Starter relay - other uses?

[kentdaryl]

This is off topic but how would you use a standard Ford starter relay for a on/off switch for a hydraulic pump motor? My '96 has a dump insert and it uses what amounts to a starter motor to power the hydraulic pump. It's currently wired directly to the battery with a long battery cable but the dump controls are always "live". I was thinking that if I put an old starter relay near the battery I could use it as an on/off switch, any input?

[carcrafter22]

I believe you would just put the battery wire on the large stud and the wire to the device on the other stud then wire a switch into the "S" terminal on the solenoid. This would make the solenoid a relay (which is all it really is anyway) and you would just flip a switch to activate it.

[kentdaryl]

Makes sense to me. I'll switch the "S" terminal, the relay is grounded through the housing, and ignore the "I" terminal? If that sounds right I'll give it a try. Thanks.

[Wes]

We use the stater "type" solenoids to run all kinds of things. Check out Cole Hersee's offerings. The starter solenoids our bumps use are kinda light duty, am estimating @ 15% duty cycle.

http://www.colehersee.com/

That is an excellent idea, to use a relay solenoid to run your hydraulic motor. What do you imagine the dump motor draws 90-120 amps ? That would be 1 hell of an arc at the controls if it ever shorted. 20 amps tops to run the solenoid, and you can use a fast blow fuse.

[71PA_Highboy]

Yep... I've watched people with hydraulics in their Impalas burn up Ford solenoids in minutes... they are not constant duty, so the load across them is not intended to be of long duration.

As Wes said, check Cole Hersee (http://www.colehersee.com/) for Constant Duty Solenoids.

Good Luck!

Eric

[kentdaryl]

I'll check the label on the motor for the draw, thanks for the info guys. I'll check the manufacturer you referenced.

[fitzwell]

x a bunch on the light duty comments. If you need a constant duty solenoid, look no further than your local Napa.

[carcrafter22]

good info people!