Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 30-05-2018, 07:08   #1
Registered User
 
Rowglide's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Boat: Hans Christian 43
Posts: 382
Perkins 4.236 starter solenoid...

Hi I have just re-installed the Perkins and am looking to improve the start wiring.
The existing wire from the cockpit to the solenoid was 20' long 12ga yellow with red stripe but... no starter relay. it ran straight to the solenoid on the starter. Worked fine for a long time but I believe it should go to a relay.
Can anyone tell me how many amps the starter solenoid (Not the starter motor) should draw? I have checked my manuals and the starter itself but can find no indication.
I want to be sure that I am using adequate wire sizes and the correct relay size to accomplish this.
Thanks
Jim
Rowglide is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-05-2018, 07:46   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Oregon
Boat: Seafarer36c
Posts: 5,563
Re: Perkins 4.236 starter solenoid...

I remember the start solenoid c/b's to be 5a in a 12vdc system.
model 10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2020, 03:15   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Bern, NC. Marina Tel Aviv
Boat: May Flower 48 - Stadel 48
Posts: 210
Send a message via Skype™ to Jack C
Re: Perkins 4.236 starter solenoid...

I was looking for an answer as well. Failing to find current specs on solenoids, I measured the solenoid current with a DC clamp on meter and a remote start cable. 41 AMPS! Yikes! Thought I was measuring inrush current so tried again. Yes 41AMPS! The crocodile clips got really warm after about 5 seconds. Heavy clunk when engaged. One of the previous owners fitted a relay so that 41Amps is not going through the start switch. Looks like the wire to the solenoid is 14 gauge and the relay is 10 or 15 amps. No fuse! So automatic protection against over cranking the engine by having the relay and or wiring burn out before burning out the solenoid and starter.

Any thoughts someone?


OR the starter solenoid is taking too much current which I doubt because it has to move a gear and hold in a very heavy contact.
Jack C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2020, 05:39   #4
Moderator
 
tkeithlu's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Carrabelle, Florida
Boat: Fiberglas shattering 44' steel trawler
Posts: 6,083
Re: Perkins 4.236 starter solenoid...

Hmmm. The problem I'm seeing is that all my wiring gauge figures assume contiuous current and a small voltage drop. Starters are not continuous. The starter (hopefully!) is not running more than that 5 seconds.

I think that I would approach this problem practically. Consider putting your hand on the wire and the relay coil while someone cranks the engine. Did it get hotter than you would like, or (sure sign) smoke, smell, or melt? If so, find wire and relay with, say, twice the rating of the existing elements.

Another approach would be to use the little relays from small airplane engines, such as this one:

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...arterrelay.php

At $13.50, you know that it is rated for up to 200 HP engines.
__________________
Never let anything mechanical know that you are in a hurry.
tkeithlu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2020, 07:07   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New Bern, NC. Marina Tel Aviv
Boat: May Flower 48 - Stadel 48
Posts: 210
Send a message via Skype™ to Jack C
Re: Perkins 4.236 starter solenoid...

I just looked at the relay that powers the solenoid. It is marked with 20/30A. The engine starts instantaneously. So fast that I cannot measure the starting current. The tests on the solenoid were done with no power to the starter so I could see the current.
The relay looks like new. No signs of heating. Like you said its intermittent use, less than 3seconds to start.

I guess I'll stick with what I have.
Jack C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-09-2020, 09:02   #6
Moderator
 
tkeithlu's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Carrabelle, Florida
Boat: Fiberglas shattering 44' steel trawler
Posts: 6,083
Re: Perkins 4.236 starter solenoid...

Check that one off your list. Obviously, you are entitled to a cold beer after finding an ingenious solution to a tricky problem.
__________________
Never let anything mechanical know that you are in a hurry.
tkeithlu is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
perkins

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Perkins 4.236 Starter Ben51 Engines and Propulsion Systems 4 13-11-2017 07:26
Perkins Starter / Solenoid Problem gruffa Engines and Propulsion Systems 11 11-09-2016 18:08
Perkins 4.236 starter replacement question evm1024 Engines and Propulsion Systems 8 13-06-2016 14:19
Perkins 4.108 Starter solenoid failure jamesjle Engines and Propulsion Systems 8 08-12-2013 17:31

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 23:33.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.