gently, to snug it onto the cut off terminal all to no avail. Thanks ARA

[Alan S.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

Hi Roger,
Thanks for your suggestion.
I've learned to watch the courtesy lights to make sure the ground connection has been broken.
I can see what you did with the ties but I'm not sure what you mean when you mention "adding heat". Are there ties that act like 'shrink tubing?
Regards,
Alan

[Stuart F.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

All the problems with this type disconnect switch can be avoided if you use the Knife" style switch, also sold by Lectric Limited. They may not look as pretty, but when applied on the negative terminal, they are almost fool proof. On a C-2, such as my 63, the negative terminal is inward by the fender so it doesn't show much anyway. I've been using this same switch for about 30 years now, and it's on my third battery. Can't begin to tell you how many horror stories I've heard in that time about the wheel type switches.

Stu Fox

[Bruce B.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

I have used the wheel type switch for 16 years in my 62 and have never had a problem. I also have them in my 57 and 65, again I have never had a problem.
I bought them at a swap meet for $3.00 each.

[Jack H.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

For grins, take a micrometer and measure the diameter of your battery posts. You should find positive and negative are NOT the same size! That's one of the problems makers of these switches face when they tool up...

In terms of effectiveness, it makes no difference which battery post your cutoff switch goes on. Electrically, open circuit is open circuit even though you'll find folks telling you how important it is to install the switch on one battery post vs. the other... For current to flow, there has to be a complete path from the battery's positive to negative post.

[Roger O.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

Roger, I just put a set of original styled cables on my car today from Lectric Limited. They are nice, and the spring type. However, the terminal styled cut off switch I have is too loose to fit in the sleeve in the cut off. The input from the cut off is too small to be snug at all in the cut off switch. Anyone out there have any advice on how to fix this?? I tried squeezing the battery terminal with a vice, gently, to snug it onto the cut off terminal all to no avail. Thanks ARA

ARA I'm not sure if I am following your question. Are you referring to the same type switch as pictured above only for the top terminal battery? If yes then I would ask are you installing it on the neg terminal because the pos is larger. I went out and checked a switch for the top terminal battery and it seems to do fine on a spring type cable. I measured the neg terminal on a battery and the male end of the cutoff switch and they are the same. .630-.670
If the male end of your cutoff is smaller then it sounds like its defective.
Hope I didn,t totally misunderstand your question.

[Roger O.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

Hi Roger,
Thanks for your suggestion.
I've learned to watch the courtesy lights to make sure the ground connection has been broken.
I can see what you did with the ties but I'm not sure what you mean when you mention "adding heat". Are there ties that act like 'shrink tubing?
Regards,
Alan

Hi Alan, The heat is just to make a better (tighter) corner so you can pull the tie tighter. The tie will loop out a little on the short sides and in time might make the tie loose.
You probably notice while turning and waiting for the courtesy lights to go out you can go as much as 2 turns, once you put the ties on 1/8 turn will disconnect.
Also some use the theft deterent aspect and take the knob with them, if you use the ties the possibility of cross threading when putting it back in is unlikely.
Roger

[Roger O.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

All the problems with this type disconnect switch can be avoided if you use the Knife" style switch, also sold by Lectric Limited. They may not look as pretty, but when applied on the negative terminal, they are almost fool proof. On a C-2, such as my 63, the negative terminal is inward by the fender so it doesn't show much anyway. I've been using this same switch for about 30 years now, and it's on my third battery. Can't begin to tell you how many horror stories I've heard in that time about the wheel type switches.

Stu Fox

I agree the Knife type is a good switch but not sure if they will fit in a C3 battery compartment and be able to close the lid. The neg terminal IMO is the safest to install ,scares me when I see them on the pos terminal , that's a a lot of exposed HOT metal.

[Roger O.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

I have used the wheel type switch for 16 years in my 62 and have never had a problem. I also have them in my 57 and 65, again I have never had a problem.
I bought them at a swap meet for $3.00 each.

Bruce,
It sounds as if you have some that are fairly old ,have you noticed them spreading apart as in my photos ? I was thinking the older ones might not have this problem.
To those that want to try and bend the tabs in (like the manufacture should have done) where I placed the ties you'll find the tabs are hard and they break off the instant you try and bend them.

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

I agree the Knife type is a good switch but not sure if they will fit in a C3 battery compartment and be able to close the lid. The neg terminal IMO is the safest to install ,scares me when I see them on the pos terminal , that's a a lot of exposed HOT metal.

I can't tell you about the knife switch clearances in a C3 with a top terminal battery, but I have had a knife blade on my 1970 with side terminal battery for about 18 years with no issues. It does require some care in installation -- but I would suggest that is true of any electrical device.

I have spent over 40 years in the electric business, and all my training makes me want the safety of being able to see the electrical gap in any safety device. The knife switch allows that and the knob switch does not.

[Glenn D.]

Re: Battery cutoff switch warning and mod with pics

I also watch for the courtesy lights to go out to be sure the connection is broken.