Kill Switch, Toggle or Magnetic?

[savatreatabvr]

I finished replacing my friends kill switch, (toggle), with a magnetic kill switch and I'm very much impressed with the way it works! I'm a commercial alarm installer by trade so I took a common recessed door contact and mounted it behind the metal dash and spliced into the wiring. So now instead of having to reach under the dash and flick a toggle switch he just sticks a small magnet on the metal dash where the hidden contact is and it fires right up, remove the magnet and it dies, brilliant idea! I know they sell magnetic kill switches but it's much more satisfying making your own!



I ditched the large magnet and used one 1/4 the size!

[Corts60]

That is really awesome! Great idea man, between this and the "Add your own ipod input to factory stereo", this week has been great for innovations.

[pat386]

Great idea!
Posted via Mobile Device

[andrewmp6]

My uncles 68 camaro has one rigged up in the ashtray when he pushes it all the way it starts pull it out a tiny bit it won't start.

[Pop's C-10]

nice mod

[motornut]

cool idea but any chance it would fall/get knocked off?
like off roading

[savatreatabvr]

Nothings perfect but it's mounted with two screws and tie wraps. My reasoning on this was to make the kill switch less noticeable to the passengers in the truck because personally I don't want anyone knowing where my kill switch is and the first time you reach for your toggle switch under the dash and click it your cover is blown. Plus the magnetic kill switch is mounted on the left side of steering wheel so no one other than the driver can see the magnet or where it's positioned. BTW, the magnet is small, (1/4") and encased in plastic so it makes no sound when it touches the dash. I thought it was a good idea and it's very simple to install!

Originally Posted by motornut

cool idea but any chance it would fall/get knocked off?
like off roading

[lilpoindexter]

Originally Posted by motornut

cool idea but any chance it would fall/get knocked off?
like off roading

+1...or you knock it off with your knee or foot just as you begin passing a semi

[Bad Karma]

With a few more components, you only need to pass the magnet over the switch and it will latch in the "on" position.

http://www.autospeed.com/A_107975/cms/article.html

[Fan2zee]

Originally Posted by savatreatabvr

I finished replacing my friends kill switch, (toggle), with a magnetic kill switch and I'm very much impressed with the way it works! I'm a commercial alarm installer by trade so I took a common recessed door contact and mounted it behind the metal dash and spliced into the wiring. So now instead of having to reach under the dash and flick a toggle switch he just sticks a small magnet on the metal dash where the hidden contact is and it fires right up, remove the magnet and it dies, brilliant idea! I know they sell magnetic kill switches but it's much more satisfying making your own!



I ditched the large magnet and used one 1/4 the size!

Okay, wiring is not my greatest attribute. Any chance "how to" pics/vid.. I have a 87' C10... I just started a thread a few days ago about possibly adding a toggle.. but your idea sounds Awesome!
Posted via Mobile Device

[savatreatabvr]

No chance but I will tell you what to do. First off grab your test light, turn the key on and pop the hood, now locate the hot lead to your coil, you'll know you've got the right one when the key is tuned off the test light will go off. Trace that wire through the harness and find a well hidden area with room to work and cut the wire, get some 18 gauge 2 conductor stranded wire long enough, always give yourself plenty of wire to go from your splice point to the location in the cab were you want the magnetic kill switch, run it through your wire harness into the firewall under the dash, make sure it's run neat and high to the switch location. Next hook up the 18 gauge 2 conductor to the switch and mount it flush to the inside of the dash, you can use glue/bracket/tie wraps or what ever you want as long as it's not noticeable from the face of the dash. Now go to your splice point under the hood and wire nut one of the 18 gauge 2 conductors to one side of the cut hot distributor lead and the other to the other. Tape it up nice so it looks like it was never disturbed and you're done!



Now when you try to start the truck it won't fire because the hot distributor lead is still basically cut until you place the magnet on the dash which completes the circuit. Be sure you use a (normally open) contact/switch!

HOPE I EXPLAINED THIS WELL ENOUGH, ANY QUESTIONS JUST ASK.

