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On the starter relay there are the two large battery and starter wires, and two smaller wires. One is red with a blue tracer that hooks to the "S" terminal, and energizes the relay when the key is in the start position. The other small wire is brown, and has 12 volts on it when the key is in the run or start position. What is the purpose of the brown wire? I can't see where it does anything, and can't find it any where on my wiring diagrams.
I want to use the brown wire to energize my fuel kill solenoid on my Cummins engine. It works in testing, but if it serves a purpose, I will leave it alone.
It allows for 12 Volts to run to the coil during start up only.
Once the engine is running, the power for the coil runs thru the ignition switch and the resistance wire to make the current at 6-8 volts.
The fuel solenoid I am refering to is the one that shuts the diesel off when the key is turned off. I don't believe there is anything in the system that will kill the fuel in a collision on my '89 Cummins.
I had looked at your picture before I posted and it don't show the brown wire giong to the starter relay at all. It is the wire that plugs to the "I" stud on the relay. Using an ohm meter it don't seem to connect to anything inside the relay. My main concern is will I do any dammage to the truck wiring if it has the load of the solenoid when ever the truck is running? I havn't put an amp meter on it but there can't be much of a load.
Edit... If it is to bypass the ballast resister and is connected else where in the harness to the coil, I don't think I will ever use a coil on this truck again!
Thanks Dennis! I still am not quite clear in my pointed little head whats going on. If I'm looking at your drawing correctly I would have about 8 volts on the brown wire when the truck is running. I have a full 12 volts. Also is there any reason it connects to the starter relay?
Oops! I figured it out. When the relay is energized, the "I" terminal has full battery voltage. The brown wire is running at a reduced voltage when the truck is running. I am getting about 10 volts which will keep the solenoid open. Where is the ballast resister located on the truck? I would like to bypass it so I have a full 12 volts.