Battery cut-off

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Battery cut-off

Can anyone tell me why NCRS insests on the disconnect when you can disconnect the battery cable? It seemes to be the lazy mans way to do it. I had the green knob ones & chucked them all. It's not that hard to remove a cable from a battery post. I hope it's not because a dealer on the Drive line sells them.

[Michael J.]

Re: Battery cut-off

I'm not sure about NCRS, but some organizations think people using wrenches around batteries and their terminals has a potential for big problems. Some people are better at using tools and understanding what they are doing than others who may not be mechanically adept. Turning a knob or opening a switch can be done safely by most anyone.

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery cut-off

Can anyone tell me why NCRS insests on the disconnect when you can disconnect the battery cable? It seemes to be the lazy mans way to do it. I had the green knob ones & chucked them all. It's not that hard to remove a cable from a battery post. I hope it's not because a dealer on the Drive line sells them.

NCRS "encourages" the battery cut off because:

1: We had a Corvette begin to catch fire on the show field at a National Convention in Warren Mich. While we were able to rapidly eleminate the source of the electrical fire, it was more accidental than skill that prevented the car from burning to the ground. We could have been more efficient had there been a battery cut-off switch installed.

2) Many indoor meets now days require the battery to be disconnected, and the switch is more convenient for the owner.

Remember the installation of the battery-cut off is the owner's choice; we do NOT "insist" on it, as you put it. You don't have to do it, but if we are inside (as more and more meets are now days) the Fire Marshal is likely to make you disconnect the battery anyway.

[Pat M.]

Re: Battery cut-off

I agree with you Don, I also prefer the green knob one hooked on the negative terminal. I have four of them on my cars and have never had an issue in all the years I have had them, maybe I'm just lucky?

Same here, never had a single problem with my green knob switch.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Battery cut-off

Thanks Terry but you lose extra points for not having it right? Can I get the extra poins if I have the cable disconnected & we all know it's about the points.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Battery cut-off

Terry
Assuming you have the disconnect switch off or the cable off & have a trickle charger on can there be a electrical fire? I would think so. For those that are snow birds what should we do to keep the cars safe but not kill the batteries?

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery cut-off

Thanks Terry but you lose extra points for not having it right? Can I get the extra poins if I have the cable disconnected & we all know it's about the points.

Well if for you it is all about the points then conduct yourself accordingly. The points are there to "encourage" you. They are also there to make up the the lack of original tires -- or for the thousands one might spend to acquire those original tires. Substitute air filter, or increasingly oil filter or battery and so on for tires in the last sentence. Of course 10 points won't make up for all of those things, but it will help some -- but in the end it is your choice.

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery cut-off

Terry
Assuming you have the disconnect switch off or the cable off & have a trickle charger on can there be a electrical fire? I would think so. For those that are snow birds what should we do to keep the cars safe but not kill the batteries?

If the disconnect is open, or the battery cable disconnected, and the battery charger is connected to the battery the chance of electrical fire is significantly reduced since the only power is in the battery. All the wires in the car are dead. Can the battery catch fire? Yes it is remotely possible. It is however more likely the battery will explode. That will make a mess, a royal mess -- but it is not likely to cause a fire. In 45 years with the electric utility, and literally thousands of battery cells in service during that time -- all much larger than the cells in your automotive battery -- I have seen and heard of cells exploding, but never a battery fire. Not to say it can't happen, but the probability is low. It is kind of like the lawyers question: "Is it possible?" Yes. Is it probable? No.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: Battery cut-off

If the disconnect is open, or the battery cable disconnected, and the battery charger is connected to the battery the chance of electrical fire is significantly reduced since the only power is in the battery. All the wires in the car are dead. Can the battery catch fire? Yes it is remotely possible. It is however more likely the battery will explode. That will make a mess, a royal mess -- but it is not likely to cause a fire. In 45 years with the electric utility, and literally thousands of battery cells in service during that time -- all much larger than the cells in your automotive battery -- I have seen and heard of cells exploding, but never a battery fire. Not to say it can't happen, but the probability is low. It is kind of like the lawyers question: "Is it possible?" Yes. Is it probable? No.

THANKS I feel better now. I know NOTHING about electricity. I do have the knob kind of disconnects & not had a problem so far. When I get a C-6 I will get the knife type.

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery cut-off

For your C6 the knife will be problematic if the battery is in the rear (Z06, ZR1). It ought to work OK with the rest as they have an engine compartment mounted battery. I have not tried either type of cut-off switch on my C6, so I can not speak from experience.