Jason Plato Posted July 8, 2000 Share Posted July 8, 2000 Flip switch and starter button now installed and working a treat ! . Wiring is as follows : remove black shroud around ignition switch ( warning this is the point of no return as at cannot be refitted ), on the rear of the ignition unit are 3 male connections marked as 50 , 30 & 15 50 = Red / white wire ( Starter motor signal ) 30 = 2 brown ( Constant live ) 15 = 2 white + 1 red ( ignition on/off ) Add 2 feeds from brown wires 30 . connect ignition flip switch to wires from 15 & 30 . connect starter button to wires from 50 & 30 . reconnect battery / master switch . Flip your switch , press your button and Vrooom ! Jobs a good un ! Now the difficut bit..... where on the dash do I mount them ?? Time taken = 30 mins . Please double check your own ignition wiring before starting as it may be different ? David J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Giles Posted July 8, 2000 Share Posted July 8, 2000 on my race car, I've put the push button between and below the water temp/oil press guages - if you spin/stall it you'll be fishing for 1st, so the starter is 6 inches away at most. As for the flip switch, let me suggest, move it away from the steering wheel - a long way, but somewhere you can reach it when strapped in and ready to go! Sit in the car, strap yourself in and move your arms around - see what's available. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted July 8, 2000 Share Posted July 8, 2000 Mark, That is just where I was going to fit my button, until I realised it would look like two eyes & a big red nose!!! I know, sad but that's all I could see it as. Have now decided it'll go in same position ABOVE the gauges! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted July 10, 2000 Share Posted July 10, 2000 Surely if you are fishing for first you'd be better off having the starter switch the other side of the steering wheel, where you can simultaneously "fish" and "start"...? I'm only asking coz I'm still deciding where to place mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Russell Posted July 10, 2000 Share Posted July 10, 2000 I've fitted a simple push button starter button in the same location as Mark, below the water/oil guages. You can get quite a fast, smooth action in single handedly selecting first and starting the engine, the distance between gear lever and button being minimal. Wonderful stuff this 'red haze' that descends at times of panic!! Obviously with a flip cover fitted the action will be a little slower.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V7 SLR Posted July 10, 2000 Share Posted July 10, 2000 The flip cover switch should be used for the ignition, to replace the key altogether. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCG Posted July 18, 2000 Share Posted July 18, 2000 Dave J, Just fitted a Flip switch & Starter button wiring it up as you advised. It works perfectly! Many thanks for the advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS CLARK Posted July 18, 2000 Share Posted July 18, 2000 Change of plan (before hole was drilled!). Starter button (R500 type) now fitted under the windscreen wiper switch. Looks great and works a treat! Funny how when something is in the 'right position' it appears to have always been there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted January 8, 2001 Author Share Posted January 8, 2001 Here it is ...... dave J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Mupferit Posted January 10, 2001 Share Posted January 10, 2001 Thought it was there somewhere! Seek and ye shall find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R500 CYA Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Thanks for flagging this up guys, I've done mine now and it's great. Easily worth 0.0 sec a lap I reckon, but I just can't pass the garage now without giving it a little thumb! :D Roll on the next track day, I've got an incentive to spin now!! Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie_boy69 Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Just for information I fitted my starter button the other day and as I have got rid of the screen and have no use forr the wipper or the squirter buttons I removed the wipper button and installed thhe button in its place I just had to get a plastic plumbing washer from B&Q and sopray it black to take up the excess hole round the starter button. This is nice as I have kept all holes for the screen incase I sell and a later owner wants to refit the screen. Keith Pickering superlight T7 KCP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pie_boy69 Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Just for information I fitted my starter button the other day and as I have got rid of the screen and have no use forr the wipper or the squirter buttons I removed the wipper button and installed thhe button in its place I just had to get a plastic plumbing washer from B&Q and sopray it black to take up the excess hole round the starter button. This is nice as I have kept all holes for the screen incase I sell and a later owner wants to refit the screen. Keith Pickering superlight T7 KCP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgracing Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Am I imagining it or did someone once say that the flip cover type strater button could be used as a kill switch by pressing the red cover ? Now that would look great and do a great job. I notice there are several in the DT, et al catalogues. Which one would be needed for a Caterham ? Ta, Davebo. C7 CAR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Flatters Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 