Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

One was installed in my trunk. I can this Way avoid to discharge my battery when not using the car.

Can you post pictures of the wiring to and from the switch? What brand is the switch (e.g., Hella)?

I think such cutoff switches are required on cars in competitions and are useful as an anti-theft device because the handle can be taken out in the off position.

If you were ever in a crash or fire, you possibly might have time to reach over and use it to cuttoff the battery.

Only snag with using it regularly is that your radio set is likely to forget your memorised stations.

I fitted a switch in exactly the same place. It's the ideal location because it's easy to reach from the driving seat in case of fire and the rear chassis tower brace provides a convenient rigid mounting point.

billwill wrote:Only snag with using it regularly is that your radio set is likely to forget your memorised stations.

No problem with a period push button radio.

Note to self....must get some rubber boots on those terminals.

Me too, i need to put rubbers on...

I dunno the brand of That kill switch, my mechanician did it for me and i did not ask.

oldelanman wrote:I fitted a switch in exactly the same place. It's the ideal location because it's easy to reach from the driving seat in case of fire and the rear chassis tower brace provides a convenient rigid mounting point.

billwill wrote:Only snag with using it regularly is that your radio set is likely to forget your memorised stations.

No problem with a period push button radio.

Note to self....must get some rubber boots on those terminals.

I don't recall having that rear chassis tower brace on my sprint should I have.
Jon

I've got a cut off switch in the same place - fitted about twenty years ago after I luckily got the car back undamaged after it was stolen. I've fitted it flush with the panel with just a small hole in the carpet so you wouldn't notice it unless you were looking. And no, I haven't yet covered the terminals. I'll get round to it soon!

Jon.ford wrote:I don't recall having that rear chassis tower brace on my sprint should I have.
Jon

Hi Jon,
Yes I think your car should have the brace.
According to Brian Buckland "The bracing strut is required on all Elans from Series 3 onwards"

SJ Sportscars list it if you need to get one.......http://www.sjsportscars.co.uk/index.php?mod=10

Memorised whaaaat?!

Pistacchio sprint 72 wrote:Memorised whaaaat?!

Ah, so sorry, my radio was changed so long ago the replacement is an antique too, but not original.

It has FM and a cassette player, but an electronic memory, which it loses if I disconnect the battery.

The k7 is not working anymore which make me sad... Any idea?

They say 'Great minds think alike' and also say 'Fools seldom differ' Yes, I put my cutoff switch in the same place. Thought I was the first.

A tip for the radio guys. Place a =/<1 amp fuse across the terminls. This will limit the current availiable to circuits, and if anyone trys to start it it will pop the fuse.

Also I put the switch in the Neg' (ground) leg, so no boots required.

James

holywood3645 wrote:They say 'Great minds think alike' and the also say 'Fools seldom differ' Yes, I put my cutoff switch in the same place. Thought I was the first.

A tip for the radio guys. Place a =/<1 amp fuse across the terminls. This will limit the current availiable to circuits, and if anyone trys to start it it will pop the fuse.

Also I put the switch in the Neg' (ground) leg, so no boots required.

James

My switch is also in the negative lead so boots not really necessary I guess but it would look tidier with them fitted I think.

I don't quite understand your fuse suggestion....can you elaborate ?

James is suggesting that you leave the circuit live, via the fuse, to maintain the radio memory but if any naughty person tries to use any circuit it will blow the fuse thereby disconnecting everything (including the memory maintenance) completely.

I'm not sure that interrupting the ground side is, er, grounds for leaving off the rubber sleeving, any switches left on accidentally will place the "disconnected" terminal at battery voltage though current limited by the circuit's resistance. Looks naked and amateurish without sleeving, especially in the vicinity of the petrol tank.