Car power cutters have become popular in recent years as one of the most demanded anti-theft systems by Spanish drivers. In fact, at this point we do not understand how vehicles do not have them as standard.
However, is a power cutter really useful in the car? Is it advisable and effective to install it? We tell you everything you need to know about this type of ‘life-saving’ devices that have become indispensable for many car owners today.
What is a car circuit breaker?
A car circuit breaker is a device that is installed in the vehicle to make it impossible to start it unless you know the system with which to do so. In this way, no one will be able to do it, or steal it, not even with a cloned key.
This is a much more effective anti-theft system than those that block the steering wheel or the pedals, since it is enough to know how to neutralize them to be able to move the vehicle without any problem. However, the current cutter for the car is installed directly in the internal system of the vehicle, cutting the electric current that goes from the ignition to the engine and directly preventing the engine from starting.
As a general rule, a timed tactile circuit breaker is installed, consisting of a button hidden in a very specific part of the car. Knowing where it is, it is only necessary to press it for a few seconds to restore the current and the car can start without any problem. If its location is unknown, the chances of finding the exact spot and holding it down long enough to make the engine roar are greatly reduced.
Where to put the circuit breaker?
Deciding where to put the circuit breaker for the car is very important, because if it is in an obvious place it won’t do much good. Normally, it is placed in a very specific point on the dashboard that should not be revealed to anyone who is not a regular driver of the vehicle.
What if we go to a place where, for example, there is a valet parking? In such cases, the installer of the car power cutter must provide an alternative so that people outside the car can start it without any problem.
The best thing about this car power cut system is that it is installed independently, so it does not affect the vehicle’s factory warranty at all. In addition, it is always located in an easily accessible area for the driver, so using it is not complicated at all.
The only drawback of the car power cutter is that it slows down the starting of our vehicle for a few seconds. However, considering that the alternative is that anyone with certain skills can steal our car, it is a price that anyone would be willing to pay.
On the other hand, the fact that this device is camouflaged in such a handy place for the driver means that not even a person who sees it being used live and direct can suspect that what he is doing is unblocking the flow of current to the engine.
Types of car circuit breakers: a comparison
Throughout the text we have talked about a type of car circuit breaker, an advanced one that is usually placed by a professional and is perfectly hidden under a point of the dashboard.
However, there are different mechanisms on the market that perfectly fulfill this task and that can be installed by the owner of the vehicle if he has certain knowledge. If this is your case, you will be pleased to know that most of these types of switches are available for sale online and are also quite economical.
Here are our top 3 of the best car circuit breakers:
- Cikuso battery kill switch: As the name suggests, this small device serves to cut off the flow of electricity to the engine, which makes it unable to start even if the key is inserted, unless the flow is restored first. It consists of an easy to camouflage nut that has to be turned to one side or the other depending on whether we want to activate or cut the current. It has the advantage that, once the current is cut off, the nut can be removed to prevent theft even if the thieves find the location of the current cutter.
- Bottari Spa battery connector: Same system as that of the car circuit breakers described above, but even more economical. It also has a green nut that must be turned to open or close the current flow, which can also be removed when getting out of the vehicle for greater safety.
- SODIAL battery disconnect switch: This car power cut system includes two keys that we can carry with us, but always on a different key ring than the car key. Simply insert the key in the corresponding switch and then use the car key to start the vehicle, which will now work as expected.
After all, car circuit breakers are nothing more than switches that interrupt the electrical flow in the engine starting circuit. A very simple system, like that of lamp switches, that can save us a good number of headaches regardless of the type of vehicle we have.
Of course, to minimize possible damage and/or loss of warranty, our advice is always to rely on professionals who also guarantee the installation up to several years after it has been done.