Starter solenoid current draw.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,185
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From: New Wilmington PA
Starter solenoid current draw.
Any clues as to how much current a starter solenoid pulls? My starter is a CSI mini starter but I'm open to hearing about a stock starter as well. Reason is, I want to put a killswitch in and don't want to cook the switch.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,375
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Starter solenoid current draw. (Cookwithvette)
A stock Delco solenoid on the "S" side of the circuit pulls 20 amps. For this reason, make sure you run a fat enough gauge wire (at least 12-gauge) if you splice a kill switch into this circuit, or you'll end up with enough voltage drop to prevent the solenoid from kicking in.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,185
Likes: 0
From: New Wilmington PA
Re: Starter solenoid current draw. (lars)
Okay, thanks guys!
I'll be using the stock wiring but just needed to make sure I didn't buy an under-sized switch.
Thanks again! :cheers:
I'll be using the stock wiring but just needed to make sure I didn't buy an under-sized switch.
Thanks again! :cheers:
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,375
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Starter solenoid current draw. (Cookwithvette)
Cookwith -
The stock wiring (the purple wire to the "S" side of the solenoid) is right on the ragged edge of wire size vs. current draw. Install a good quality switch with good, plated contacts in it to minimize resistance through the switch. If you get too much resistance in this circuit you'll end up with hot-start problems (starter goes "click" when you try to start the engine hot). Instead of buying something cheap through Radio Shack or Checker, you might want to check out a good commercial grade switch through the McMaster Carr catalog or through Grainger. They sell some very good spec-grade switches and relays.
The stock wiring (the purple wire to the "S" side of the solenoid) is right on the ragged edge of wire size vs. current draw. Install a good quality switch with good, plated contacts in it to minimize resistance through the switch. If you get too much resistance in this circuit you'll end up with hot-start problems (starter goes "click" when you try to start the engine hot). Instead of buying something cheap through Radio Shack or Checker, you might want to check out a good commercial grade switch through the McMaster Carr catalog or through Grainger. They sell some very good spec-grade switches and relays.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 43
From: Plano TX
Re: Starter solenoid current draw. (lars)
On my 80, I use a relay thats closed by the ignition start position. The relay connects the starter battery cable terminal directly to the soleoind start contact (closes solenoid). This solved a heat soak problem (solenoid requires more current when hot).
Dave
Dave
