Manual glow plug switch amps.

[notenuftime]

Hey everyone, I'm about to wire up a manual GP switch and was wondering how many amps my switch should be rated to? Going to pick one up this week and appropriate wiring and fuse.

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

The switch carries almost no amperage itself as its only triggering the stock relay. They are pretty much all 15a or higher so anything is fine. It might draw 1-2a but I've never measured.

Just make sure it's a momentary switch! That way it cannot be turned on accidentally or by a person that doesn't know what it's for, etc.

 

[Cubey]

I put a small plastic momentary switch from O'Reilly on my F250's 7.3 style system. Used 14 or 16 gauge wire, can't remember which.

 

[notenuftime]

What about fuse amps?
Figured I would put a add a fuse in the wiring.

 

[Cubey]

What about fuse amps?
Figured I would put a add a fuse in the wiring.

5 or 10 should be plenty. Although, it's a ground connection on 7.3 controller setups so a fuse would be misplaced on a ground wire.

 

[notenuftime]

Probably same fuse as switch is rated? I would think.

 

[Farmer Rock]

I would recommend a 15-20 amp brass push button switch. Mostly for the better quality of those switches over the smaller low amperage switches. Like has already been said, it is very low amps at that point.


Rock

 

[Farmer Rock]

I think I used a 15 amp fuse. 10 should work too. I just went bigger for the switch I had.


Rock

 

[Cubey]

6.9 GP systems (except in 87) use positive to activate the relay if not mistaken, and 7.3 take ground. I might be remembering wrong though.

 

[notenuftime]

5 or 10 should be plenty. Although, it's a ground connection on 7.3 controller setups so a fuse would be misplaced on a ground wire.

So you saying I don't need a fuse in the line?

 

[Big Bart]

Many also set up so the switch is supplying ground to the solenoid. (Less chance for grounding out. Can pull a ground off just about anything metal in the cab.) Then supplying 12v pos directly to the solenoid when the key is in the on position.

 

[Cubey]

So you saying I don't need a fuse in the line?

If you wire it up the way I did, then no. Fuses are supposed to be on positive.

7.3L IDI Manual Glow Plug Controller/Switch Wiring

Information regarding the installation of a manual glow plug control switch on the 7.3L IDI diesel found in 1988 to 1994 Ford pickups. Topics include how to install and wire a manual glow plug switch in addition to information on how it works.

www.dieselhub.com

 

[Big Bart]

The 12v positive to energize the solenoid should be fused if you run direct to battery, Cubey is suggesting a 5-10amp fuse for the switch should be fine. Now fusing the +12v for the glow plugs takes about 200amps according to some, but your truck is already supplying that fused power for you.

 

[Farmer Rock]

6.9 GP systems (except in 87) use positive to activate the relay if not mistaken, and 7.3 take ground. I might be remembering wrong though.

My understanding is that they short to ground. I wired up 2 7.3 systems this way(both 87 6.9s). One side of the switch is hot, the other is ground. When you push the switch it creates a short. I ran the hot wires right off an auxiliary fuse block, and the ground wires to the frames.


Rock

 

[Cubey]

My understanding is that they short to ground. I wired up 2 7.3 systems this way(both 87 6.9s). One side of the switch is hot, the other is ground. When you push the switch it creates a short. I ran the hot wires right off an auxiliary fuse block, and the ground wires to the frames.


Rock

As I recall, I just ran ground through a momentary switch to the proper connection on the relay, with the one from the controller disconnected so it was reversible by just redoing the connections.