Re: Q for Bob M or others - diode in 3-wire, start

Posted by Doug in OR on December 21, 2004 at 21:50:32 from (24.20.250.197):

In Reply to: Q for Bob M or others - diode in 3-wire, starter s posted by Dave in CT on December 21, 2004 at 20:15:11:

First of all, the wire from the number 2 terminal is a bit heavy. As Bob said, you can get by with lighter wire - probably down to 18 AWG. This wire is merely a voltage sense and carries no significant amperage to worry about.

As for the diode - I think you are referring to a 1N400x diode. The 'x' is the PIV rating. A 1 means 100 volts... 2 means 200 volts... etc. The most common size you will find at Radio Shack is the 1N4003. This is plenty of diode.

As for the lamp: This works and is a good idea. Short of installing a voltmeter, the lamp is the single best way to determine if your alternator is charging. In reality, if you use the proper size lamp you would not even need the diode. The lamp will drop enough voltage when you shut the tractor down and your back feed will not be enough to fire the coil. Remember that a silicone diode (don't even think of putting a germanium diode here) drops .6 volts in the forward bias mode. This may or may not affect where your alternator starts charging when you also have a lamp in series with it.

As for the solenoid...... I wouldn't bother with it. Besides, 4/0 wire is plenty heavy. How do you even bend that stuff? You have more than enough of a hunk of cable between your battery and your starter - I wouldn't cobble it up with a solenoid.

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