Where do people fit electrical cut off switches to Discovery 2 TD5s?

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Si Click

Si Click

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A search has not turned anything up, but I'm sure that this has been done many times. Where are people fitting battery cutouts to their D2 TD5s? I am not needing this for competition or off road safety, so do not need (or want) it to be accessible from outside the vehicle. I simply want to isolate the battery without tools or having the potential for the earth lead to spring back and cause a connection when I don't want it. The obvious answer would be a bolt or bar switch type on the earth terminal on the battery, but is this best option? Is there a better alternative?
 
Si Click said:
A search has not turned anything up, but I'm sure that this has been done many times. Where are people fitting battery cutouts to their D2 TD5s? I am not needing this for competition or off road safety, so do not need (or want) it to be accessible from outside the vehicle. I simply want to isolate the battery without tools or having the potential for the earth lead to spring back and cause a connection when I don't want it. The obvious answer would be a bolt or bar switch type on the earth terminal on the battery, but is this best option? Is there a better alternative?
Click to expand...
1686127071368.png

similar to this should work.
 
Lots of neat solutions, some with fuses that can be used to keep radio codes etc but prevent start up

Battery Cut-Off Switch, terminal fitting with fuse

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9 products for your search battery switch | Page 1 | Auto Electrical Parts UK

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Stanleysteamer said:
Lots of neat solutions, some with fuses that can be used to keep radio codes etc but prevent start up

Battery Cut-Off Switch, terminal fitting with fuse

Moss Europe
www.moss-europe.co.uk www.moss-europe.co.uk

Search

One-stop shop for Kit Car and Classic Car Parts, Kit Car repairs and painting. Tools and Accessories for the Kit Car and Classic Car Enthusiast.
www.carbuilder.com www.carbuilder.com

9 products for your search battery switch | Page 1 | Auto Electrical Parts UK

Browse 9 products for battery switch in Auto Electrical Parts UK Page 1
www.autoelectricalpartsuk.co.uk www.autoelectricalpartsuk.co.uk
Click to expand...
Thats brilliant, but do they prevent parasitic draw? I have been thinking for a long time of installing one of these. Why would someone use them to just prevent the car from starting?
 
There are electric fob types of battery cut off switches assemblies on eBay which are cheap. They are easier to install and can disconnect all electrical system power from the battery.
 
Maat said:
Thats brilliant, but do they prevent parasitic draw?
Click to expand...
If there is excessive parasitic drain the solution is to find out the reason and fix it not to isolate the battery cos once a system causes excessive quiescent draw there is an electrical fault present which can get worst in time and lead to catastrophic failures while driving if you see what i mean.
 
sierrafery said:
If there is excessive parasitic drain the solution is to find out the reason and fix it not to isolate the battery cos once a system causes excessive quiescent draw there is an electrical fault present which can get worst in time and lead to catastrophic failures while driving if you see what i mean.
Click to expand...
Thanks sierrafery, of course it is ideal to fix the issue at hand rather than improvise. I remember I measured the draw on my Td5 a few years ago and it was normal (dont remember the values) but the old battery was still better off disconnected if the car wouldnt be driven for some weeks. I work with tractors and most of them have a cut-off switch, some of them from factory. I was wondering, after reading Stanleysteamers post, if anyone uses these for anything else other than protecting the battery??
 
If the current draw is normal for the D2 & it's kept outside whilst not in use I would (do) use one of the large solar panels from Halfords plugged into the OBD port.
 
Thanks for the responses everyone. I started considering this in order just to make disconnecting the battery a bit easier. Then I thought about using it as a means of protecting the battery if I left the D2 alone for a few weeks. But what are the implications for security? If I leave the car locked and electrically dead, return and unlock with the key, open the bonnet and reattach the battery can I expect the car to behave as if nothing had happened, or should I expect issues with the central locking, alarm and immobiliser?
 
I got mine in June 20, the mot had expired the previous Sept (it had never been garaged) & I'm not sure when it had been driven before that suffice to say the battery was kaput but I put another battery on it & it started first time so I'm sure nothing would happen electrically unless it had water ingress or mice having a feast on the wiring. If it was left with the alarm/immobiliser out of action & something happened to it I'm not sure the insurance company would cough up if they found out.
 
Four reasons for fitting one:

1/ as an anti-theft device, especailly the ones fitted to the actual battery posts,

2/ to prevent a fire in the case of an accident, these are fitted to cars doing motorsport, on the outside and prominently indicated.

3/ to reduce battery drain on a vehicle left for a longish time between being driven. a bit easier than disconnecting the cables and, if you wish removing the batt.

4/ To make it simpler when working on a car, rather than disconnecting the cable(s).
 
Last edited:
Andy Warren said:
I got mine in June 20, the mot had expired the previous Sept (it had never been garaged) & I'm not sure when it had been driven before that suffice to say the battery was kaput but I put another battery on it & it started first time so I'm sure nothing would happen electrically unless it had water ingress or mice having a feast on the wiring. If it was left with the alarm/immobiliser out of action & something happened to it I'm not sure the insurance company would cough up if they found out.
Click to expand...
I get what you are saying, but if you immobilise it by using one of these, i.e. you take the key with you, then surely that is better than an alarm that no one pays any attention to!
This is what I do with my other two Discos, i.e. I remove their batts, so they cannot easily be driven away. Whenever I go away for a long period.
 
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