Solenoid?

[Neverdone]

So I had a thought......

I was wiring all of my electronics to run through a solenoid. Turn the key on, it powers up the solenoid and there are all my electronics. Have on power feed coming into the cab then go from there to a fuse block or two.

Now I know that I will never run enough power through the solenoid to smoke it, but, does anyone think it is a bad idea to run it this way?

I wanted to do it like this so that EVERYTHING is dead without the key. The reason I ask is because I already killed one solenoid. It still triggers, but flows no power, wont even light up my test light......

Please give any questions, comments, suggestions, finger gestures...........

 

[Dirtyrat]

A main relay with high enough amp rating or multiple relays is probably the way to go there in my opinion...

 

[Sam_Fear]

Why? A heavy duty relay or two would be best I would think. Might wanna bypass the relay with your lights and horn - safety.

I gotta wonder if a solenoid is meant for a constant light load? It may cause the contacts to slightly pit or glaze eventually losing continuity?

 

[Bamamav]

A solenoid is a relay. There are also solenoids designed to be engaged all the time. A regular starter type solenoid is only designed to be engaged for a short time, then disengaged. That's why they get hot when you get one stuck, it's only designed to carry current a short time then cool off.

Your best bet would be go to the junkyard and get a power distribution box of a late model. Most will have a bank of fuses on one side, and relays on the other. Then put whatever you want key only on the relays. I would keep the head and tail lights fully hot all the time, wouldn't want to lose the lights just because you had to cut off the key switch if it hung up wide open throttle on a dark two lane road beside another car!

 

[Crossfire]

Electrical

Wouldn't it be just as easy to put a hidden main disconnect on the car.

 

[sneakysnake]

moter homes and campers use constant on solenoids to isolate and join batteries.Might check a camper supply.

 

[choppintops]

Why not just put a battery kill switch?

 

[Neverdone]

I have a battery kill switch in place, but want something to run all the electronics off of in the cab. Simplifies power wiring a little bit.

As Bamamav said, a solenoid is a relay, just a single pole single throw, with a 2-300A rating...... Figured if I ran one heavy power wire to it then branch off from the other side it would just simplify things a bit.

But it also creates a point of failure that has the potential to shut down the whole ride in one swoop. But then again move 2 nuts and you are moving again temporarily.

 

[Sam_Fear]

How much electrical stuff do you have in your rat?! How many fuses? Seems to me you are overcomplicating this. Unless you are worried about power drain, it seems unnecessary. Even then you have a kill switch.

There is a point of power to run all the cab from, it's called the ignition switch. [S Not trying to be rude, but we seem to be looking at this very differently.

Use 2 50A relays. One for Acc. and one for Run. Only reason I'd do that is because I didn't like all the juice going through a 60 year old ignition switch.

 

[Neverdone]

yup scrapped the solenoid....... Went with 2 relays feeding separate fuse blocks. Hooked the relays to Run and ACC

 

[donsrods]

The guys are right, normal solenoids are only meant for short period use. They do sell constant use solenoids, we sold them in the marine industry, and those were used for things that ran for a long period of time, like trim and tilt and also some heads (toilets) used them in the flushing function.

But you are smart to just go the way you have decided, much more simple.

Don

 

[Neverdone]

yeah I thought it seemed like the better way to go.