Written By Marina Dawson

Many car owners spend thousands of dollars trying to protect their vehicle from damage and theft, and with good reason. Dealing with auto theft is incredibly frustrating and potentially very expensive. If your car is found, you will very likely have expensive repairs and cleanup work – and that’s the best case scenario. If the vehicle isn’t recovered your car will be written off by insurance agents and it is unlikely you’ll recoup the full value. Losing your car can become even more dangerous if you have any personal information left inside that could give the thief access to your home, work, or bank.

One convenient way to deter vehicle theft without investing thousands of dollars in alarm systems, is to use a battery disconnect. This small, inexpensive device is mounted onto your car’s battery over the positive and negative terminals and with the flip of a switch shuts down the battery. While the device is in place the vehicle will not have enough power to start the engine. Some disconnects go one step further, allowing you to remove a component of the device, thus leaving the vehicle unable to start until it is replaced. It’s a bit like taking your bicycle seat with you, but somewhat more convenient!

Another excellent use for a battery disconnect is to put a halt to parasitic drain. If you’ll be parking your vehicle for an extended period of time, perhaps putting it in storage, using a battery disconnect will prevent your battery from failing when it’s time to start it up again. Even in storage your vehicle’s electronic systems require power to keep their memory functions working. If your vehicle isn’t regularly started and run, the alternator won’t be able to recharge the battery. When you decide to bring your vehicle out of storage, it is very possible you’ll have a dead battery on your hands. You can save yourself this cost and inconvenience by using a battery disconnect before taking your vehicle off the road. The disconnect will allow just enough power to keep the memory function of the clock, radio, and other electronic pieces without allowing them to fully drain down the battery’s power.

Battery disconnects are available in different sizes and styles, with some mounted on the side and others on the top. Disconnects are available for all 6-, 12-, and 24-volt batteries, and are usually very easily installed, sometimes even without the need for screwdrivers or other tools. Most are small, unobtrusive, and easily accessed when the hood is open. Remember that batteries should be disconnected when performing certain engine maintenance – if you are using a battery disconnect, check with the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that the battery disconnect is enough protection. If you are unsure, err on the side of caution and remove the disconnect and manually disconnect the battery.

A battery disconnect is an extremely useful tool for vehicle owners, both as a simple way to deter vehicle theft and also to prevent parasitic loss and premature battery drain when a vehicle is in storage. With the number of headaches that can be avoided by using them, these simple little devices are worth their weight in gold.

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