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What should i consider when using this switch?.

Posted: August 7th, 2006, 11:27 pm
by PatMX3
I have a push- ON/OFF switch that i am going to use to turn on my cars POWER. The question is, should i use a certain amperage rating for it, or add a relay onto it to be safe?. Im just worried about the switches ability to handle the load. AND! so nothing will burn UP! lol.

Posted: August 8th, 2006, 12:03 am
by Nd4SpdSe
What do you mean the car's power? Like a push button start to start the car?

Posted: August 8th, 2006, 12:14 am
by PatMX3
yeah! i have a push button to fire the ignition. BUT, i wanna also have a switch to turn the power on as well. I'll have a kill switch atatched onto it so none can just start the car up. i'll still have to use the key to unlock the wheel lock, and car door.

Posted: August 9th, 2006, 12:00 am
by PATDIESEL
Sounds like a pain in the butt, but your call. You'll need a relay hooked to the swtich to keep from burning the switch and having to run a ton of large amprage wire from the engine bay back out to the fuse box.

Posted: August 9th, 2006, 12:40 am
by Nd4SpdSe
not really, cause you couldn't find a relay to handle all that power, their usally around 30/40amp max

Posted: August 9th, 2006, 12:21 pm
by PATDIESEL
I've seen higher ratings, but I was a commercial electrician then working with low voltage assembly-line machinery. It may be tough to find, but you need one that is the same as the "Main" fuse in the engine fuse box, 100 amps I think. Good luck.

Posted: August 9th, 2006, 1:29 pm
by Tunes67
http://www.grainger.com Get a catalog.. definately worth having around :)

Tunes67

Posted: August 9th, 2006, 4:20 pm
by Tropical Emerald 1993
and throw some pics after you've done this

Posted: August 11th, 2006, 12:39 pm
by jschrauwen
Sniff .... sniff ..... what the heck is that??? Burning wires???
Of course, like Pat said, your call. Why in the world would you want to bastardize a perfectly working ignition system. Unless your ignition system is toast or it's a full bore Race Only MX, than I can't see the money, time and effort spent. If it's wiring your eager to work on, how about upgrading the wiring to the headlights to re-coup about 20% of it's potential? Or redo the ground wiring for the engine bay? At least these would net a worthwhile positive benefit to everyday operation.
my $.02

Posted: August 12th, 2006, 12:35 pm
by PatMX3
Well .... the reason i'm doing it I wanted to add a push start button, and in the process of finding out which wires i needed to use i messed up by a ignition part coming all apart from its place. lil springs, pieces all over. i tried to re organize them back, but to no avail!. So... thats why i have to have a EXTRA button to turn on the POWER for the car. If i can find a junk ignition module some place, ill use it. But till then i kinda like this extra power switch i'll have. ill need my key to open the door, and the steerin lock. all though, i could get ride of the sterring lock!!! lol.