Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
- Sluggo
- Wishin' I was Fishin'
- Location: Portland, Or.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
A long while ago Colin suggested using a ford starter solenoid as my auxiliary battery relay. I've tried two different ones with the same results. When I hook it up it actually drains both batteries. My battery light comes on and you can watch both of my volt meters rapidly drop. If I disconnect the blue voltage reg wire I use as a switch it works fine but there is no charge to the auxiliary battery. Same thing if I move the blue wire from the "S" terminal to the "I" terminal. If I hook up a standard Bosch relay all is good. I just want something beefier in there because I don't trust a standard relay with all that juice.
1977 Bus with Sunroof - "Lucky '77"
2000cc Type IV w/Dual Weber 36s,
Aircooled.net SVDA w/Compufire,
Redline Weber Fuel Pump,
Holley Regulator,
Half Ass Brush & Roller Rustoleum Paint Job,
Incomplete Custom Interior,
Dual Batteries,
Crunched Slider Door.
------------------------------------------------------
- airkooledchris
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Eureka, California
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
1979 California Transporter
- Sluggo
- Wishin' I was Fishin'
- Location: Portland, Or.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
Actually, I just bought an 85amp marine battery isolator about 20 minutes after making this post. Still curious why the ford starter solenoid had that reaction.
1977 Bus with Sunroof - "Lucky '77"
2000cc Type IV w/Dual Weber 36s,
Aircooled.net SVDA w/Compufire,
Redline Weber Fuel Pump,
Holley Regulator,
Half Ass Brush & Roller Rustoleum Paint Job,
Incomplete Custom Interior,
Dual Batteries,
Crunched Slider Door.
------------------------------------------------------
- airkooledchris
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Eureka, California
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
was it cheaper than this one from Blue Sea? specs man specs!
1979 California Transporter
- Sluggo
- Wishin' I was Fishin'
- Location: Portland, Or.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
1977 Bus with Sunroof - "Lucky '77"
2000cc Type IV w/Dual Weber 36s,
Aircooled.net SVDA w/Compufire,
Redline Weber Fuel Pump,
Holley Regulator,
Half Ass Brush & Roller Rustoleum Paint Job,
Incomplete Custom Interior,
Dual Batteries,
Crunched Slider Door.
------------------------------------------------------
- hambone
- Post-Industrial Non-Secular Mennonite
- Location: Portland, Ore.
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
Oh yeah Scorpion, I'd trust that name ANYWHERE and ANY TIME.
http://greencascadia.blogspot.com
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
http://pdxvolksfolks.blogspot.com
it balances on your head just like a mattress balances on a bottle of wine
your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat
- drober23
- Addicted!
- Location: Metro Detroit
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
I'm not sure you want beefier. The original Westfalia setup had a lower voltage relay, and a smallish wire (10 ga?). The limit of what the wire would carry would keep the strain on the generator in a decent range.
I bet a search on that setup would reveal some good answers.
I bet a search on that setup would reveal some good answers.
DJ
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
- Sluggo
- Wishin' I was Fishin'
- Location: Portland, Or.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
The one I got seems to be working well. It has a very loud click when it cuts on & off though. I am using 10g wire with 30amp fuses to cut down on current draw.
1977 Bus with Sunroof - "Lucky '77"
2000cc Type IV w/Dual Weber 36s,
Aircooled.net SVDA w/Compufire,
Redline Weber Fuel Pump,
Holley Regulator,
Half Ass Brush & Roller Rustoleum Paint Job,
Incomplete Custom Interior,
Dual Batteries,
Crunched Slider Door.
------------------------------------------------------
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
I don't see why it is that people are attempting to reduce current draw through the size of the wires. That is a recipe for hot wires.Sluggo wrote:The one I got seems to be working well. It has a very loud click when it cuts on & off though. I am using 10g wire with 30amp fuses to cut down on current draw.
The wire *could* be asked to pass full alternator output if the secondary were dead out dead at start-up. That would be a nice 55 or 70 amp load, would it not?
