Solenoid

[Devo]

I am trying to get my windmills back up using as much as I have around the shed.Can you use a cars Starter solenoid as a relay from a small charge controller like the ones from Oatley?

Instead of turning on a small load it could activate the relay on the solenoid & the mains on it could carry very large dump loads. Would this work or would the coil in the electro magnet of the solenoid burn up if held on 12 volts for long lengths of time?

Thanks

Devo  

[TomW]

Devo;

Warning, I am no gear head. Know little about cars. Wouldn't a fuel pump relay be better suited to being on for extended periods?

That still leaves the AC being switched issue of automotive stuff.

Furnace controls often use 12 or 24 volt activated AC relays. Switch AC and use low voltage ac on the coil. These should be OK on same voltage DC. I think.

Just off the wall thoughts.

Tom

[Devo]

Thanks Tom , I'll see what I have kicking around

Devo

[jacobs]

I believe an automobile starter solenoid is rated intermittent duty. If so, it would overheat and fail.

[Flux]

Absolutely, it is quite useless for the job, the coil alone would make a reasonable dump load for a modest system.

[Devo]

That's a shame because the main side carries huge amps on one......

Devo

[snowcrow]

  Devo, not sure what you have for a Controller, but I used Ghurd's Dump Controller with N-Ch IGBT to dump power.  It well dump up to 1.2kW of power!!

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2008/3/31/141234/584

Blessings, Snow Crow

[FuddyDuddy]

Many years ago (1971) I added a second battery to my OpenRoad camper. I used a standard 12vdc Ford auto starter solenoid to tie the two together while traveling. The solenoid worked well in a continous mode for four years when I got rid of the van. The second battery was a 300AH wet cell set composed of 2v cells. They stayed charged very well.

Watch out using low voltage ac relays on dc. The coils and core are different and the ac units don't hold up well nor do they "pull in" properally some times.

FuddyDuddy

[chubbytrucker01]

They make a continuous duty solenoid that looks just like a ford starter solenoid. They use them on hydraulic tailgates and golf carts and in big trucks as a power isolators for low voltage disconnects. I think because they externally look like a sarter solenoid it throws people a curve.

   Doug