[F500] Re: Comment on Solenoid Master Switch

[Chuck Voboril]

Phil,
You, like Jeff, have a very intelligent approach to protecting your car.

However,
The classic criticism against solenoids is that they can occasionally
weld closed from a dead short downstream and can become impossible to
open with the control circuit.

Remember, the only thing that can force open the contacts
is usually some sort of spring.

While a fuse or solenoid (or a combination of the two) may actually be very
effective,
in the end, a hand operated switch in the prescribed location
may still be the only legal solution.

Chuck
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Phil Green<mailto:pwgreen at earthlink.net>
  To: f500 at f500.org<mailto:f500 at f500.org>
  Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 7:00 AM
  Subject: Re: [F500] Master Switch


  My car uses a solenoid for the starter cranking big wire.  So, the power is
always interrupted to the starter except when the starter switch is being
pushed.  The power wire going to the start switch (low current to kick the
solenoid relay) will be on the switch, along with the rain light and whatever
else.  We don't have any high current draw electronics on our cars, so with
the exception of the starter, all can go through a good toggle switch.

  On my car, I have two toggle switches mounted right next to each other (as
close as possible).  One switches power, the other grounds the kill circuit.
With them both mounted as close as possible, one finger will flip both
switches simultaneously.  Killing power and grounding the ignition kill wire.

  Hope this is decypher-able, I'm still sleeping!

  Phil




  -----Original Message-----
  From: Dave Phaneuf
<jimslawnshop at comcast.net<mailto:jimslawnshop at comcast.net>>
  Sent: Oct 15, 2004 9:28 AM
  To: f500 at f500.org<mailto:f500 at f500.org>
  Subject: [F500] Master Switch

  Phil
  If the car has a battery on board and the switch is supposed
  to shut down the full electrical system it would have to be in series
  with the main battery circuit. How can a simple toggle switch do
  this unless it was rated for the cranking  draw of the starter?
  Or do the rules not require this?
  Dave
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