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- Sluggo
- Wishin' I was Fishin'
- Location: Portland, Or.
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
I've been running it with 10 gauge wire for a few years now with no issues. I've drained the battery at our campouts on several occasions without incident. Next time I'll go out and feel the wires after a full discharge and and charge.
1977 Bus with Sunroof - "Lucky '77"
2000cc Type IV w/Dual Weber 36s,
Aircooled.net SVDA w/Compufire,
Redline Weber Fuel Pump,
Holley Regulator,
Half Ass Brush & Roller Rustoleum Paint Job,
Incomplete Custom Interior,
Dual Batteries,
Crunched Slider Door.
------------------------------------------------------
- drober23
- Addicted!
- Location: Metro Detroit
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
Colin,
I am not sure of the merits of running a smaller wire. I am just observing that the OG version was set up this way.
I am going to do this before my vacation this summer, and am also in the process of deciding how to do it. Keeping my eyes on this thread for ideas. I have seen discussions of this on the Samba, and folks seemed to make decent arguments for both ways.
I am not sure of the merits of running a smaller wire. I am just observing that the OG version was set up this way.
I am going to do this before my vacation this summer, and am also in the process of deciding how to do it. Keeping my eyes on this thread for ideas. I have seen discussions of this on the Samba, and folks seemed to make decent arguments for both ways.
DJ
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
'75 Westfalia, '79 Deluxe
(plus more busses than sense)
In a time of chimpanzees I was a monkey
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
I am not recommending a smaller wire . . . I was answering any notion that limiting current draw *by virtue of a smaller wire* does not make intuitive sense to me.drober23 wrote:Colin,
I am not sure of the merits of running a smaller wire. I am just observing that the OG version was set up this way.
I am going to do this before my vacation this summer, and am also in the process of deciding how to do it. Keeping my eyes on this thread for ideas. I have seen discussions of this on the Samba, and folks seemed to make decent arguments for both ways.
Colin
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
- sped372
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Waunakee, WI
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
It doesn't make any kind of any sense. Wires aren't supposed to be used as resistors, they're conductors. Trying to limit current by downsizing wiring is exactly the wrong technique.Amskeptic wrote:I was answering any notion that limiting current draw *by virtue of a smaller wire* does not make intuitive sense to me.
1971 Karmann Ghia - 1600 DP
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX
1984 Westfalia - 1.9 WBX
- RSorak 71Westy
- IAC Addict!
- Location: Memphis, TN
- Contact:
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
Trying to limit current by downsizing wiring is exactly the wrong technique.
This only results in an overheated wire, with the amount of the heating directly related to the amp draw thru said wire, never a good thing.
This only results in an overheated wire, with the amount of the heating directly related to the amp draw thru said wire, never a good thing.
Take care,
Rick
Stock 1600 w/dual Solex 34's and header. mildly ported heads and EMPI elephant's feet. SVDA W/pertronix. 73 Thing has been sold. BTW I am a pro wrench have been fixing cars for living for over 30 yrs.
Rick
Stock 1600 w/dual Solex 34's and header. mildly ported heads and EMPI elephant's feet. SVDA W/pertronix. 73 Thing has been sold. BTW I am a pro wrench have been fixing cars for living for over 30 yrs.
- Amskeptic
- IAC "Help Desk"
- Status: Offline
Re: Ford starter solenoid as an auxiliary battery relay
RSorak 71Westy wrote:Trying to limit current by downsizing wiring is exactly the wrong technique.
This only results in an overheated wire, with the amount of the heating directly related to the amp draw thru said wire, never a good thing.
You read it here ^
BobD - 78 Bus . . . 112,730 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles
Chloe - 70 bus . . . 217,593 miles
Naranja - 77 Westy . . . 142,970 miles
Pluck - 1973 Squareback . . . . . . 55,600 miles
Alexus - 91 Lexus LS400 . . . 96,675 miles