Help with kill switch idea
I am currently trying to figure a way to add a bit more security to my 97 Civic when I head over to my girlfriends (where I have to park on the street in so so part of town). I don't put too much faith in the Honda Civic Security System, so I was thinking adding the fuel pump kill switch mentioned a number of times throughout these forums.
Now here is what I originally thought when I was trying to think of creative/sneaky ways to hide the kill "switch". When I was looking at the wires leading into the fuel pump trying to get a feel for where everything was, I noticed the cable to the stock CD changer (which is no longer in the car). I thought that if I could reuse this cable, it would leave the thief to believe I just was lazy and didn't remove the wiring from behind the panels (which I was until that moment).
The below picture shows the section that would function as the "key" I could remove from the system when I want the fuel pump disabled. I would have to cut it short, and find which wires I would need to loop so it would complete a circuit when mated when the other half (I would assume red and black).
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5818/p1010001t.jpg
This shows where the "key" would insert, which would be tucked in the trunk where the CD changer is normally, and the other half (with cut wires) would be soldered into the stock wiring.
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/5074/p1010002l.jpg
Now for my dilemma. After getting all gitty at that thought of this working, I noticed the gauge of the CD changer wiring is around 18-20 gauge, and most tutorials mention using 12 or 14 gauge wiring for setting up the switch. I assume the CD changer functioned on 12V, but I am worrying about the amps this wiring could handle when hooked up to the stock fuel pump wiring. Also the resistance the CD change wires might add into the fuel pump circuit.
Anyway, I am close to dropping this idea due to the uncertainties but I am curious if anybody has ideas on this working.
Now here is what I originally thought when I was trying to think of creative/sneaky ways to hide the kill "switch". When I was looking at the wires leading into the fuel pump trying to get a feel for where everything was, I noticed the cable to the stock CD changer (which is no longer in the car). I thought that if I could reuse this cable, it would leave the thief to believe I just was lazy and didn't remove the wiring from behind the panels (which I was until that moment).
The below picture shows the section that would function as the "key" I could remove from the system when I want the fuel pump disabled. I would have to cut it short, and find which wires I would need to loop so it would complete a circuit when mated when the other half (I would assume red and black).
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/5818/p1010001t.jpg
This shows where the "key" would insert, which would be tucked in the trunk where the CD changer is normally, and the other half (with cut wires) would be soldered into the stock wiring.
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/5074/p1010002l.jpg
Now for my dilemma. After getting all gitty at that thought of this working, I noticed the gauge of the CD changer wiring is around 18-20 gauge, and most tutorials mention using 12 or 14 gauge wiring for setting up the switch. I assume the CD changer functioned on 12V, but I am worrying about the amps this wiring could handle when hooked up to the stock fuel pump wiring. Also the resistance the CD change wires might add into the fuel pump circuit.
Anyway, I am close to dropping this idea due to the uncertainties but I am curious if anybody has ideas on this working.
Yeah, that is where I got the idea of hiding it using a CD changer cable. But then arose the dilemma of whether that wires in that cable would be capable of handling the current going through :S
After doing some research, and refreshing my knowledge high school electronics class, I am 99% sure my original idea would not work reliably enough because the gauge of the stock CD changer wiring.
If I want to install whatever switch/trigger in the trunk, I would need a larger gauge wire than stock, and the CD changer wire would be the same or smaller. So, back to the drawing board of figuring where to mount the switch, and what to act as the switch.
I really would like something similar to addiction's that I could take with me, but I am not sure what I have to play around with around the house, and I doubt Radioshack sells partial wires and connectors for rigging into kill switches (but who knows, maybe they have the stuff for repairs).
If I want to install whatever switch/trigger in the trunk, I would need a larger gauge wire than stock, and the CD changer wire would be the same or smaller. So, back to the drawing board of figuring where to mount the switch, and what to act as the switch.
I really would like something similar to addiction's that I could take with me, but I am not sure what I have to play around with around the house, and I doubt Radioshack sells partial wires and connectors for rigging into kill switches (but who knows, maybe they have the stuff for repairs).
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trustdestruction
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Aug 4, 2008 02:58 PM




