Relay Question?

[VetteVet]

The purpose of a relay is to allow a higher voltage or load to be switched and controlled by a low voltage low draw circuit. This protects switching components such as the headlight switch, electric fans, electric fuel pumps switches, etc. The ignition switch is designed to carry the low amperage draw of the ignition coil so why do you want to put a relay there. If you want to keep the engine running if the switch cuts off you could just put a hidden toggle switch in the coil feed wire and feed it from any hot source off the fuse panel, doing away with the ignition switch altogether as the ignition source.

Having more than the normal voltage to the coil may be necessary if the engine is to be revved more than 6000 RPMs as in drag racing or if you are feeding more than the normal amount of circuits off the ignition switch.

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by VetteVet

The purpose of a relay is to allow a higher voltage or load to be switched and controlled by a low voltage low draw circuit. This protects switching components such as the headlight switch, electric fans, electric fuel pumps switches, etc. The ignition switch is designed to carry the low amperage draw of the ignition coil so why do you want to put a relay there. If you want to keep the engine running if the switch cuts off you could just put a hidden toggle switch in the coil feed wire and feed it from any hot source off the fuse panel, doing away with the ignition switch altogether as the ignition source.

Having more than the normal voltage to the coil may be necessary if the engine is to be revved more than 6000 RPMs as in drag racing or if you are feeding more than the normal amount of circuits off the ignition switch.

I want to cut the coil power feed with a toggle (for security when I'm away from the truck) but I want to put something like a latching relay in the feed to keep the power to the coil in case the toggle accidentally turns off driving.

So once the ignition and toggle are on it gets power but if the toggle goes off (once it has power) it will continue to have power until the ignition is cut.

[fixit-p]

If you want to latch the relay just jump terminal 87 to 86 that way the relay will energize itself regardless of the state of the kill switch and once the ignition is turned off the relay shuts down.

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by fixit-p

If you want to latch the relay just jump terminal 87 to 86 that way the relay will energize itself regardless of the state of the kill switch and once the ignition is turned off the relay shuts down.

Thanks man! I figured I would end up with 2 relays and a complicated setup but that seems simple enough. Guess I'll only end up spending $5 for the relay then.