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Old November 3rd 11, 10:27 AM posted to aus.cars,rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled
Clocky[_2_]
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Posts: 3
Default Starter solenoid current?

Bernd Felsche wrote:
> D Walford > wrote:
>> On 03/11/2011 1:31 AM, Bernd Felsche wrote:
>>> > wrote:
>>>> "Bernd Felsche" wrote

>
>>>>> I'm trying to figure out the current draw by the starter solenoid,
>>>>> (not the starter motor) at terminal 50.

>
>>>>> It's powered through the ignition switch in the Golf GTI but the
>>>>> 4mm wiring has me baffled. That's too much current to go through a
>>>>> little ignition switch if the wire is sized for current capacity.

>
>>>>> So I assume it's sized to avoid voltage drop, which leaves me none
>>>>> the wiser regarding the current actually drawn by the starter
>>>>> solenoid.

>
>>>> Why not put an ammeter in series?

>
>>> Because it could fry the poor thing ...
>>> Most multimeters maxo ut at 10 Amps.
>>> I suspect that it could be 30A, if not more.
>>> Bosch book says 30 to 70A, depending on the size of the starter.

>
>> That's a hell of a current to be going through the switch, it would
>> be very unusual for there not to be a relay?

>
> Since you ask; not unusual. They're probably counting on the current
> being intermittent.
>
> As the at least 8 million vehicles of that type have exactly that
> same starter wiring, from 1983 to 1992. And probably another few
> million Jetta clones produced in China over the past 20 years with
> the same.


I don't think the current draw is as high as you think. I remember a common
fix for starting problems due to volt drop was to fit a standard relay.

The heavier guage wiring would be to reduce volt drop, not for high current
draw.



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