Which Battery Shut Off Switch Is Best For A C2 Corvette

[Gary S.]

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

Larry E.,
Here are two photos (I hope). Does this help?

Gary

[Patrick B.]

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

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

Larry

Thanks, Larry

[Joe R.]

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

Have used the screw type for years with no problems. I like the screw type because they are compact. Have the green knob. As long as you don't let them get contaminated with acid, grit or dirt they will be completely reliable.

JR

[Larry E.]

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

Larry E.,
Here are two photos (I hope). Does this help?

Gary

Gary>Thanks;it does give me a prospective of how much room I have. Your friend has a B/B which does not have that expansion
tank like my S/B does so room is even tighter on mine. It does look like the horizontal pull would be better but that heater core
cover comes close. Either way it is a very tight fit. Thanks>Larry

[Larry E.]

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

Knife-blade by far.

John>Thanks for the picture

[James O.]

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

I've used both but prefer knife blade for reasons mentioned above but i also like the fact that you can visually see if you remembered to switch it off without turning the knob. Also, I never trusted that the knob type really disconnected power because i could not see the contacts (I had one that wore out) so I would always be checking the courtesy light to make sure car was powered down.

[Richard L.]

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

Where can I get the knife style type, a good one made in the USA? Anyone have a manufacturer part number or seller that I can order from online? I don't go out these days if I can help it.
THX
Ric

[Larry E.]

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

Where can I get the knife style type, a good one made in the USA? Anyone have a manufacturer part number or seller that I can order from online? I don't go out these days if I can help it.
THX
Ric

952-941-9073 - Toll Free: 1-800-959-0879 - Fax: 952-941-0659 https://www.wirthco.com/battery-doct...blade-switches

[Richard L.]

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

Thank you Larry. Their website looks like they have good quality electrical supplies of all types.
Ric

952-941-9073 - Toll Free: 1-800-959-0879 - Fax: 952-941-0659 https://www.wirthco.com/battery-doct...blade-switches

[Richard B.]

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

I use the American Autowire 500834 switch. It's remotely operated by a momentary switch under the dash, right below ignition but you'd have to look for it if you didn't know it was there. It's super convenient; no need to open and close hood each time and by habit I disconnect it every time I shut the car off. All the connections are insulated so minimal exposure to shorting. Only downside is the solenoid, mounted near the battery (no Corvettes will be harmed BTW) may be unsightly to some. Also not sure if it qualifies with NCRS.

[Jim L.]

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

My own preference is for this style of switch:

battery-switch.jpg

Not only does it disconnect the battery but it has an extra pair of contacts which can be used to disable the alternator at the moment of circuit interruption. That feature is important if you ever need to kill your vehicle's electrics while the engine is running. Without the extra pair of contacts, the alternator will continue to provide power and the engine will keep running.

I have this switch on my race car.

It's available from NAPA:

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHS...battery+switch

[Larry E.]

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

Just an update on the subject above. Finally got my 66 Base Engine Coupe out of the bag. One of the first jobs was to install
the Battery Switch (Picture Below). Car has no A/C so there is plenty of room so I thought. I could not for the life of me after
trying every angle/position in the books install it on the negative post. So with a little work I installed it on the Positive Post.
If the lever was on the opposite end it would work but there was a special rivet on it so I could not reverse it. One has to be
very careful when attaching it to the positive to avoid shorting out the battery. Thanks>Larry

[Frank D.]

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

There are plenty of C2s with the knife switch on the negative post (I owned one), that is how the cutoff is designed to be installed; not sure why you couldn't make it work but the positive post is not optimal.

[Terry M.]

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

There are plenty of C2s with the knife switch on the negative post (I owned one), that is how the cutoff is designed to be installed; not sure why you couldn't make it work but the positive post is not optimal.

There is no electrical reason to favor the positive or negative. Either terminal will open the circuit and an open circuit is just that; regardless of where the open is. In terms of clearance to other objects, or ease of operation, there may be reasons to favor one terminal over another -- but those mechanical reasons are another story.

[Larry E.]

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

Thanks Terry/Frank for the reply. Frank>There are many manufacturers that make these things. Mine happens to be made
by the "WirthCo". They are all a little different. The unit's throw arm can not be reversed for one. Throwing the switch was not the problem at some angles
but at that angle could not get a wrench/socket on the nut to tighten it. It was also stretching the negative cable to the point
it "just did not look right". It was one thing or the other on the negative post. By putting in on the positive is works very well
like Terry indicated and LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER. Thanks>Larry