UPDATE Left the Switch on overnight

[jkcrosson]

I left the switch on on my A Saturday and did not pull the fuse. Obviously the battery is completely dead. What other damage might this have done? Coil??

[Franchise_24]

Is there anything coming out of the coil or does it look buldged out in anyway? If not you may be okay. Charge the battery and try to start the car.

[Mitch//pa]

along with the coil ck the points contacts to see if they are burnt . they may need to be replaced or filed

[Tom Wesenberg]

Put a 4 to 6 amp charger on the battery right away and leave it for at least 10 hours. Maybe you got lucky and didn't burn up the coil. My friend left his key on for 30 minutes and burned up his repro coil.

[montanafordman]

Been there, done that. Thankfully I was lucky and only had to charge my battery back up.

[marc hildebrant]

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I too left the ignition on. After a couple of hours, the battery was down but recovered.

Marc

[jkcrosson]

Nothing strange looking about the coil. I'll check the points and get the charger on it. I'll let you know.

[redmodelt]

A lot would depend on if your points were open or closed wouldn't it? If the coil is hot with the switch off then it should not make a differences as long as the points were open. With the switch in the on position, it completes the circuit between the battery, coil, points and ground every time the points close. If the points were closed then you would be drawing current through the points to ground and draining the battery, along with over heating the coil and burning the points. Part of your question makes me think at this point you are guessing that the battery might be drained.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by redmodelt

A lot would depend on if your points were open or closed wouldn't it? If the coil is hot with the switch off then it should not make a differences. With the switch on it compleats the circuit between the coil, points and ground every time the points closed. If the points were closed then you would be drawing current and draining the battery, along with over heating the coil and burning the points. Part of your question makes me think at this point you are guessing that the battery might be drained.

hmmm
he stated the battery is completely dead so the points must have been closed..
just my observation

[Tom Wesenberg]

I often don't do it, but this is a good reminder that you should always look at the ammeter when leaving the car.
A key left on (and points closed), lights left on, or a stuck brake switch will show as a discharge.

[redmodelt]

You could read it ether way.

[Bruce Adams]

Hi,
You mentioned you normally pull thefuse.
In lieu of that, I installed a quality brass switch above the starter rod so I can flick it off and on with my toe. It makes it easy to turn off and does more than the loosened fuse since it also cuts out the starter and everything beyond it. Only down side might be where the heavy wire passes through the firewall, but you have that problem now anyway.
Good luck with your present situation !

[pennies4pennies]

This brings a question for me. Being new with a model a, should there be a cut off switch in the system. If so what is the best to use? Can't you just turn the key off and remove it?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by pennies4pennies

This brings a question for me. Being new with a model a, should there be a cut off switch in the system. If so what is the best to use? Can't you just turn the key off and remove it?

I just turn the key and remove it from my repro ignition switch when I get out.
On an original popout you have to push the switch in to turn it off.

No other cutoff switch is original to the Model A.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by pennies4pennies

This brings a question for me. Being new with a model a, should there be a cut off switch in the system. If so what is the best to use? Can't you just turn the key off and remove it?

do a search on kill switch
i like the one under the seat....

[jkcrosson]

Originally Posted by redmodelt

You could read it ether way.

The battery is dead. I am going to put a trickle charge on it tonight.

[redmodelt]

Bummer, I hope the trickle charge saves your battery. Don't forget to take the caps off and put them back on when done. While you have the caps off would be a good time to check the water level in the battery.

[Kurt in NJ]

It's better to leave the caps on so acid bubbles don't coat the top of the battery
Don't add any water to a discharged battery except to cover the plates, as the battery charges the level rises ---- if it is filled and charged there is a good chance it will overflow and make a mess

The last time I left the key on all I had time for was a 10 min charge, hand cranked it, 30 miles later the Optima was up enough to start the car---- of course my 6V charger didn't know it couldn't work on a totally dead Optima

[machine girl]

we install battery disconnect switches on all our cars and customer cars.(but wont help if you don't use it )

[jkcrosson]

Mine is an optima battery. Last time it was completely dead, it took hours for it to charge partially. Fortunately once it cranks, it recovers pretty quickly.