[C38] difficulty starting

[Chuck Finn]

Les,
I think we are OK on this part.  Starter solenoids can easily handle 
your battery max, which is over 100 amps with #2 AWG.  The wire going to 
our switch on the control panel is a fraction of this size, which 
suggests David's 20 amp call is right on.  And, that is the spec in the 
Universal manual.   Besides, the circuit on my 45 hp. Kubota tractor is 
only 40 amp...

I just don't get why this wasn't dealt with long ago.

Thanks,
Chuck Finn

On 11/26/2010 1:54 PM, Les wrote:
> Before going that route, rent or buy a ammeter and measure the current
> draw.  Make sure it can read the peak current, which will only last a
> few milliseconds.  I suspect that the cold current of the preheaters
> will be about 100A.  This is because most "hot wire" devices have a much
> lower cold resistance than their ultimate hot resistance.  I think a
> starter solenoid would still handle it OK, because most starters have an
> inrush of similar proportions.
>
> 	I once welded a series of 5 relays all at the same time, discovering
> this particular bit of information, because I didn't always read specs
> first.
>
> Regards,
> Les H.
> On Fri, 2010-11-26 at 13:42 -0500, Chuck Finn wrote:
>> David,
>> I see we are thinking along the same lines!  Ever since Tom T. made us
>> aware of the dangers of our amp meters and Larry M. had is fire, I
>> have been thinking of the last high amp draw that goes all the way
>> from our battery, to the control panel, to the engine.  That of course
>> is the glow plug circuit.  When you think about it, this is another
>> really dumb idea for two reasons.  First is the possibility of wire
>> fatigue/wear and fire.  Second is the voltage drop.
>> My thinking is the best answer is re-wire the glow plug circuit with
>> an inexpensive starter solenoid ($15).  This will dramatically shorten
>> the wire distance and reduce the chance of fire.  It will also
>> eliminate the last high amp connection to the wire harness and control
>> panel.  I am thinking starter solenoid because they can handle much
>> more than 20 amps and are off the shelf.  Will also install a 25 amp
>> in-line slow fuse.
>>
>> This seem like such a simple answer that I am worried I am missing
>> something....  Especially since solenoids have been around forever!
>>
>> Thoughts?
>>
>> Chuck Finn
>> Commodore
>>
>> On 11/17/2010 12:18 PM, David Epstein wrote:
>>> Patrick,
>>>
>>> One possibility is the wiring to the glow plugs and/or the switch.
>>> The later models include a solenoid for the glow plugs so that the
>>> higher current (about 20a for all three plugs) is not reliant on the
>>> wiring harness and the switch itself.  In my online search, I
>>> learned that people reported a huge difference in the effectiveness
>>> of the glow plugs after installing a solenoid, and a much shorter
>>> "warm up" before starting.  I am in the process of installing such a
>>> solenoid on SuperStar along with replacement of the engine control
>>> panel.
>>>
>>> Did you change the engine mounted fuel pump, or the electric "lift"
>>> pump?  Also, do you have problems starting when the engine is warm,
>>> or only when it is cold?
>>>
>>> David Epstein
>>> SuperStar #122
>>> Marina del Rey
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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