Z3MCJez Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Right - just back from my ARDS day and there was lots of talk there about moving the inertia switch into the cockpit, so that if it was knocked off on a big kerb you could press it and away-you-go. So my question: Worth doing? Or no chance of knocking it off? Jez Build Photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 How good are you at driving? It's like the push button start, you might not stall but it's easier to get going again if you don't have to faff about. Imagine your rage when your engine is cut and you have to clamber out through your cage and lift the bonnet to get the car restarted, thinking "I wish I'd moved it..." Not a racer, me, but if I was racing, I think I'd want everything within arms reach. John _________________________ Bugsy: '82 2cv6 (Back on the road!!! 😬) Talloulah: '08 1.6K Classic (Grubby ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierson Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Please forgive my ignorance and the partial thread high-jack - do all 7's have an inertia switch as standard, then? If so, where is it normally located, please? I remember reading about one activating when crossing a New Forest cattle grid once but I've never established if all cars have them. TIA, Pierson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Deslandes Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 a friend of mine had a Fiat where the inertia switch was attached to the passenger seat rail. When the passenger adjusted the seat while they were going along a motorway, the shock/vibration cut off the engine 😳. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grubbster Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Pierson - most do have one, it is on the bulkhead in the engine bay, in front of the passenger Solent Se7ens Web! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierson Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 OK, thanks for that G. - I'm assuming that's the scuttle's vertical bulkhead. In which case mine hasn't got one! My car is one of the early deDion S3 chassis - 1987 - perhaps the inclusion of an interia switch was a later addition, or maybe there's one lurking elsewhere? What's it look like?! Pierson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted February 27, 2009 Support Team Share Posted February 27, 2009 My cutoff switch operated when I put a wheel on a large curb at Angelsey last year during the club sprint there. It left me sat on the racing line while the next car approached at 100mph . I am not the only sprinter it has happened to and many actually bypass the cut off completely. For racing I would definitely do it. Yellow SL #32 - member of Drowned Rat Racing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 I had an oversensitive inertia switch. I changed it for another and kerb hopping is now OK. I prefer to keep the inertia for track , race and road despite the ecu controlling the fuel pump (emerald) here is C7 TOP Taffia joint AO with Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Jez Its normal for the racers to have the inertail switch on the passenger trany tunnel, you dont want to waste a race but at the same time you could *realy* do without being doused in fuel after a crash here is C7 TOP Taffia joint AO with Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted February 27, 2009 Share Posted February 27, 2009 Don't move it, bypass it. Even if it's in the cabin, there's a good chance it'll cut out when you run over kerbs, and you'll get hit up the 🙆🏻 by the car following close behind. IMO this is more dangerous than the small risk of a worse fire by not having one. Other opinions may (and do) vary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z3MCJez Posted March 7, 2009 Author Share Posted March 7, 2009 Thanks for the comments. There seems to be good reason to move it at least. Sorry that I took so long to get back here - work went mad. Jez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apothecary Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Had fun last weekend when both leads into mine (on the bulkhead) fell out as I turned from a side road onto a somewhat busy lane . Immediate cut out of the engine was a bit of a shock. Had to pull over, take the bonnet off & scratch my head - thankfully spotted what it was straight away after reading another thread about the inertia switch the previous week. So, wherever you put it on the car it would seem worth checking that the leads are properly seated into the switch CSR Superlight 260 Mclaren Orange Power by COSWORTH Pictures here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 How do you bypass it? (sorry not much good at electrics) Do I just connect the two wires together? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon.Rogers1 Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Yes Malcolm. I leave the tails long enough out of the switch so that if you have to in the future you can easily reconnect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Englishmaninwales Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Simon thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h_____ Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I would second Roger's comments. I moved mine first. I could get it to cut out on the curbs of Pembrey quite easily. Whilst it only takes a sec to work out whats going on and hit the button. By that time you are arent accelerating out of the corner, and the guy behind you is!!! Very dangerous. After a couple of near misses from behind, I shorted mine out. If you have a harness, rollcage, elect cut outswitch, fire proof gear, then I think as roger says, the cons outway the pros! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliW Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 At Anglesey at the weekend, I triggered my inertia switch as I came out of the final hairpin. Annoying and briefly worrying, but otherwise not a problem.I discussed this with a few people and someone (possibly Gill) mentioned that they had put a switch in the circuit so that the inertia switch could be 'on' or bypassed. Can anyone tell me and my electrically defective brain how to do this please and by that, I mean, which switch?Thanks,Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Erm, ok. If you want to bypass it - but avoid the fuel-dousing scenario, why don't you run the wires to a conventional switch on the dash - presumably covered by an aircraft safety cover?That way, you can not-only remain safe(ish - you need to be conscious and intact to activate it), but you can feel one switch closer to Top Gun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted October 9, 2014 Support Team Share Posted October 9, 2014 Hi Oli - we have a dash mounted override switch for exactly the same reason - seeing Adrian in the rear view mirror approaching my car at about 100mph through Church while I was stationary on the racing line was pretty heartstopping for me and even more heartstopping for him as he took to the grass to avoid me!You just bridge the terminals of the inertia switch. Take a wire from each side to your new dash switch - when the dash switch is closed the inertia switch is overridden. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2GBR Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Not on a caterham but on a self built car with the same inertia switch as caterham use i hit a large pot hole and this was enough to shut the pump off and hold the following traffic up until i realised what had happened, So reached under the scuttle from drivers seat pressed and reset and away . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliW Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Thanks guys, that's very useful.Shaun - just the scenario I would now be concerned about! It seems an easy solution now it's spelt out for me but I find it hard to picture even the most basic electrical circuits.Cheers,Oli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon.Rogers Posted October 10, 2014 Share Posted October 10, 2014 I seem to recall I missed taking the overall Speed championship one year becasue mine tripped on the outside kerbs of Paddock at Pembrey on my 3rd attempt at the one and only run we had that day. Shaus tried very hard to put me off on the first 2 attempts. I also recall he took out the timing gear on the second go! http://www.lotus7.club/sites/all/libraries/ckeditor/plugins/smiley/images/confused_smile.pngYes moving the button is a good idea particularly for track day or race if you have to maintain it.For Speed events - I'll take my chances without it as once it triggers the run is over! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted October 10, 2014 Member Share Posted October 10, 2014 Are less sensitive intertia switches available?Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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