Ignition switch questions......

[wichitacorvette]

Hey all, been a while, but shes almost done, motor is all ready running about 420hp at the flywheel.... ;-) and now im finishing my interior...... i have my dash all fiberglassed (will post pics soon) and im working on my new console and am shaving the steering column as to have a switchpanel mounted there. my question is this.....

How much current (amps) does the ignition, the accessory, and the starter (during cranking) draw AT THE SWITCH?

I need to know so i can decide on switches to install.

Thanks guys!

 

[curtis]

simple answer from me I DO NOT KNOW THE AMPS, HOWEVER; you surely don't want to run cranking voltage to starter up to a switch. that's the job of the solenoid to send all that current to the starter, hence the big battery wire going to the starter. the solenoid is just a giant relay with contacts heavy enough to handle the cranking amps. the amperage of the various circuits on your fuse block should give you some idea of the power demands ........ are you making a custom panel to switch things off and on?

 

[wichitacorvette]

I am making a whole new center console front to back, the interior has been gutted, all the wiring has been taken down to a bare minimum, all the new wiring has been installed, witht he exception of the starter, ignition, and accessory wires. I have left those wires at the connector where they meet the column. i plan on extending the wiring 3 foot and having the new switches behind where the shifter is. By the way i have installed a ignition disable system based off the new Volkswagen cars in the vette so unless my key fob is within 3 feet of the console, none of the swithces will work. Also my alarm takes care of the starter cutoff relay which I placed inside the engine bay. So dont worry about the swithces being in plain view. But im deciding if a standard 35/45amp relay is enough for the iginition, or do i need a bigger heavy duty one? Since you said the starter wire is basically a turn on to a big relay in the solenoid, that would lead me to believe its low current? (30amp)?

Thanks!

 

[curtis]

Like I said I don't really know exactly what you need, but it seems to me that 30 amps should be more than enough for ignition system. As original I don't think it is fused with a fuse, but rather a fusible link in the wiring. As for the wire that activates the starter solenoid, 30 is probably good enough there too and I think it also operates on a fusible link, but the starter motor itself can pull full cold cranking amps your battery can deliver leave it alone. I really want to see some pictures of this when you are done, so let us all know. Wish I had definate answers for you.

 

[wichitacorvette]

30 ingnition, 30 starter, that sounds definate enough to me! =) ill give them some 35/45amp relays and i should be good, ill post pics of where its at right now tommrow night...... the dash is still in bondo and the console is just a frame, but ill post them tommorow anyway...... the dash is completely barren now....... 5 autometer gauges are laid out across the top section, i retainted the speedo/tach "pod" so it is easier to remove the dash on and off...... but i fiberglassed it as well....... now it is just a speedo on one side (autometer as well) and oil press and water temp in the other.... the corvette emblem will sit above those two gauges.......... ok enough description, youll see the basic idea tommorow!

Thanks again for all your help!