starter kill switch
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RE: starter kill switch
Yeah the idea has been around forever. I have a pressure switch. It's a thin film switch, it's about 2" long and about 1.2" wide and no thicker than a few pieces of paper. It'smeant to be put under something like the vinyl on the dash, or under a thin layer of fabric or something. Press that area and viola, it trips. I just have never found a use for it yet.
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Champion
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From: poconos, pa
RE: starter kill switch
ORIGINAL: LAKOTA169
Old idea that's new again? My car came with a starter button on the floor just above the gas pedal. Turn the key and step on the button- car starts. BTW, car is a 1937 Plymouth.
Old idea that's new again? My car came with a starter button on the floor just above the gas pedal. Turn the key and step on the button- car starts. BTW, car is a 1937 Plymouth.
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RE: starter kill switch
You'll still want to use a relay on that wire though. It may be low amperage compared to the actual wire that cranks the starter, but it still carries a good amount of current and a relay is always a good idea when using any switch.
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RE: starter kill switch
What exactly does a relay do? I'm not entirely educated on them, and i'd love to learn. Can someone explain it to me please, and how you would go about using one, and what its purpose would be?
Edit; oh, and also, where is the starter wire where it runs into the cab? Under the steering column? If so, which one is it?
And, assuming i just cut it, and crimped in a button switch, and put the button somewhere in the truck (probably under the carpet behind the pedals somewhere), then.. would that work? Like, if the button wasnt pressed, then the truck wouldnt start (no power from the starter), but if the button was pressed, it would get power and work?
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RE: starter kill switch
A relay is a switch that is operated electrically instead of manually.An old starter relay is a good visual example. It has a low current(small wires) circuit connected to the ignition switch(key) and it completes a high current(large wires-battery cable size)circuit that turns the starter motor. You don't want to run battery cable sized wires all the way to the ignition switch, it's dangerous and the longer the wire the more voltage you lose. So the relay is a sort of remote switch to keep things safe and more efficient. When you turn the ignition switch to the start position it simply energizes an eletromagnet in the relay that closes the contacts on a really heavy duty switch (in the relay) and connects your battery cableto the starter and away she spins. A headlight relay or a fuel pump relay works the same except the they can't handle as much current as a starter relay because they don't have to. I hope this helps you understand relays a little better and feel free to ask more questions.
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RE: starter kill switch
ORIGINAL: white97
A relay is a switch that is operated electrically instead of manually.An old starter relay is a good visual example. It has a low current(small wires) circuit connected to the ignition switch(key) and it completes a high current(large wires-battery cable size)circuit that turns the starter motor. You don't want to run battery cable sized wires all the way to the ignition switch, it's dangerous and the longer the wire the more voltage you lose. So the relay is a sort of remote switch to keep things safe and more efficient. When you turn the ignition switch to the start position it simply energizes an eletromagnet in the relay that closes the contacts on a really heavy duty switch (in the relay) and connects your battery cableto the starter and away she spins. A headlight relay or a fuel pump relay works the same except the they can't handle as much current as a starter relay because they don't have to. I hope this helps you understand relays a little better and feel free to ask more questions.
A relay is a switch that is operated electrically instead of manually.An old starter relay is a good visual example. It has a low current(small wires) circuit connected to the ignition switch(key) and it completes a high current(large wires-battery cable size)circuit that turns the starter motor. You don't want to run battery cable sized wires all the way to the ignition switch, it's dangerous and the longer the wire the more voltage you lose. So the relay is a sort of remote switch to keep things safe and more efficient. When you turn the ignition switch to the start position it simply energizes an eletromagnet in the relay that closes the contacts on a really heavy duty switch (in the relay) and connects your battery cableto the starter and away she spins. A headlight relay or a fuel pump relay works the same except the they can't handle as much current as a starter relay because they don't have to. I hope this helps you understand relays a little better and feel free to ask more questions.
And what about my kill switch question about if I just cut the starter wire under the steering column, and put a switch inbetween the two ends, so if it was open, no connection from the starter.. but if the switch was switched, it would work.
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RE: starter kill switch
It's not like a fuse by any means. It's a way to use a low current circuit to turn a higher current circuit on or off. I wish I could draw you a diagram herebut I can't. Try Googling a foglight relay diagram or something to that effect. Your idea for cutting the starter wire under the dash will work, just make sure you use a switchwith a high enough current rating for the application. I don't know whatthe amps arein that circuit butone 55watt headlight will draw about 4.6 amps so I think a 12 volt/ 10 amp switch should work fine. Of course a 12 volt /20 amp would be safer but it may be overkill and possibly a physically larger switch which might be harder to hide. If you can find a momentary switch (one that you have to hold in the on position) you will need two hands to start the truck but you don't have to worry about forgetting to turn it off once the truck is started.Does any of this make sense?