Subject: battery cutoff switches
> Another question: regarding the battery cut off switch: where might be the
> best place to put it in the MGB? Can I mount it in the wall behind the
> seat? With the batteries underneath a panel which is in turn underneath the
I have installed 2 of Hella battery cutoff switches on the Scimitar
and the Midget. The switches are the type that are usually found on race
cars and isolated the complete electrical system. The switch is mounted
in the car and there is a removable key which activates/deactivates the
switch. The key looks like a the type used on large wind-up toys.
On the Midget I placed the switch inside the passenger compartment,
just behind the dash. It's easy to get to, really easy to install and
now I have peace of mind when ever I leave the car unattended (I have
removed the ignition lock - so I have no other means of making the car
secure).
It would porbably take a thief a couple of minutes trying to figure out why
there are no electrics (and may even think that the battery is flat !!!!).
The other advantage of the cut-off switches is to protect the car
against electrical shorts. I re-wired the Midget so that EVERY circuit
now has a fuse, but original design only fused a coupe of the circuits.
A friend of mine just replaced the complete loom behind the dash of
his MGB because he had a short in one of the unfused circuits.
I used to have the type of switch which you can buy at Pep-Boys and is
installed on the battery post. I would NOT even bother wasting a penny on
these devices. They work okay when they are new but slowly wear away and
the contact area get corroded.
BTW - JC Witless sells the Hella switches for 19.00 ( I think ).
There are two types, one with terminals for accesories which by-passes
the cut-off switch and the other has no means for by-pass.
Gerry
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