Inertia safety switch

INERTIA SAFETY SWITCH

In order to improve safety for the occupants of the vehicle in the case of an impact, the vehicle is fitted with an inertia switch located under the dashboard on the driver's side, secured to the left panel near the bonnet release.

The inertia switch has the task of interrupting the electrical supply to the electric fuel pump if the vehicle undergoes violent deceleration (impact) to prevent fuel from escaping and creating a fire hazard in case the fuel manifold or the supply pipe are damaged.

The switch consists of a steel ball, fitted in a conical shaped housed, kept in place by the attraction force of a permanent magnet.

As a result of the acceleration due to the inertia forces, the ball can be released from the magnetic clip and gradually come out of its conical housing with an upwards movement which depends on the angle of the cone.

There is a rapid release mechanism located above the ball which forms a normally closed (NC) circuit. When the mechanism is struck by the ball it changes position to a normally open (NA) circuit, thereby interrupting the electric supply to the pump and causing it to cut out.

The calibration of the switch causes it to operate at accelerations of above 1.2 g (about 11.7 m/s², corresponding to an impact at a speed of about 25 Km/h.

The switch can be reset by pressing the top button protected by a flexible cover.

1. Inertia sensor
2. Button for restoring operation of fuel pump

After even an apparently slight impact, if there is a smell of fuel or there are leaks from the fuel system, do not turn the switch back on, but search for the fault and remedy it to prevent the risk of fire.
If this is not the case, if there are no leaks and the vehicle can be driven again, press the button to reactivate the fuel pump.