Club 80-90 Forums

Apologies for the vagueness of the question.

If it helps, the van is a 2.0l Aircooled. Assume it's on a stock starter motor.

The background... I'm midway through my solar panel project. And although the results are good so far, I want to know what the panel is making, and more importantly whether I'm winning or losing at any given point.

My voltmeter will give me my current position, an ammeter my direction. It's that I want.

Now, strictly speaking, I don't need to have the starter motor as part of the equation. But for simplicity: F-Off big shunt between the battery and everything else.

(Please don't start about not using the starter battery etc etc. That discussion is in another thread )

So, to make a guess at the shunt I need, I need to know the starter draw.

My guess is 200A should cover it. I'm not bothered if it gets a bit warm for the time the starter is firing. Just that it doesn't get mentally hot / melt.

Manual gearboxes use a 800w starter which draws about 100A continous cranking. Autos use a 700w stater motor.

Cheers sir. That sounds believable. Someone on another (old) thread was making claims of 200A. They sounded a bit alarmist, talking about fires and explosions

Note* the words 'continuos cranking' that same starter will peak somewhere near 160 amps on a cold day, initially trying to turn all that thick 20W50 motor oil.
It is also very realistic to take into account voltage drop across cable runs and resistance through connections, this is why starter circuits are always over rated to take these factors into account.

Martin

Cheers - Sounds like a 200A shunt should easily cover it then.