Battery isolator

[steve_m]

Has anybody fitted a battery isolator switch and if so what sort did you use?
I have to leave the car for a couple of weeks at a time and it is a pain disconnecting the battery all the time.
I know that I could use a battery conditioner but the isolation switch also acts a good anti theft deterrent when you are out and about.

[Brakebuster]

i have already bought one for the same reason

it came from ebay , and came with two keys ( important i think )

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Cutof ... 5aedc94e0d


but, as you , i am trying to find a suitable place to mount it without destroying the interior ,

logic says the boot by the battery

but there is a possible place in the engine bay at the other end of the main feed cable ?
but one would have to determine what is powered up in the boot and would stay alive if the isolator was in the engine bay

i did think of the swirl pot cover under the battery , but i didn't fancy that, or could be to the side under the relay mount by the battery fitted to the fixed support web ,

either way , i feel a correctly crimped cable end must be used with the correct bolt sized hole , none of these yellow crimps made to fit methods.....]

as the main battery feed cable ( or neutral ) is to be rerouted and reterminated, i would suggest high quality ' Tri-rated ' cable be used of the appropriate grade, this is much more flexible than the standard 7 or 9 strand almost solid cables



BB

[steve_m]

Ta BB.
The only things that I can think of that would need a constant supply are the alarm (never had one that worked!) and the stereo which is a fairly simple fix I think.
Haven't had a chance to look at locations yet.

[new2jags]

I've only just seen your post, so I expect you're sorted by now. In the event you're still looking, you may want to have a look at this:
http://www.electricalcarservices.com/Ba ... 003-/p-895
The in-line fuse allows a small current to maintain status of c/locking, alarm, radio, tracker etc., but will blow if any attempt is made to start the car or even drop a window. If you go for it, and your memory is anything like mine, it's a good idea to have a copious supply of 15 amp fuses to hand!!!

[Brakebuster]

as a piece of kit, i like it,

BUT

the reason behind us wanting/needing to isolate the battery is to stop it going dead over a period of time due to things like the radio memory and or any alarm system plus other background energy using items

so , the switch is great, but the separate fuse would still let the battery die over the usual timeframe

thanks for the suggestion though

BB

[oldtimer]

BB I had one years ago. The clamp is zinc alloy, bronze coloured and snapped in two. The in line fused by-pass supply for clocks etc. can be detached

[poprivet]

the separate fuse would still let the battery die over the usual timeframe

Take the fuse out?

[PaulGover]

I bought a set of clip-on battery terminal clamps from Halfords, and just unclip the battery when I return from the shops or whatever. You have to cut the old lead clamps off, of course.

[Brakebuster]

right,

problem sorted

i bought the clamp as listed earlier by new2jags, and fitted it today

simplicity its self

first remove the negative clamp from the battery
then bolt on the new isolator clamp , this is shown with the terminal screw removed and its tightened to the battery with the supplied 7/16 bolt

IMG_2375 by MyPix on Talk Photography

then i rerouted the negative cable behind the positive and fitted it to the stump of the isolator

IMG_2376 by MyPix on Talk Photography

then i put on the original negative terminal cover, and screwed down the new isolator to make the battery connected

IMG_2377 by MyPix on Talk Photography

and then fitted the original unmodified battery cover

IMG_2378 by MyPix on Talk Photography

and the project is completed

IMG_2379 by MyPix on Talk Photography

so , when the car is going to be laid up for more than a few weeks, the isolator screw can be undone, and the battery won't drain

the only downside is the stereo looses its memory , and the trip computer zero's its self

but i can live with that, as that happens when the battery dies anyway

i also fitted a new spoiler to the X-Type , lol

IMG_2382 by MyPix on Talk Photography


BB

[steve_m]

Just ordered one; postage is a rip off!