Subject: Re: Relay switches
Author: Ian Adkins
Date: May 30, 2001, 6:47 AM
Post ID: 1706919633
Hi All,
This may be redundant but I thought I would offer my take on this and
hopefully clarify some things about relays. Please correct me if I am wrong.
With the way the bikes were originally wired the current for the starter
motor (and all other electrics) ran through the fuse block. As I was
mentioning before...if the contact area on the connectors is reduced (due to
loose connection) then the current has to be passed through a smaller
contact area. In doing so the same amount of electricity has to pass through
a smaller contact area and that would increase the resisitance causing heat
to build up. Enough heat builds up and you have a melted fuse block.
The idea of the relay is to have the current for the starter solenoid (and
whatever else you use a relay for) go from the battery to the solenoid and
bypass the fuse block.
The relay is really a switch. When you hit the starter button it signals the
relay to close and that closes the contacts and allows the current to flow
to the solenoid directly. Think of it as a gate. The current needed to
operate the switch (gate) is much less than the current needed to operate
the relay switch.
As I have said I only have it for the starter but I don't think it would be
a bad idea to use one for the headlight as well.
I know that this is very simplistic....Hope it helps....Ian
-----Original Message-----
From: Zerhackermann . <chopp-@hotmail.com>
To: Loopfram-@topica.com <Loopfram-@topica.com>
Date: May 29, 2001 5:37 PM
Subject: Re: Relay switches
Seems to me that if you use the right fuses, it shouldn't be pulling enough to damage the fuse panel. COrrect me if I misunderstand... if you are wiring in a starter button, you use the relay to reduce the amperage to the button so it doesn't overheat. In that case, the relay should be upstream of the fusepanel, right? then you only have the less |
| 10 amps running to the fuse panel and then to the switch. If the relay is downstream of the fuse panel then you have the whole draw from the battery going throught the fuse panel and thus you'd blow a fuse..right? |