I'm just about to fit an R500 push start but it occured to me that unlike the key start it will be possible to push the button when the engine is running and run the risk of damaging the ring-gear, flywheel and clutch or a combination of all. To avoid this, what would be needed would be to isolate the switch once the engine is running by supplying the switch with a power source that is not present when the engine is running. The only circuit I can think of that is on when the engine is not (and vica-versa) is the ignition light. Since the starter switch is only actuating a relay and not the starter moter itself there should not be too much of a draw on the ignition light circuit. CC tech heads said it may work but as the ignition light feed comes directly from the alternator there may be a risk of blowing the rectifier (in the alternator) if the starter relay draws too much juice. Has anyone any views on this, done it orgot any other suggestions (other than DON'T PRESS THE BLOODY BUTTON!) Steve (PTM 88) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murph7355 Posted January 11, 2001 Share Posted January 11, 2001 Steve - don't worry about it. The button needs a proper push and when pushed it's recessed, so not really easy to hit by accident. Of course this doesn't stop you pressing it when the engine's running, but then you can turn the key when it is too. You only do it once :) Dave - that's what the flip up caps on aircraft style switches are for and it works really well. The only disappointing thing I've found is that I've yet to see a "proper" red one. They all look a slightly dark red! Take a look here to see both installed. You can also get aircraft style switches that act as a starter with a further push upwards (off-on-"int on"). I preferred the button - more of a sense of occasion when starting it! For other switches and stuff, you might want to take a look at Vehicle Wiring Products who sell all sorts and the prices aren't bad. C7 AJM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgracing Posted January 12, 2001 Share Posted January 12, 2001 Andy, Great picture. Is the thing on the top of the dash a shift light ? What rating is the aircraft type switch ? I agree about VWP they have some great stuff. Davebo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WILL FLY Posted January 12, 2001 Share Posted January 12, 2001 Andy What are the switches on the steering wheel for, is it the stack ? Where did you get the plate and switches from. Is the curly lead detachable. Roy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murph7355 Posted January 12, 2001 Share Posted January 12, 2001 Thing on the top of the dash is a shift light run through the Stack. Contemplated having one of the multi light jobs but this is just as effective. Set it to come on a couple of hundred revs before the limiter cuts in and it works a treat. Nice and bright. I'm not sure what rating the switch is but can find out. I'd guess that *any* you buy for car use will be suitable for a starter application though as this is what they're used for typically. I'm pretty sure it fits into the same size hole as the warning lights. The switches on the wheel are for the Stack. The left one operates the layer change (button 3) and the right is the trip/lap reset (button 4). The switches can be bought from Stack in sets of 4 (39 quid for 4 believe it or not! Cheaper are available at VWP I think). The bracket was made up by Ratrace but it's nothing complicated, just a shaped piece of ali'. It would also be possible to install the buttons into the spokes of the wheel, but they work really well where they are. The coiled cable is attached to a mil' spec' connector under the dash so is fully removable (and theoretically very reliable). It's a pain to get on in the dark though (I imagine this'll get easier with time). The crap plastic toggles in the picture will be replaced by alternatives at some point soonish. The ones on the right had to be filed down as I kicked them off three times getting my large frame into the car with the hood up! C7 AJM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casbar Posted January 12, 2001 Share Posted January 12, 2001 Andy, Where did you purchase the aircraft toggle switch? Was it from Caterham, looked on the web site you gave, couldn't see them. Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murph7355 Posted January 12, 2001 Share Posted January 12, 2001 Sorry about that. I can't find them on there now either (I'm sure they can get hold of one if you called them). Ratrace supplied it for me. I've just looked through the invoices and it doesn't look like they charged me for it! But I know they have some hung up on their wall in packets so either give them a call (020 8830 5677) or I'll tell you how much they are tomorrow afternoon as I'm popping up there...they're generally no more expensive than Caterham for bits (I think Caterham supply parts to official agents at "cost" so that any mark up doesn't make them more pricey). C7 AJM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted January 12, 2001 Author Share Posted January 12, 2001 I bought and installed the same switches as the photos last year via Demon Theives £13.52 for the aircraft flip switch £8.94 for the starter button . You can also buy a single combined starter / ignition flip switch for £27.56 I've found the best value sequential shift light to be the Alpha 5 LED for £50 . This gives 1000rpm sequential warning . Available from Aldon automotive ( use your search option ) Dave J Edited by - Dave J on 12 Jan 2001 21:32:32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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