Starter solenoid current?

Something I don't know ... and can't seem to find out all that
easily.

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.
--
/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia
\ / ASCII ribbon campaign | For every complex problem there is an
X against HTML mail | answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.
/ \ and postings | --HL Mencken

"Bernd Felsche" wrote in message
...

Something I don't know ... and can't seem to find out all that
easily.

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.

Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia
ASCII ribbon campaign | For every complex problem there is an
against HTML mail | answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.
and postings | HL Mencken
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> <><><>

Use a multimeter if you have one. The size is usually for volt drop. The
actual solenoid Id imagine wouldn't draw much at all.
I'd take a wild guess at 7 or 8 amps for modern cars. the cables that size
as when cranking it needs the full voltage other wise it will do what you
call Motor Boating.
that is where the voltage drops too low to maintain the solenoid and it
drops out during cranking. As your still holding the key to the start
position it will re-engage as the voltage increases now the starter isn't
engaged, it keeps doing this until either a contact burns out or usually the
person trying to get to work takes the bus. (or its jump started of course)

Do you know that clicking sound when ya batteries very flat? that's it.

"Bernd Felsche" > wrote in message
...
> Something I don't know ... and can't seem to find out all that
> easily.
>
> 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?

"Clocky" > 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.
--
/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia
\ / ASCII ribbon campaign | For every complex problem there is an
X against HTML mail | answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.
/ \ and postings | --HL Mencken

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?


Daryl

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.
--
/"\ Bernd Felsche - Innovative Reckoning, Perth, Western Australia
\ / ASCII ribbon campaign | For every complex problem there is an
X against HTML mail | answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.
/ \ and postings | --HL Mencken

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.

On 11/3/2011 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.

**This'll do the trick:

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...for m=KEYWORD

You should be able to borrow one from your local sparky. Most have them
now, though DC rated ones are a little rarer. Auto electricians have
them. Or should.

--
Trevor Wilson www.rageaudio.com.au

On 12/04/2012 5:04 PM, Trevor Wilson wrote:
> On 11/3/2011 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.
>
> **This'll do the trick:
>
> http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...for m=KEYWORD
>
>
> You should be able to borrow one from your local sparky. Most have them
> now, though DC rated ones are a little rarer. Auto electricians have
> them. Or should.
>
Have one similar out in the garage. Much easier to use.

--

Krypsis

On 12/04/2012 9:01 PM, Paul Saccani wrote:
> On Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:04:47 +1000, Trevor Wilson
> > wrote:
>
>> On 11/3/2011 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.
>>
>> **This'll do the trick:
>>
>> http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView...for m=KEYWORD
>>
>> You should be able to borrow one from your local sparky. Most have them
>> now, though DC rated ones are a little rarer. Auto electricians have
>> them. Or should.
>
> I already offered him a loaner. He prefers not to borrow equipment.
>
> You can't fault that.

A group of us used to share equipment. Had all manner of things. If we
needed something, we'd pool our resources and just buy it. Trouble is,
most members of the old group have shuffled off their mortal coils now.
I was one of the youngsters in the group. Actually, come to think of it,
I am the youngest that's left out of the few who "were" young'uns.
Ah well, I'm a tad too knackered to be crawling around and under cars
now. Best leave it to the next generation I guess!

--

Krypsis