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Once I have my buggy rego'd (few weeks?), I want to install some kind of kill-switch in the beastie, so that it is harder for someone to hotwire it. From what I understand, this involves some kind of switch / barrier that cuts the power from the battery.

I envisage getting an auto-sparky to install a simple toggle switch somewhere hidden in the car.

I have also seen another type which comes directly off the battery terminal, with a round screw section.....when you park the car, you can unscrew the dial and it cuts the power. You can also unscrew the dial completely off and take it in your pocket while you are away, stops anyone from finding the device and screwing it back in, and being able to take the car.

I know that you could just hook the buggy up and tow it away......and that it may be fairly easy for a competent thief to pinch it. But I want to put something in to stop the casual idiots from possibly flogging it.

I won't be looking at too much in $$ initially for this (cos it's already bleeding me dry!), so please - no electrified pop-up fences and savage guard dogs. But......all advice welcome. Thanks.

Phant,
Got a toggle switch hidden around the back of mine out of sight that cuts power to the coil. And a u know, no power to the coil = no spark = car's there when u get back!! (hopefully!!:thumb)

Just make sure such a switch is wired 'fail safe' so that if it buggers up the car doesn't make u stranded!!!!!

Marty

For an easy kill switch, earth out the tacho sening wire which will be behind the dash if you have one. This will stop the points from open circuiting the coil which produces the spark. The only problem with this is that on a buggy everything is too open and the wire could be cut, however if the tacho is in the dash then the extra wire should be there.

The other way would be some type of fuel cut off solenoid in the fuel line (probally up the front). Wire it to the ignition so that it operates when the engine needs to be on and off when its not. The you put a switch in the wiring to it. You could do both together with a double pole switch.

The problem that you do have is where will you put the switch? I'm open to suggestions. Perhaps a basic alarm with a remote???

The other idea that I just remembered is a basic alarm that lets the thief start the car. But really the alarm is a basic timer that lets the engine run for about twenty seconds and then cuts out. He is then able to start the car again, for another twenty seconds before it cuts out again and so on. Basically he'll get the shits and leave as he will think that sometimes wrong with the car.:thumb

I need to go as cheap as possible currently, after the 'nasty surprises' I found in the car.....so just want a basic setup.

So far I am looking at either the rotary-switch type unit for the positive battery connection, or a simple toggle switch, located somewhere in the car. As for its location, I am thinking maybe in the battery compartment, or possible in the engine bay somewhere......

This will take more investigation. But I won't do anything about it until I get the car rego'd and on the road, then can take it to places in my leisure....

I just installed a terminal cutoff switch like you described- it cost me four dollars! took about half an hour to put in, and stops the battery from draining when my buggys not in use- it has a big green plastic head on the bolt which makes real easy to unscrew.

Thats the one I have seen in the shops! Questions:

Can a gumby install it? It looked like you needed to crimp one connection, so I'd need to take it to an auto-sparky

And...how good is it? Couldn't see too much of it in the packet, how does it work? Just the physical unscrewing disengages the contact?

Mate is was fairly easy- I put it on the negitive wire to the battery, I replaced the whole wire (all 10 inches of it!) just trimmed the end of the wire of plastic then soldered it up solid then I crimped on a ring connector and soldered that as well. Then all is needed is to bolt the wire onto the switch :thumb Too easy!! The earth then can be disconnected by spinning the top a couple of times or completly removed making it imposible to start the car without re-earthing the battery somehow.