Originally Posted by Fan2zee

Okay, wiring is not my greatest attribute. Any chance "how to" pics/vid.. I have a 87' C10... I just started a thread a few days ago about possibly adding a toggle.. but your idea sounds Awesome!
Posted via Mobile Device

[savatreatabvr]

I thought about using a relay but I decided to make it as simple as possible.

Originally Posted by Bad Karma

With a few more components, you only need to pass the magnet over the switch and it will latch in the "on" position.

http://www.autospeed.com/A_107975/cms/article.html

[savatreatabvr]

No body parts get near the magnet.

Originally Posted by lilpoindexter

+1...or you knock it off with your knee or foot just as you begin passing a semi

[savatreatabvr]

Cool idea but it's to common, people have been doing that for years.

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

My uncles 68 camaro has one rigged up in the ashtray when he pushes it all the way it starts pull it out a tiny bit it won't start.

[78 Chevyrado]

I like this idea a lot! sounds like the best idea Ive heard of for this application. If people are worried about the magnet falling off, couldn't you just use a higher power magnet? you'd just need one that's not too hard to remove.

[savatreatabvr]

Sure, stronger magnets would solve any sort of falling off issues but if your knees are touching the dash left of the steering column then he may want to get a bigger truck!!

Originally Posted by 78 Chevyrado

I like this idea a lot! sounds like the best idea Ive heard of for this application. If people are worried about the magnet falling off, couldn't you just use a higher power magnet? you'd just need one that's not too hard to remove.

[motornut]

note to self
if you want to steal a guys truck with a big gun in AZ
walk softly and carry a big magnet....
just left of the steering wheel...
where the scratches are lol

[savatreatabvr]

First off as I stated in the beginning that it's not my truck I installed the magnetic kill switch in and I don't find it very funny that a Premium Member would joke about stealing another members vehicle!

Originally Posted by motornut

note to self
if you want to steal a guys truck with a big gun in AZ
walk softly and carry a big magnet....
just left of the steering wheel...
where the scratches are lol

[motornut]

as long as you know i'm joking.... think i'd have lots of choices on the way don't worry
and gee i'm not comfy with somebody pointing a gun at me all the time either
I mean thats a joke right?
and if it's not your truck whats the problem,won't need the magnet then either

[savatreatabvr]

Don't be scared, it's not loaded, I think?

Originally Posted by motornut

as long as you know i'm joking.... think i'd have lots of choices on the way don't worry
and gee i'm not comfy with somebody pointing a gun at me all the time either
I mean thats a joke right?
and if it's not your truck whats the problem,won't need the magnet then either

[jitteryguy]

Great idea, I have a S10 with a toggle switch ignitionand have ponder'd idea's for a hid'n a switch some where, I wonder would a magnetic sticker be enough to activate the switch ?
also at least on HEI dist (not sure on piont's) the dist wire is pink.

[savatreatabvr]

It depends on what your dash is made of and how thick it is. My buddies truck is a mid 70's with a metal dash and he only uses a 1/4" in diameter magnet.

Originally Posted by jitteryguy

Great idea, I have a S10 with a toggle switch ignitionand have ponder'd idea's for a hid'n a switch some where, I wonder would a magnetic sticker be enough to activate the switch ?
also at least on HEI dist (not sure on piont's) the dist wire is pink.

[70blackfish]

any pictures of the magnetic switch ?

[Sam03]

Cool idea. Thanks for sharing! I had one in a convertible that you have to push when you turn the key so no one thought anything abt it.

[El Dorado Jim]

Originally Posted by savatreatabvr

I finished replacing my friends kill switch, (toggle), with a magnetic kill switch and I'm very much impressed with the way it works! I'm a commercial alarm installer by trade so I took a common recessed door contact and mounted it behind the metal dash and spliced into the wiring. So now instead of having to reach under the dash and flick a toggle switch he just sticks a small magnet on the metal dash where the hidden contact is and it fires right up, remove the magnet and it dies, brilliant idea! I know they sell magnetic kill switches but it's much more satisfying making your own!



I ditched the large magnet and used one 1/4 the size!

I know this is an old thread, but love this kill switch, where can I get one??