Line Heater Connection

wewantutopia · Post by **wewantutopia** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:02 pm

I recently set up my line heaters and have them wired to a relay/switch with + coming straight from the battery for now. I want them wired so they only work when the key is on though. I was thinking that I could splice the + in with the wire to the fuel stop selenoid (would be the easiest since it is RIGHT there. Does anybody know the amp capacity of the fuel stop selenoid circuit. My heaters draw 18 amps. Would that be too much. If it is, where is a better place to connect to (without messing with the fuse pannel under the dash)?

v8volvo · Post by **v8volvo** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:03 pm

18 amps is way too much for the injector pump solenoid circuit. That's a skinny little wire, remember. However, what you could do (and should be doing anyway, with a circuit drawing that much current) is get a basic automotive relay, hook the power supply side to the battery, and hook the relay-on signal to the injection pump wire. That would be very convenient and simple, and would only run the heaters with the key on.

By the way -- any change in the car's operation now that the heaters are on? I just received mine from Fattywagons and am getting the rest of the components together. Hoping to install them tomorrow; my fingers are crossed....

wewantutopia · Post by **wewantutopia** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:04 am

Great idea about the switch + to the selenoid! I do have the heaters wired to a 30 amp relay actuated via a switch in the cabin and the + to the relay is straight to the battery. I don't know why I didn't think about breaking the switch connection with the key on/off. I actually haven't been running on veg the past few weeks... I was tightening some pollak valve/fuel line connections and in the cold the brittle plastic cracked.

I did in the mean time install the heaters and they seem to work great. They get HOT!! My valve should be here in a few days and I'll report back. Oh yeah. I fixed my engine problem... It WAS air in the lines. I switched EVERYTHING (`till where they go under the car) to clear lines and found a leak. Runs much better now!