5 Types of Circuit Breakers to Install in Your Car to Prevent Car Theft

With car thefts on the rise, it is important to take all possible steps to prevent your vehicle from being stolen. A preventive measure may be to install a circuit breaker in your vehicle. These simple devices ensure that your car doesn’t break down under you. But what kind of kill switch should you install to prevent car theft?

You can install a fuel system relay switch, preventing fuel from reaching the engine. There is also an easy-to-use battery disconnect switch. Otherwise, you can choose a car battery remote switch, ignition wire switch, or fuse box switch.

In this guide, we cover all five types of circuit breakers so you can find out which one is right for you. We also look at the total cost you can expect.

What is an automotive circuit breaker?

If you don’t know what a car kill switch is, you’ll have a hard time deciding between these five types. A kill switch is something that must be activated to start the car. If not enabled, a specific circuit will not be completed.

Although there are several ways to take advantage of technology, they all involve some type of change. The reason for hiding the kill switch is so no one else knows where it is. If they know there is a kill switch, they will have no problem starting their vehicle. Different types of stop switches involve different levels of installation and operation.

5 types of kill switches

1. Fuel system relay switch

Until you activate the fuel pump relay switch, no fuel can flow through the lines to the engine. Without fuel, the engine cannot be started. Interestingly, the engine will continue to run, but there will be no gasoline to run it. So if a thief breaks into his car, he will simply believe that something is wrong with his car and move on.

To install the fuel system relay switch, you must first locate the wiring harness in your vehicle. You need to splice the fuel switch relay wire and choose a convenient location for the kill switch. Run the wire to connect the fuel switch relay to the kill switch and you are ready to go.

RELATED: How to Protect Your Car from Catalytic Converter Theft

2. Battery switch

The battery disconnect switch requires you to remove the negative connector and place the switch in the middle. The negative wire goes to the kill switch, which would now be installed on the battery terminal. When activated, the car does not receive power from the battery, mimicking what happens when there is a dead battery. However, when the switch is turned, you will be able to start the vehicle normally.

If you run a wire to mount the switch inside the car, you won’t have to reach under the hood every time you want to start the engine. However, your radio presets and clock settings will be reset every time you use it because the battery contains this memory.

3. Car Battery Remote Switch

Another type that installs on the battery is this remote control option. You can keep the remote control on your keys for easy access. The nice thing about this option is that you can activate it when you feel nervous about suspicious activity, even when you are not in your vehicle.

This switch is installed on the battery, just like the wired version. Thanks to the use of magnets, the switch allows the battery to be used when you want to drive and turned off when you are protecting your car. However, you will experience the same memory issues that you encountered with the last battery option.

 

4. Ignition wire circuit breaker

Without a properly functioning ignition system, there is no way to start the car. With this switch, you interrupt the ignition flow by adding a break in the wiring. To install it, you need to cut the ignition wire and place a connector on each side, installed on the switch. You can place the switch in some secret place in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, where no one will see it.

However, installing this device is a little more complicated. If you are not familiar with your ignition system, you will want to see the diagram in your service manual. You must cut the correct wire and may also prefer to solder the connection for a better fit.

5. Fuse box circuit breaker

While this circuit breaker prevents power from reaching the car, it does not cut off power to the battery. Instead, the power is turned off directly at the fuse box. Of course, you can simply remove the ignition fuse when you leave the vehicle and replace it when you are ready to drive. However, this process can become annoying, especially if the fuse box is in a difficult location.

It is much easier to install a switch that eliminates the specific fuses you choose. Route the switch to the appropriate fuses and place it in an inconspicuous location.

kill switch cost

The average circuit breaker will cost between $10 and $100 per part and installation. However, this price depends on the type you choose, the make and model of the vehicle, and whether you install it yourself or have it added by a professional.

When you weigh the low cost of the kill switch, it really is a no-brainer, especially if you live or work in an area with a lot of auto theft. For less than $100, you can prevent your car from being stolen, which is not only a hassle, but can skyrocket your insurance premiums. The car kill switch is definitely better than installing one of those bulky locks on the steering wheel and it doesn’t provide a million false alerts like car alarms do.