| tundrawolf |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:56 pm |
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When I bought this Baja beetle, it had a rather large (6" diameter) "Big red button" that said "STOP".
It is located on the dash, next to the ignition switch.
I took the switch apart, and it looks like it has been melted from the inside out.
I was wondering, there's no such thing as a switch that could handle the entire load of the battery (Especially while cranking).
So I thought about it: What about a relay on the battery + side of the connection, that stops *all* current (Even cranking) that LATCHES, I could wire it to a low current "Big, red stop switch" that completely cuts all current from the vehicle.
I could have a switch somewhere that resets the relay.
Does anyone know of a latching relay rated high enough to be inline with the cranking circuit (500+ amps intermittent)? |
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| Lotrat |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:26 pm |
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You want a battery contactor. Something like this?
http://www.evparts.com/prod-SL1314.htm
or
http://www.evparts.com/prod-SL2555.htm
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| tundrawolf |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 5:59 pm |
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That is right on the money!
Let me ask something else...
A "latching" relay is like every other relay, except that it only needs a voltage to its coil for a second, and then it "latches" shut. Reverse the polarity and it "Latches" back into the open state. Is there such a thing for a vehicle? Or, maybe something with a manual override? |
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| baja5 |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:00 pm |
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tundrawolf wrote: When I bought this Baja beetle, it had a rather large (6" diameter) "Big red button" that said "STOP".
It is located on the dash, next to the ignition switch.
I took the switch apart, and it looks like it has been melted from the inside out.
I was wondering, there's no such thing as a switch that could handle the entire load of the battery (Especially while cranking).
So I thought about it: What about a relay on the battery + side of the connection, that stops *all* current (Even cranking) that LATCHES, I could wire it to a low current "Big, red stop switch" that completely cuts all current from the vehicle.
I could have a switch somewhere that resets the relay.
Does anyone know of a latching relay rated high enough to be inline with the cranking circuit (500+ amps intermittent)?
Dude, if your car is pulling 500 amps you have other problems, maybe that's why Big red Stop switch melted. |
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| tundrawolf |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:20 pm |
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baja5 wrote: Dude, if your car is pulling 500 amps you have other problems, maybe that's why Big red Stop switch melted.
It only pulls 480 amps when I have the headlights on, and the wires inside glow bright red, maybe so I can see them? It also gets real hot in the cab when the wires are glowing (And smoking? Is that supposed to happen?) |
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| Nicksan |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:24 pm |
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tundrawolf wrote: baja5 wrote: Dude, if your car is pulling 500 amps you have other problems, maybe that's why Big red Stop switch melted.
It only pulls 480 amps when I have the headlights on, and the wires inside glow bright red, maybe so I can see them? It also gets real hot in the cab when the wires are glowing (And smoking? Is that supposed to happen?)
I hope your kidding. :lol: |
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| Dale M. |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:25 pm |
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Not sure why you even need a STOP button......... I though that was what a key or toggle switch was for....
Dale |
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| 57baja |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:26 pm |
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tundrawolf wrote: That is right on the money!
Let me ask something else...
A "latching" relay is like every other relay, except that it only needs a voltage to its coil for a second, and then it "latches" shut. Reverse the polarity and it "Latches" back into the open state. Is there such a thing for a vehicle? Or, maybe something with a manual override?
Yes. They are made by Intellitec and are used in RV's for disconnecting batteries while the RV is in storage so the batteries don't go dead. I have them at work. They're not cheap, but if you want one I can get one for you. |
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| tundrawolf |
Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:09 pm |
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57baja wrote: tundrawolf wrote: That is right on the money!
Let me ask something else...
A "latching" relay is like every other relay, except that it only needs a voltage to its coil for a second, and then it "latches" shut. Reverse the polarity and it "Latches" back into the open state. Is there such a thing for a vehicle? Or, maybe something with a manual override?
Yes. They are made by Intellitec and are used in RV's for disconnecting batteries while the RV is in storage so the batteries don't go dead. I have them at work. They're not cheap, but if you want one I can get one for you.
Nicksan: totally kidding haha.
57, how much are we talking here? |
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