Wiring question

Dpierce · Nov 13, 2018

I have a 1968 Ford 5000 that has a intake heater that the wiring has been removed. What size of wire should this be and does the wire run straight from the key switch to the heater? No relay needed?

Bern · Nov 13, 2018

Originally, the circuit did not use a relay, although it would not hurt to install one. And yes, it was powered straight from
the key switch, although there was a split (connector) in the area of the starter. Figure using at least a 12 gauge wire, or a
10 gauge would be even better.

Tom in TN · Nov 13, 2018

Dpierce,

I have a 1963 Ford 4000 4-cylinder diesel with the intake heater. I've never looked into the circuit that controls it, but there is a definite "click" when I push the button that energizes the heater. I don't know where or if, but it certainly sounds line a relay is picked when the button is pressed.

Tom in TN

Destroked 450 · Nov 13, 2018

Ford diesels prier to 65 did use a relay but 65 and later models did not.
I wired in a small relay on my 4000, it's hard to tell if the heater has been activated using the key, I can hear the relay click when I turn the key to the correct position, need to do the same on the rest of the tractors.

Dpierce · Nov 13, 2018

thanks for the info. I wasnt sure how much amp draw the heater had or if the key switch could handle the amperage. I will plan to use a relay. Use lighter wire to the relay and #12 from the battery to the relay contact and to the heater itself.

Destroked 450 · Nov 13, 2018

The heating element in these units is pretty small and doesn't draw a lot of amps.
As the element heats up it opens a valve allowing fuel to drip on the hot element igniting the fuel, the burning fuel heats the air in the manifold and is drawn into the engine when it cranked over.
The older Ford diesels as well as most other brands used larger heating coil type elements to heat the air in the manifold, these take a bigger wire and a lot more amps to operate.

Bern · Nov 13, 2018

I've got a 5000 here in my shop, and I checked current draw on the intake heater today. It was 10 amps, which is about half of what I thought it would be. So, with that newfound piece of information, I'd say that a relay is not necessary. 12 gauge wire would be more than plenty.

Dpierce · Nov 13, 2018

that's what I needed to know,thanks

Wiring question

Dpierce

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Bern

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Tom in TN

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Destroked 450

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Dpierce

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Destroked 450

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Bern

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Dpierce

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