'65 Anti Theft & Ignition ACC Toggle Switch

[lakeroadster]

Our trucks don't have an ACC position on the ignition switch. Therefore if you turn the ignition on to listen to the radio, without the enigne running, you may burn up your coil and your points.

What if a fella was to put a toggle switch on the hot wire that goes from the ignition to the coil? If the location of the switch was in an accessible, but hidden, location in the cab it could also be used as a theft deterent?

Fix one issue, get a bonus feature for your efforts.

What say ye gang, sound like a workable scenario?

(This would be better than just a "non ignition" hot wire to the radio. Do that and forget to turn off the radio and you get a dead battery.)

John

[iiizman]

In my old truck i put a micro switch that i hooked a relay behind, so I could power all my accessories. The button was small and I put in the ashtray. The relay just redirected the power straight to the battery.

[Big Fenders]

Lakeroadster...Seems like you'r talking about two different things...Ignition cut-out switch and constant power to the radio. As said ,no accessory position on the ignition switch...what I did was wire in a constant hot [toggle switch ] with an LED indicator light to remind me that it was on. The coil cut-out switch is also a good idea...just an extra level of theft deterrent.
Bob

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by Big Fenders

Lakeroadster...Seems like you'r talking about two different things...Bob

Correct: two different benefits from making one change.

1. Want to listen to the radio when engine is off? Flip the toggle switch and turn the ignition on.
2. Want a theft deterent? Flip the toggle switch.

Make sense?

[iiizman]

Why not a small three position toggle with relays on both sides of the switch. That would let you use the small switch and wiring the relays to do what you want. I later hooked mine to the outputs of my VSE alarm, which I liked better. There are alot of creative people on here. I am sure someone will come up with some good ideas.

[62ShortStep]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Correct: two different benefits from making one change.

1. Want to listen to the radio when engine is off? Flip the toggle switch and turn the ignition on.
2. Want a theft deterent? Flip the toggle switch.

Make sense?

Makes sense to me, and its simple too. Think I'll do that to my '62.
Doh! That rhymes! I've done that so many times.
Doh!

[Heater63]

I've wondered for some time how to do this. I definitely want a hidden "kill" switch, and the "acc" feature. I like your ideas- who is a resident electrical guru on our board?? We need to PM them to jump in- I like to be spoon fed when it comes to relays and wiring schemes! LOL
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[cb1965]

i have a toggle switch that cuts power to my coil. from ignition to toggle switch to coil. simple and effective

[chevy_mike]

Yep, that would work fine. All I need now is a radio to listen too.

[62ShortStep]

Lakeroadster- I work with some engineers who sometimes forget the basics of designing. Even though many people can come up with deigns that work, the trick is to accomplish a design with as few parts, complexity, and resources as possible. The rewards are reliability, quick implementation, ease of use, and cost effectiveness. Thanks again for a good idea.

[juanz1947]

sound like some thing i need to do

[Big Fenders]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

Correct: two different benefits from making one change.

1. Want to listen to the radio when engine is off? Flip the toggle switch and turn the ignition on.
2. Want a theft deterent? Flip the toggle switch.

Make sense?

That would work as long as the toggle is switch is hidden from view.
Bob

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Big Fenders

That would work as long as the toggle is switch is hidden from view.
Bob

Or even better, hidden in plain view.

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by 62ShortStep

Lakeroadster- I work with some engineers who sometimes forget the basics of designing. Even though many people can come up with deigns that work, the trick is to accomplish a design with as few parts, complexity, and resources as possible. The rewards are reliability, quick implementation, ease of use, and cost effectiveness. Thanks again for a good idea.

Thanks for the post. I used to make a living as a Mechanical Engineer. I miss working with customers and the guys on the shop floor. Mutual respect.... I always seemed to get along with the end users and the product builders, and a big part of that was based on what you posted. One of the things I always told my managers was to "stop hiring Engineers that don't have enough mechanical aptitude to change the tire on their own vehicle".

I worked with way too many engineers in my career that had chosen the incorrect path on the yellow brick road, so to say.

Originally Posted by Big Fenders

That would work as long as the toggle is switch is hidden from view.
Bob

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Or even better, hidden in plain view.

I have a buddy, Kevin Erisman, back in Ohio who does suspension modifications http://www.hackersparadise.biz/index.html Kevin will lower any and every kind of vehicle. One of his signature modifications is locating the air ride suspension controls into the orignal vintage radio. Basically by pushing in on the frequency set buttons you can air up or air down the suspension.

Neat stuff!