Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

[Larry E.]

Need some input on Auto Battery Shut Off Switches. Below is pictures of the more common types. I'm sure they are
others that pertain to other categories>eg.>Marine/Industrial/Off Road and etc. Please give me some suggestions
that pertain to safety/size/fitting a C2 battery. Thanks in advance>>Larry

[Larry M.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

The lower one will work best.

I use the upper one and have for over 25 years, but I also buy USA made ones (for more $$). I like this style the best........but the best switch is the lower one I mentioned.

Larry

[Terry M.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

The upper one has the advantage of being able to take the knob with you when you leave your car unattended.

The lower one has the advantage of more contact area to carry the high current involved in starting your Corvette.

Some people have had issues with the smaller contact area of the upper one.

All of mine ate the lower style (but for side terminal batteries). On some C3s the clearance for the l9ower switch is awkward, but it is doable. Get the lower one. There is one supplier who advertises in the Driveline. I believe he is in Illinois. Buy that one.

[Larry E.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

Thanks Larry and Terry>The knife type blade is what I will get. Now I have to decide if I want the Horizontal or Vertical Blade type.
Picture below is the Horizontal type. Both are made in the US so I would think quality is OK. We know the battery placement in a
C2 is a PITA. Going from memory now(Which is scary) since car is stored for the Winter. Car is a C2 Base engine so it has the
radiator tank. Not a whole lot of room around the battery. Any thoughts on the Horizontal vs. Vertical Blade?? Thanks again>Larry

[John F.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

Knife-blade by far.

[Terry M.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

Thanks Larry and Terry>The knife type blade is what I will get. Now I have to decide if I want the Horizontal or Vertical Blade type.
Picture below is the Horizontal type. Both are made in the US so I would think quality is OK. We know the battery placement in a
C2 is a PITA. Going from memory now(Which is scary) since car is stored for the Winter. Car is a C2 Base engine so it has the
radiator tank. Not a whole lot of room around the battery. Any thoughts on the Horizontal vs. Vertical Blade?? Thanks again>Larry

Since my area is C3s I can offer no opinion on horizontal or vertical. #14 watches me and gets his feathers up when I offer opinions on anything C2.

One piece of information that may be helpful. I have one of these blade type switches that allows the blade to be reversed from side to side. The whole switch has to be taken apart but common hand tools can do that. Due to clearance issues it may be an advantage to move the blade from one side to the other. Consider one might want the blade to pivot from the cable side so the blade is de-energized when open. Thus no harm or foul if the blade touches something grounded. Some folks prefer the switch to be on the negative post so there is no energized contact. Electrically it makes no difference which post the switch is on, but these clearance issues may lead one to one terminal or another. So might ease of access or operation.

[Gary S.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

I had the upper one, the knob, on my 66 and it was troublesome probably due to poor or overseas design. One had to tighten it so much that it seemed like it was going to break. I substituted the bottom one, the knife blade, and it worked perfectly. I use the same style on my 72. I convinced my friend to put the lower one on his 67 and it has to be "just right" to clear the obstacles but it works well.

Gary

[Frank D.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

The lower one will work best.

I use the upper one and have for over 25 years, but I also buy USA made ones (for more $$). I like this style the best........but the best switch is the lower one I mentioned.

Larry

Absolutely, I switched to the knife blade after two "green knob" units eventually failed and no, I didn't buy cheap ones.
If you want to test one of those "green knob" thingy-doos, throw it in a lake and if it floats its good, if it sinks its bad.

[John F.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

Knife-blade by far.

I took mine apart to orient it this way!

[Larry M.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

Absolutely, I switched to the knife blade after two "green knob" units eventually failed and no, I didn't buy cheap ones.
If you want to test one of those "green knob" thingy-doos, throw it in a lake and if it floats its good, if it sinks its bad.

The ones I have use a black knob and are made in USA. Quality is much better. But my earlier response says it all for me........"buy the knife blade switch for best results in your car."

Larry

[Larry E.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

I had the upper one, the knob, on my 66 and it was troublesome probably due to poor or overseas design. One had to tighten it so much that it seemed like it was going to break. I substituted the bottom one, the knife blade, and it worked perfectly. I use the same style on my 72. I convinced my friend to put the lower one on his 67 and it has to be "just right" to clear the obstacles but it works well.

Gary

Gary: Thanks for the response.Question> Would the very last picture I posted (Horizontal Pull Blade) been a better fit for your
friends 67 as far as clearance is concerned?? Larry

[Eric J.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

I use the knob type but be careful using it as a service battery disconnect. Often times due to cable binding it manages to stay connected to the terminal. I find I need to remove the knob and separate the cable side of the switch completely to avoid remaining connected.

[Gary S.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

Good question, Larry. Since I only had the other type, see post #5, that is what I used. I will text my friend and have him send me a photo of his installation. It wasn't difficult to find a working angle but I will send you a photo as soon as I get it.
Gary

[Patrick B.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

The simple knob style one fits easily and works fine on my 67 L-71 with its original high torque starter and high compression. It is even the Paragon green knob model which is apparently not as good as the black knob version. Where does one get the black knob model?

[Larry M.]

Re: Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

The simple knob style one fits easily and works fine on my 67 L-71 with its original high torque starter and high compression. It is even the Paragon green knob model which is apparently not as good as the black knob version. Where does one get the black knob model?

One place: https://www.gamainc.com/product/bs200/

Larry