Ignition Switch
Posted By : Kevin Rochfort, 14-Apr-2006, 06:00pm
Ian,
I believe that what you observe is correct, and that you are a victim of a second wiring problem associated with the solenoid and the ballast resistor.
The correct solenoid for the car should (must) have a secondary contact - on the side of it - that is connected to 12V when the ignition switch is turned to "start". This terminal is on the opposite side of the solenoid to the one that activates the solenoid when the ignition switch is set to "start". You can see it in the attached photo, between the brown wire with the yellow tag, and the power cable going to the starter motor. (The rest of the wiring in the photo is associated with how I've wired an Ammeter into the electrics, so that I get a reading of battery drain/charge, without running the starter current through it)
This extra terminal is associated with the ballast resistor, and needs to be connected to the coil side of the ballast resistor (or the coil terminal) so that when the starter motor is turning the engine, there is 12V applied to the coil instead of 6V via the ballast resistor.
If the car isn't fitted with a ballast resistor, then connect this terminal to the coil, so that the ignition circuit is powered during engine cranking.
Regards,
Kevin
I believe that what you observe is correct, and that you are a victim of a second wiring problem associated with the solenoid and the ballast resistor.
The correct solenoid for the car should (must) have a secondary contact - on the side of it - that is connected to 12V when the ignition switch is turned to "start". This terminal is on the opposite side of the solenoid to the one that activates the solenoid when the ignition switch is set to "start". You can see it in the attached photo, between the brown wire with the yellow tag, and the power cable going to the starter motor. (The rest of the wiring in the photo is associated with how I've wired an Ammeter into the electrics, so that I get a reading of battery drain/charge, without running the starter current through it)
This extra terminal is associated with the ballast resistor, and needs to be connected to the coil side of the ballast resistor (or the coil terminal) so that when the starter motor is turning the engine, there is 12V applied to the coil instead of 6V via the ballast resistor.
If the car isn't fitted with a ballast resistor, then connect this terminal to the coil, so that the ignition circuit is powered during engine cranking.
Regards,
Kevin
Ignition Switch
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Ignition Switch
Posted By : Ian Mulford, 14-Apr-2006, 06:57pm
Thanks for that. That's what I thought should happen and indeed my wiring is like that. I shall try and tidy up the wiring around the solenoid and see if I have any oddities there.-
Ignition Switch
Posted By : Graham Bostock, 14-Apr-2006, 11:46pm
I believe that there are two sets of contacts on the back of the switch as well as the connection to the starter solenoid. One set remains live whenever the ignition is on. The other contact turns off when the starter is operated. This contact should be wired to the radio if one is fitted. The reason for this is to isolate the radio when the starter is operated so that any voltage spikes caused by the high current passing through the coils in the starter motor do not damage the sesitive electronics of the radio. From your description, you may have connected the two sets the wrong way around but at least it is very simple to rectify.
Graham
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