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CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 12:30 pm
by takai
In preparing for logbook, I remembered that I need an FIA isolation switch as per:
Schedule C. (j) Each automobile of the 2nd and 3rd Category shall be equipped with a battery isolation (master) switch which isolates the battery and stops the engine, and:
(i) it shall be capable of being operated by the driver in his normal seated position;
(ii) there shall be a second switch, or a remote means of operating the main switch, from the vicinity of the base of the A pillar on the driver’s side or, for an automobile with no A pillar, in a comparable position; and
(iii) each external device shall be clearly marked by a symbol showing a red spark in a white- edged blue triangle of minimum edge length 150mm;
Now for us the logical place to put such a switch is where the rear power run meets the fuse box on the drivers side next to the firewall. However, without a cabin cable this does not meet the requirements for j.i., that it must be operable from the driver in the normal seating position.
I can easily run a cable to the cabin to meet this requirement (along with the cable up the A-pillar). But i am wondering if there is another method that is commonly used on our cars.
What have other people done?
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:02 pm
by greenMachine
Road registered?
My SE was logbooked without one.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:06 pm
by takai
greenMachine wrote:Road registered?
My SE was logbooked without one.
Who did your SE logbooking? Its not excluded for road registered vehicles, and neither is the tailshaft loop.
Or what is it logbooked as?
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:48 pm
by RS2000
Schedule C is only for racing.
A isolating switch is not required for a logbook if only doing speed events etc & not racing.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 1:56 pm
by takai
RS2000 wrote:Schedule C is only for racing.
A isolating switch is not required for a logbook if only doing speed events etc & not racing.
Logbooking as 2B/F for future racing, as changing logbooks is more annoying than it is worth. But true if greenmachine isn't logbooked for racing.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2018 8:48 pm
by greenMachine
Yes, my car is logbooked for speed events, not racing.
Regarding the cut off, it is not a battery cutoff, it is a kill switch that turns off all electrical power, including the engine/alternator (as per Schedule C). Putting it in the battery circuit will not kill the engine, as it is still generating via the alternator.
I know there are some very expensive kill switches, perhaps they will do both.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:43 am
by takai
greenMachine wrote:Yes, my car is logbooked for speed events, not racing.
Regarding the cut off, it is not a battery cutoff, it is a kill switch that turns off all electrical power, including the engine/alternator (as per Schedule C). Putting it in the battery circuit will not kill the engine, as it is still generating via the alternator.
I know there are some very expensive kill switches, perhaps they will do both.
Even the basic FIA switches have a secondary pair of switchable circuits to allow for killing the alternator
That is why you use a FIA switch not the ones used for secondary batteries and camper trailers.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:47 pm
by GR124
I Just grabbed one of these (above) for my track car build.
It was suggested to me to spend a lot more. Always easy to advise someone to get spend more when it's not their dosh.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2018 12:50 pm
by takai
I have one of those red switches lying around after I thought the switch in the IPRA car had died (it hadnt, user error).
But after doing some reading, it seems that this type of Tyco switch might be the go:
http://au.element14.com/te-connectivity ... dp/2076581Read the wiring for it here. Would just mean putting the alternator to the battery side of the shutoff, rather than the fuse box side.
http://www.ipraforum.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8166
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 5:38 pm
by Nuddy
My NC is a road registered race car.
CAMS log book lists it as 2F.
It has a simple isolator switch.
Daniel Deckers made a simple modification to the wiring loom so that it cuts out the alternator too.
Operate the switch and the engine stops.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 11:46 pm
by takai
Nuddy wrote:My NC is a road registered race car.
CAMS log book lists it as 2F.
It has a simple isolator switch.
Daniel Deckers made a simple modification to the wiring loom so that it cuts out the alternator too.
Operate the switch and the engine stops.
Where is the switch physically located?
Regs state that it has to be operable by the driver, which means that most people mount it on the trans tunnel or dash. But on our MX5s there is a nice convenient run to the driver side cowl area where a switch could be located, but fails that reg. Hence this thread about remote switches etc.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 5:15 am
by Magpie
Consider the Cartek electronic isolator. The kill switches are push buttons not pull cables. Very simple to install and you can add additional kill buttons as required.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 8:12 am
by takai
Magpie wrote:Consider the Cartek electronic isolator. The kill switches are push buttons not pull cables. Very simple to install and you can add additional kill buttons as required.
I’m 99% sure I’ll use the Tyco relay, as often used by Gary Rowe etc. The Cartek isolator is a ground break, which often lets the engine run on with alternator, and so needs secondary breakers etc. the Tyco does main circuit break so the alternator can be fed into the cold side for breaking.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 11:16 am
by Magpie
takai wrote: The Cartek isolator is a ground break, which often lets the engine run on with alternator, and so needs secondary breakers etc.
WRONG my engine will NOT run on the alternator, how do I know well because I HAVE one...
Yes it performs the battery disconnection function by breaking the connection between the NEGATIVE battery terminal and CHASSIS/EARTH. For cars equipped with an alternator, the Battery Isolator needs to kill the engine by sending a signal to the engine ECU or electronic Power Distribution Module (PDM) or by shutting down the main engine relay.
Re: CAMS/FIA Battery Isolation Switch
Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 12:11 pm
by takai
Magpie wrote:takai wrote: The Cartek isolator is a ground break, which often lets the engine run on with alternator, and so needs secondary breakers etc.
WRONG my engine will NOT run on the alternator, how do I know well because I HAVE one...
Yes it performs the battery disconnection function by breaking the connection between the NEGATIVE battery terminal and CHASSIS/EARTH. For cars equipped with an alternator, the Battery Isolator needs to kill the engine by sending a signal to the engine ECU or electronic Power Distribution Module (PDM) or by shutting down the main engine relay.
As I said. Secondary breaker for the ECU.