battery kill switch

[verba1]

can you fit a kill switch in the engine bay or do they have to be fitted in the cabin ? This is the one i was looking at

http://www.richbrook-styling.co.uk/dis-car-nect-ba...

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

It should be in easy reach of the driver from the drivers seat (with all the seatbelts on) else it's a bit pointless (if you're using it for safety).

[verba1]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

It should be in easy reach of the driver from the drivers seat (with all the seatbelts on) else it's a bit pointless (if you're using it for safety).

just need it to save battery when car is not used for month or so , have no power supply in the garage where it's parked .

just wanted to know if it has to be in cabin legally or can it be fixed anywhere ?

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

You can put it anywhere that suits you if it's just for that.

[node]

I dont want to sound like a jobsworth but assuming you're going to shut off power to your alarm/tracker etc to prevent the battery from going totally flat, wouldnt this invalidate your car insurance? Insurance companies will find any excuse not to pay out should the worst happen.

[Dr K]

node said:

I dont want to sound like a jobsworth but assuming you're going to shut off power to your alarm/tracker etc to prevent the battery from going totally flat, wouldnt this invalidate your car insurance? Insurance companies will find any excuse not to pay out should the worst happen.

This is a really interesting point which would be nice if somebody could clarify. Assuming no tracker fitted, otherwise one should not fit an isolation switch, on activation of a battery isolation switch then yes, the alarm/immobiliser are effectively disconnected. Assuming this is the case then the only way the car can be stolen is by 'lifting'. Should this be the case then I'm sure that it would invalidate the insurance, (unless someone else knows better). However, should the battery be reconnected then the immobilser will be operational.
Perhaps an insurance professional on here will advise but I'll bet the above quote is correct.

[spoed]

Put the battery on trickle charge. Its better for the battery than disconecting.

[Blu3R]

Ironically the only thing likely to drain the battery excessively when parked up is the alarm, so disconnecting the battery will either leave you with an unprotected car or if you disconnect everything except the alarm, you're leaving the very thing that's causing the problem.
My advice?

Drive it

[verba1]

no electricity in garage and might need to leave it for a month or more .... so i would then need to replace the battery .... have to get the car transported to a garage unless the break down services can get it to start

[verba1]

Blu3R said:

Ironically the only thing likely to drain the battery excessively when parked up is the alarm, so disconnecting the battery will either leave you with an unprotected car or if you disconnect everything except the alarm, you're leaving the very thing that's causing the problem.
My advice?

Drive it

how do you disconnect the alarm ? can you pm if it's sensitive info

[R0162]

If your going to disconnect the alarm then just disconnect the entire battery, with a bit of practice you can get your arm down there with a 13mm spanner and wiggle it off, but you can also take off the splash guard(takes 2 minutes) which gives easier access to the terminals.

The battery disconnected will live for a long time.

[Blu3R]

verba1 said:

how do you disconnect the alarm ? can you pm if it's sensitive info

Off the top of my head - pass.

It is fused though so if you locate the fuse you could fit a resettable one (think Demon Tweaks sell them) and then you effectively have a switch for it.
Might help?