A lowered voltage source reduces the starter motor's current draw potential, Current = Voltage divided by Resistance. Whereas when a motor starts turning it derives back electromotive force [i.e., it acts as a generator] which bEMF counters the source voltage. Current derives torque inside a motor. If there is inadequate current to derive torque greater than the load then the motor either stalls [does not turn] or runs slower until the motor torque equals the load. As
Maine Sail indicated with your weakened voltage source, you likely were cranking for a comparatively lengthy time and the continuous, yet inadequate, current draw heated your 200 ampere fuse causing it to break open the circuit. If your fuse did not blow open and you kept current flowing through your starter [a solenoid and a motor] you could burn out the solenoid or the motor as they are not intended for continuous use cycles, albeit they should have thermal sensors to trip a relay.
Maine Sail provides astute
advice in operating a starter, "do quick successive repeat tries" as short periods of current draw allow for heat to dissipate from the fuse circuit between successive tries, and also lets everything else cool. Also, voltage will sag yet further when a battery that is in a low state of charge is caused to have current drawn from it, thereby further inhibiting the ability of the motor to draw current to derive torque. Batteries "refresh" themselves to an extent as to yielding the voltage of their state of charge when one stops drawing current from them, so you can get a short burst of higher voltage upon initial loading when utilizing short tries at starting.
So yes you could install a yet larger fuse to your starter circuit [300+] but too high of capacity fuse can result in endangering the remainder of the conductors forming the circuit [evaluate the current rating of each of the components of your circuit, make your fuse the weakest component] and / or more appropriately just provide for an appropriate voltage source by
charging the battery and thence result in a quickly turned over and started engine.
Diesel engines with their comparatively higher
compression ratios require greater torque to turn over than do gasoline engines and larger engines similarly require greater torque. Also, diesel engines draw current for
heating the glow plugs, although not a great deal of current.
A charged battery / higher voltage source derives greater current potential to the motor and hence greater torque capabilities to avail turning over and starting your engine in the intended very short span of time.
In simple reference, for
electric motors, torque is a function of the amount of current [amperes - I], the length of current carrying conductor under the influence of a magnetic field [L] and the strength of the magnetic field influencing the current carried in the length of the conductors that is under the influence of the magnetic field [B].
Once a motor's architecture is defined, that is to say B and L are established, its torque output becomes primarily a matter of managing the current [I].
For equipping large and high
compression engines, one typically provides for a larger motor with greater length of conductors [L] and also larger current potential via providing for larger dimension of gauge of conductors. Longer length of conductors increases resistance [and accordingly increases bEMF potential] both of which reduce current potential; larger dimensions of gauge of conductors decreases resistance and increases current carrying potential and capacity. One often also increases voltage for larger or diesel engines, from say 12 volts to 24 volts, or higher, stater systems, such as are found on our bulldozer, front end loader, and dump trucks which batteries are placed in series circuit and which we used to maintain the roadway to our family's retreat in the mountains and to hobby gold mine. As to the subject of fuses: Drilling and blasting with dynamite and ANFO being the funnest part of working hard rock, although it always seems that the last fuse to be lighted takes the longest to get ignited, all the while the other fuses are busy burning towards their blasting caps which is why we use considerable length of fusing; but operating the large Tonka Toys can be recreational also. We operate a 35kW hydroelectric
power system to avail
power to the
family retreat / mining camp and to charge the high amperage batteries after the
equipment has set idle for the long
winter period, the four seasons of Montana noted as being June, July, August and
Winter. Guess what season it is now?