Starter exciter input drawing >10A, normal?

[Nor'Sea 27]

Well done. Since the circuit that activates the starter is no longer the start button did you consider overcurrent protection in the new circuit?

Charles

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by jbrownson

Okay guys I think I got it solved. The relay folks were absolutely right.


So I went back to trying to install the relay. As I mentioned the solenoid/relay I bought doesn't seem to have any spec sheet anywhere, so I had to guess a bit on the pinout. I realized that of course the input to the relay is polarized because if the magnetic field is reversed it's going to push the core away from the contact which would still make a click as I was hearing, but wouldn't make a contact on the high current side. I swapped the inputs and hasn't failed to start since.

Thanks for all the replies and help! I learned a lot doing this.

Actually, reversing the polarity on the coil will not affect the magnetic attraction for the moving bit, for it isn't itself a magnet but only some iron or steel that is attracted to any magnetic field.

Cheers and good starting...

Jim

[DeborahLee]

I too had the same problem. My batteries were in the salon giving me a good voltage drop. I put a battery box next to the engine and replaced the wire from the starter switch to the coil with # 10 Yanmar used a # 16 or 18. I also replaced the starter with a Masco since then every time I have hit the starter it has worked. The Masco starter is an after market ( new design) not a knock off replacement.
Masco Marine Starters and Alternators