MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Remote Kill Switch

I haven't been on this forum for quite some time, but I am looking for a clean simple remote battery disconnect switch. I am always fear-full of a electrical fire while driving my 53 TD. Positive earth.

Thanks, Bill
Bill Brown

Hello Bill,
Not sure about what you mean by "remote".
Here is mine. The command is accessible under the dashboard from the driver seat.

Laurent.

LC Laurent31

Bill - If you're going to fit a battery disconnect/kill switch I'd recomend you go to a race/rally shop and get a proper dual circuit one.
These have a battery cutoff circuit as per Laurent's pic plus a lighter primary circuit that disconnects the distributor from the ign. coil.
Turning off just the battery won't turn the engine off if it's running, you need the ign. kill as well to do that.
Like this one--

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/305369589639
William Revit

William, I am puzzled by this I did not think generators are not self excited.

Bill, when was the last time you saw a TD burst into flames? I have had mine for 2 decades and driven it all over the States. I have never given it a thought. I drove my ‘35 for a few years with its ORIGINAL wiring. Now that caused me to ponder the safety of the electrical system.

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Bill, in regard to fitting a dual cut off switch, the cars key also opens the ignition circuit.

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Hi Tom, maybe I'm overly cautious but I heard of some members on this forum report of a fire. Also, I was tinkering under the hood a few years ago with the engine running a one of the wires coming from the regulator turned cherry red and burnt the insulation off the wire. I turned off the ignition switch and the event stopped. Not sure I caused this but it certainly got my attention. Perhaps, the ones I read about were caused by a fuel leakage, not sure. I'm just trying to be proactive. Thanks for all the impute.

Bill Brown
TD 24570
Bill Brown


When you have fitted your kill switch, invest in a fire extinguisher,and keep it in a handy place in the car. It may save your car.
I am speaking from experience. It did.
IW Martin

Tom
If the engine is running and idle speed is high enough to have the generator charging, then you can remove/disconnect the battery and it'll keep running unless the revs drop low enough to stop charging--then it would stop.
I've done this lots with cars with flat batteries. poke a good battery in ,start it up, get someone to hold it above idle in the charging zone, then swap the old battery back in----If this battery is really flat the revs need to be held above idle speed for a bit till it gets a bit of charge in it otherwise it'll stall and stop.
It's a way out of trouble if you don't have jumper leads.
------DON'T------ do it with a car with an alternator though, it'll fizz the alternator and/or the electronics in a latemodel car
willy
William Revit

When I fitted a battery isolator switch I used jump lead cable. This is heavy enough gauge to take the current but much more flexible than the normal stuff.

Jan T
J Targosz

You may want to also look at installing an inertia kill switch in the electrical supply to the fuel pump. They are designed to kill the fuel pump in case of a high impact or rollover event. Prevents the pump from spewing fuel after a crash. I have one in my TC and MGA.
Look on Moss Motors for 900-240. The same switch should be available much cheaper elsewhere.

Ahrendt

This thread was discussed between 13/01/2025 and 20/01/2025

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now