"PeterD" wrote in message ...

On 11/2/2011 8:36 AM, Scotty wrote:

> I think that you are thinking of the starter motor current which can
> easily reach 300amps. He is asking about the current draw of the actual
> solenoid.

No, I'm thinking the solenoid, which does draw more current that most
people realize.

>
> theres two ways of easily testing the actual draw. Use an ammeter in
> series (or clamp style) and test it, or use an ohmmeter to see what the
> resistive load is and work it out that way @ 12v.
>

An ohmmeter would be less accurate due to the lower resistance, and
would not provide a good indication of shorted turns (assuming that is
his problem...) The best testing tool is a DC clampon meter, a tool that
I find invaluable when diagnosing starter problems.

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I'm sure that a DC Clamp meter is definitely the best option to start with,
if its under 10 amps then utilise an in series meter as they are more
accurate than most DC clamp meters.

Then again, DC clamp meters are not something that most people have lying
around in their garage.