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[Broomies Mate]

Hi Guys, long time no post, long time no see. 

Due to certain circumstances, I can no longer park my VW T4 near a source of Watts. I've got a Solar Panel, which does a good job of keeping the battery topped up, but I'm thinking of installing a Switch to disconnect the battery.

The switch will not be for anti-theft measures, more-so to ensure there are no battery drains (Radio etc). I appreciate I'll have to re-program the station presets, but that is no big deal as the van is likely to be going nowhere (far) for the following 12months. I will continuosly have to move the Van by a few feet or so to allow access.... Hence why I cannot simply remove the battery and shove it in the Garage with a conditioner attached.

SO...... Who here has experience with Kill Switches?

* It would be nice if mounted on/below dash (save opening the bonnet)
* What sort of current does a 1999 2.5TDi Transporter pull on start-up?
* I'm always overkill, so what gauge cable should I be using?
* Why do the 'Muricans insist on putting the Kill Switch on the +ve side of the battery (what's the pro's and con's).

Many thanks for your assistance.   

[Doctor Gollum]

Easiest way is to simply pop the negative lead off the battery or remove the primary fuses.

The American preference may be historical. +ve ground and all that

[biggriffin]

ER go

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Universal-Heavy-Duty-Battery-Master-Isolator-Cut-off-Kill-Switch-2-Keys-12v/1873116592?iid=111732974182

[Broomies Mate]

ER go

https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Universal-Heavy-Duty-Battery-Master-Isolator-Cut-off-Kill-Switch-2-Keys-12v/1873116592?iid=111732974182

Yep, that's the kind of thing I want.... But without the bloody key, and without such a monstrosity.....  I just need a flick swicth - But to handle what current?

Easiest way is to simply pop the negative lead off the battery or remove the primary fuses.

The American preference may be historical. +ve ground and all that

If I wanted to constantly lift the bonnet and remove the terminal, I wouldn't have asked the question.....

Not even the Yanks have had +ve earth for donkeys years.

[zirk]

You could go a bit more light weight on the switch by leaving the thicker Starter Motor feed cable connected and just isolate the rest of the positive feeds.

As for isolating the the Pos rather than the Neg, its just the way its done, makes no difference isolating one of the Battery feeds but makes sense to do it on the same polarity side as the fuses.