Battery Master Switch - Resistor Smoking

[safetydave]

I have just fitted a battery master switch to my Caterham and have a small problem. When the switch is turned on the resistor gets extremely hot and smokes.

It looks as if the switch (W connector) is connecting the green wire from the 'switched positive' terminal to earth through the resistor - is this correct?

Do the W and Z sides of the switch perform the same function, ie when switched on do the two Z and the two W terminals connect together?

Any help much appreciated.

Thanks, Dave

[fergus]

One of the contacts is "normally open", one is "normally closed" (when the key is in the switched and turned to the 'off' position)

Therefore if you connect your ignition to the normally open circuit and the alternator and resistor to the normally closed circuit, when you start the car, the ignition circuit is completed, and when you turn the switch off, and residual current generated by the alternator is fed to ground via the resistor to avoid frying the diode packs in the alternator.

If the resistor is getting hot, it's because you've got it connected to the wrong circuit (as above).

[EFA]

fergus said:

If the resistor is getting hot, it's because you've got it connected to the wrong circuit (as above).

Or the engine is not cutting out!

[safetydave]

Thanks, I did have the connections on the wrong side of the switch - all sorted now - no hot resistor. much appreciated. Dave