Starter solenoid

[Kirk Morgan]

I have never checked how much amperage a solenoid draws. That being said, it should be only a few amps depending on if it a Ford or GM solenoid. A old school GM would be the most.What it is energizing is what is going to cause the most amps drawn. Modern permanent magnet starters will draw about 150 amps while cranking. That would be on a small block engine with 10 to one compression. The initial amperage draw would be about 20 to 25 amps more.

[FED 387]

initial amperage is about 30 A ---8-10 A to keep the starter drive engaged

[terry1]

I always thought that the solenoid was basically a relay.
This relay closes a set of contacts that allows the/a battery
wire to engage the starter.
If this is true, the actual solenoid should only require enough
current to keep it engaged.
I suspected an amp or less.
Terry K

[kansas stocker]

FED is correct given a few amps either way. It acts like a relay but it is not.
Pete

[Dragsinger]

To be more specific, a Ford starter solenoid and a GM solenoid or a typical aftermarket mini starter solenoid are all different in design and different in amp draw.

*The Ford solenoid/relay is, as stated above, only "making" a set of high amp carrying contacts. With this design, the amperage load is small, only a few amps.

*The GM factory style solenoid serves two purposes. First, it engages the starter drive mechanically through a lever link that is moved to engage by magnet action from the solenoid. Second, it "makes" the contacts that power the starter motor. As stated above, this design draws much more.

*The popular mini-starter design is like the GM dual function but does draw somewhat less load because of design differences.

*Just for info, another solenoid design it the 100% duty cycle style. This is what we use when installing the solenoid activated master switch.