HOW MANY SOLENOIDS????????
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The unwritten rule is three solenoids PER PUMP regardless of the number of batteries.
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Actually one solenoid per pump WOULD work. The problem is that since it's very high voltage, there is a chance that the contacts could melt (arc themselves together) on "closing" (when lifting.) It typically doesn't, though, 'cause we don't generally keep them closed for very long. But since the chance is there and there's also the chance that a pump motor could be burned out if left on too long ('cause they're normaly only rated for 12 - 24 volts too), the unwritten rule has ben to install 3 solenoids in series. That way if one, or even 2 of them, fails, the other two (or one) are there as backups.
What this also means is that it's possible for a lot of us that are using 3 solenoids per pump, to be riding around with a bad solenoid (or two) and not ever even know it (if it's stuck closed.)
What this also means is that it's possible for a lot of us that are using 3 solenoids per pump, to be riding around with a bad solenoid (or two) and not ever even know it (if it's stuck closed.)
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All old wives tales. Running 1 or 100 solenoids in series has absolutely nothing to do with the amount of voltage they can handle. Multiple solenoids merely acts as a safety device, ensuring that if one solenoid welds together, there is another one in the series that can open the circuit.
So long as you run a minimim of 2 solenoids per pump, you will be fine. Running 3 per pump, will give you a third "safety". Running more than 3 per pump, is just simply overkill and not neccesary in most normal circumstances.
The brand of noids' you use, is one of the most important factors. Accurate brand solenoids are one of the cheapest priced, and best performing noids' you can buy. Myself I would reccomend you run nothing else. So long as you use good heavy cable and have solid well crimped connections, you should be just fine.
Myself, I use prestolite blocks to the rear (not for long though, redoing the setup and replacing em with accurates) and 2 accurates per pump to the nose @72v. (I gutted a block and used it as a mounting plate for the accurates, so its very easy to swap them out if I ever need to)
Its a nice clean setup and has been performing great for me. The car is a hopper and daily driver in the summer, so it sees lots of action. I used to blow blocks like mad on the front, and since I switched to the accurates I have had no problems.
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5,323 Posts
actually, it's one soleniod for every 2 batteries... but it's most common and safe to run 3 solenoids per pump... when you start getting into HIGH voltages, then there are always exceptions...
but for what you want, you should be fine with 3 per pump.
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thats using one to trigger the bank of three?[/b][/quote]
No, the three are wired in a series, and you "trigger" all 3 at the same time.
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solenoid blocks are CRAP! so are them rebuildable monster solenoids (the work good at first, but when they burn, theyre garbage!)Originally posted by Cadillac Bob@Nov 14 2003, 08:42 AM
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Its a nice clean setup and has been performing great for me. The car is a hopper and daily driver in the summer, so it sees lots of action. I used to blow blocks like mad on the front, and since I switched to the accurates I have had no problems.
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13,648 Posts
thats using one to trigger the bank of three?[/b][/quote]
Yes, he has one that triggers three. That acts as a circuit breaker between the switch and the solenoids. Its a very damn good idea on a hopper especially because the 3 solenoids that power the pump are going to burn out no matter what kind you use, but with the extra soleniod wired in between the switch and the pump solenoids there always a cut off point when you let off the switch.
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I use four, in series and parallel, 2 and 2
Maybe I've been just lucky, or was I unlucky with three?
Three always sucked for me, until I spread the out load. I only stuck once with real dead batteries using the four. Using three was always a problem.
I have never seen anyone wire them up the way I do, yet it's the only way I will ever wire them.
Maybe I've been just lucky, or was I unlucky with three?
Three always sucked for me, until I spread the out load. I only stuck once with real dead batteries using the four. Using three was always a problem.
I have never seen anyone wire them up the way I do, yet it's the only way I will ever wire them.
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