Retrofitting safety kill switch

[crunch]

I read a post in "boat topics and questions" titled "A guide for beginners just starting out boating "... a must read for old and new alike!!!

In it the poster stressed, among other things, the importance of having a safety kill switch... here at iboats.com in the marine store they have what looks like a deluxe model for around $30.00... that's affordable.

So here is the Q...

How do you hook one of those puppies up on an old outboard?

Details please for us know-nothing Newbies

 

[crunch]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

Anyone?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

If you hook it up to short the spark plug or dissconnect a wire to the coil. I guess it depends on what the motor is and what type of electrical system it has.

No one can get specific until you do.

 

[crunch]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

Opps, sorry...

It's a 1978 Merc 800 SN 4835014 with the key on the back of a one handle Merc Control.

 

[crunch]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

Hey, maybe I'm out of line here, but I feel this is an important question for us Newbies, especially for those of us that have old motors and go out alone, like a life and death matter.... or at least BIG BUCKS when you fall overboard and your boat T-bones a $50,000 boat....

I'm sure it's a simple ad on, and maybe not all that thrilling a question to answer, but come on!!!

You people here at Iboats have been a fountain of info from rebuilding floors and stringers to the simple things like how a chock linkage comes apart... Please don't fail me now.

 

[Smig]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

Crunch - I don't have a real answer for you, I have been watching this thread because I have been considering adding one also.

My guess would be that it wires into the control box switch - probably into the run circuit itself, that way opening the safety switch simulates turning the key off.

Again, this is just a guess - hopefully someone with more experience that I will chime in soon.

Shaun

 

[Kevin W]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

I would imagine this is a simple addon.
your motor has a tilt mercury kill switch builtin.
i don't know if its N/O or N/C (normally open...Normally closed)I would guess N/O.
i think that is wired in parrallel to the key switch.
the kill switch would need to act like the tilt switch.
you may need to find out how the tilt switch works to find your answer.

I don't have more specifics because i don't have the wiring digram for your engine.
i have thought of adding one to mine and that is how i would add it.

 

[crunch]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

Crunch - I don't have a real answer for you, I have been watching this thread because I have been considering adding one also.

My guess would be that it wires into the control box switch - probably into the run circuit itself, that way opening the safety switch simulates turning the key off.

Again, this is just a guess - hopefully someone with more experience that I will chime in soon.

Shaun

I was assuming the kill switch is just a spring loaded contact that a plastic key holds open???? (being pulled out when you fall overboard grounds the ignition)

If it does simulate turning the key off it would be a metal key and just act as a switch (if you knew which wire (red, green, or white) to hook it into at the regular ignition key)

Hopefully one of the experts will clear this up for us.

 

[crunch]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

^bump^

 

[ncfish1]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

The kill switch would be wired in the normally closed position. Most has a lanyard key that pulls from a spring loaded toggle that opens the circuit when pulled.
You can use the ground circuit to disconnect power if your ignition switch has an "m" terminal using the black wire. Otherwise, find your main ground feed wire at the fuse terminal block and break this wire through the kill switch. Look for a black or bk/yellow wire.

 

[crunch]

Re: Retrofitting safety kill switch

The kill switch would be wired in the normally closed position. Most has a lanyard key that pulls from a spring loaded toggle that opens the circuit when pulled.
You can use the ground circuit to disconnect power if your ignition switch has an "m" terminal using the black wire. Otherwise, find your main ground feed wire at the fuse terminal block and break this wire through the kill switch. Look for a black or bk/yellow wire.

Thanx ncfish1, finally an answer to the question that has been plaguing mankind since time began, and from a cadet!!!!... I'm sure you'll make Admiral soon

I'm pretty sure from the info you gave I'll be able to install one, thanx again.