The cheap Chinese quad/scooter wiring loom yields another treasure for our exploration. The starter solenoid. It's internal operation is different to what I was expecting. In hindsight I guess the way it works allows it to "bang" the contacts apart when turned off, to prevent them sticking.
This is the bit that sometimes fails, making loud clicking noises when your car's starter motor is supposed to be turning over. A sharp blow with the handle of a large screwdriver can sometimes get you back in action temporarily.
The coil is controlled from your start button/key and switches the high current required by the starter motor.
The solenoid coil seemed OK on 6V (1.75A) and 12V (3A), but has a low duty cycle for thermal reasons, so is not suited for continuous operation.
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13 thoughts on “Inside a cheap quad/scooter starter relay solenoid”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Roy Tellason says:

    Yeah, that coil wire is copper all right, on that cheap chinese part… Until you try and solder to that wire! Copper-clad aluminum seems to be the thing these days. ๐Ÿ™

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars shane morgan says:

    Does it matter what side u hook power to

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Don Tump says:

    you talk like an over educated sean connery from the medieval age

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Guillermo Ruffino says:

    Why does it need 3 amps!! Is it because of the voltage drop when running the starting motor wouldn't disconnect the relay entering in a loop?

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ั‚ะพะฟัƒ ะดะฐะผะฑั€ะฐัƒัะบะฐั says:

    Disappointed, thought you were going to put a finger on the outlet ๐Ÿ˜‰

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars โ€1marcelfilms says:

    Who needs a solenoid when you can put a screwdriver across the terminals

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Trevor Murphy says:

    You're right I'm sitting here watching your video looking at the cut on my hand small flat top screwdriver to everybody watching this video remember safety rules are written in blood not ink

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Chris Long says:

    I had a 1960s Triumph car – the original starter solenoid was designed with a rubber dome on the end opposite the contacts, so that you could engage the starter just by pressing the rubber dome and moving the solenoid core directly. Very handy – no need to short the contacts with a spanner. I later had to replace it with a modern part, which of course was designed without that feature in order to save a penny per part.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars neddy laddy says:

    Watts for DC VA only sensibly used regarding AC

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Corporate Jugglers says:

    This channel is the best… Happy New year winners ๐Ÿ’๐ŸŒน

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars RIP SRT says:

    yes, when I was young driving for car service, I had to start my 1987 crown Victoria with the metal clip on my clip board. I also rescued a girl and her 1988 crown Victoria by starting it with a shovel across the terminals.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars richardnanis says:

    There are some bigger solenoids that should be capable of handling 600 – 1000 Amps according specs. I wonder if these would be useful switches for spotwelders with a big car battery? I tried these but found they tend to stick together on the first or second weld. A good big car battery can deliver in access of 1000 Amps, maybe 2kA for a short time – thats probably too much. Is it better to use high amps power mosfets as switches? You would need at least 6 in parallel for the current. I know such constructions are around for li-ion cell spot welding and seem to work quite well.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars James Morriss says:

    Yeah sometimes the things that stump Clive remind me of "Blues Clues" where even a five-year-old is screaming the answers at the screen. LOL

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