Kill Switch

Gordon, In David's picture of his 68, he has used a Lucas battery disconnect switch from the Austin Healy 3000 that is available from Moss Motors. It is used in the Healy boot area where the battery is located ( also lockable ) to disconnect the battery ground terminal & ground the ignition. Should be a short run from the battery to the switch where he has his located. Good luck. Cheers tom

forgive the misunderstanding-I want to have a hidden kill switch in the car within reach similar to what I have in my 67 MGB GT that was installed by the previous owner. I am trying to avoid opening the bonnet as it a three step process to unlatch the hooks on each driver and passenger side as well as lifting the bonnet catch and finally opening it. Far tedious than today's car with a simple latch. I appreciate everyone's input and appreciate further discussion.
-Cheers
Gordon

If the purpose of the switch is to prevent battery drain, why not one of these?
battery switch is about $15.00 it might be appletree automotive.
i'll have to double check

Gordon this may not be an answer to what you were asking but with my E-type I just take the crude but simple approach of disconnecting the negative cable from the top of the battery if the car is going to sit for a couple of days or more. I have also seen cable terminal ends at just about about any auto parts store where you can isolate the battery with the turn of a knob.

For a hidden engine kill switch when I put the Pertronics electronic ignition on my car I spliced in a long section of wire into the Pertronics power wire and hooked it up to a heavy duty ON / OFF toggle switch inside the cockpit. This way I did not have to alter any of the original stuff.

David Barnes
68 E-Type FHC

Gordon,

Forgive the droning on that follows but people have been injured and/or suffered serious damage when wiring direct to the battery with no current limiting or fusing.

From your discussion I think you are planning to switch the total battery current including the starter. That would mean replacing the battery positive cable to reach the switch then connecting the switch to the stud that distributes 12 volts. This is probably the simplest change. Please be sure that the switch and wiring are rated to handle 300A intermittently. The wiring should be AWG2 or larger and pay attention to all connections. 10 or 20 milliohms added resistance may drop enough voltage to cause trouble starting. Finally, careful avoiding shorts now or in the future. That would be very bad.

I am planning a different approach switching 12 volts to the control panel, fuel pump and ignition but leaving the remaining under hood wiring in tact (starter, alternator, fans, horns, etc.).

Bill Braun

Thanks David!
-Cheers Gordon

Trying the photo again....

On my 68 Series 1.5 FHC, a previous owner had installed a period kill switch in the drivers footwell. See photo (hopefully) attached. I recently saw this (Lucas) "battery isolator switch" for sale at a website - www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk. - recommended on another jaguar forum.