how to wire a master disconnect switch?
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 180
Likes: 16
how to wire a master disconnect switch? I have just bought a Taylor master disconnect switch, with 4 posts so the alternator dies when the switch is triggered. My question is how to wire the alternator:
~I could take the big red 10gauge wire all the way to the switch at the back of the car, which worries me a bit, having that big live cable twice the length of the car.
~I have heard of switching the trigger wire of the alternator, which would solve the big cable issue: is this a valid way of doing it? On the back of my alternator (2004 Silverado SS, 6.0L LQ9), I have 3 wires: light blue, brown and grey; which one is the trigger wire that needs to be switched?
~Any other thoughts?
Thanks
~I could take the big red 10gauge wire all the way to the switch at the back of the car, which worries me a bit, having that big live cable twice the length of the car.
~I have heard of switching the trigger wire of the alternator, which would solve the big cable issue: is this a valid way of doing it? On the back of my alternator (2004 Silverado SS, 6.0L LQ9), I have 3 wires: light blue, brown and grey; which one is the trigger wire that needs to be switched?
~Any other thoughts?
Thanks
Presuming that the switch you have has one huge contact w/2 studs, and one small contact w/2 studs? (double pole, single throw) If so, just route your ignition through that small contact. No ignition, no run. No need to worry about the alternator.
Scotty
Scotty
Generally speaking, you run the main battery through the big terminals, and run something from the alternator (either the output wire or the field/idiot light wire) through the small terminals. Some people use the small terminals to energize a relay inserted in one of the alternator circuits so they don't have to run the alternator wiring all the way to the back of the car.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,148
Likes: 12
From: Downers Grove, IL
If you run the output wire of the alternator through a disconnect switch and then hit the disconnect while the car is running it will burn out the voltage regulator. When you disconnect a running alternator from a battery it tries to keep charging and ends up spiking to 50+ volts which kills the regulator.
