Cranking Amps?

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pietpetoors
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Cranking Amps?

Post by pietpetoors »

What is the typical cranking amps of a petrol Hilux and that of a diesel Hilux?

I am busy with battery research, so I just need an approximate min and max range the battery should be able to handle.
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by Thunder02 »

Pieter, our Watt meter that we stock, will that not give you the readings you require?
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by Mud Dog »

I'm completely open to correction but I think that the draw can be as high as between 80A and 150A depending on how much charge is in the battery (fully charged will draw less), as well as the condition of the starter motor and the connections.

I think this high amperage draw is the reason why there is no fuse on that cable (goes directly to the starter from the battery) and the circuit is closed with a solenoid (which is fused).

Perhaps one of the guys with more auto electrical knowledge can clarify.
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by cprinsloo »

You'll need a tong tester to verify, but many moons ago we did the test on a 1400 Nissan, IIRC it was about 180 - 200 Amps.
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by CasKru »

A starter motor from a normal 2 Liter petrol engine draws between 60 and 200 Amps when turning over the engine when the oil is warm and thin.

Under winter conditions, this current can easily double when the oil is thick.

Diesel engines have a very high compression ratio e.g. 22:1 and require more powerful starter motors. On average they draw between 300 and 500 Amps for average sized engines, 2 to 3 liter, while on truck engines the current could easily reach 1000 Amps at initial turn over.
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by CasKru »

Found this spec sheet from Bosch
Starters.JPG
To calculate the current from kW, use the formula P = VI (P - Watts V - Voltage I - Current)
So for a 3.0l Diesel you would need a 2.2kW (2200W) starter.

Using the formula: 2200W = 12v x I
I= 2200 / 12
I = 183A

As Andy stated, it also depends on the battery state, so a fully charged battery in a good state will then give the following:
I = 2200 / 13.6
I= 162A
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by Mud Dog »

Thanks Cas, that's an interesting chart. So it can be considerably higher than I thought.

It also goes to show how a poor battery and bad connections can cause the starter motor to burn out or shorten it's life with such high amperage draws.
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by Willem van Schalkwyk »

Ek het n DC clamp on meter.

Sal gou later meet op my 2.7
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by Willem van Schalkwyk »

Starting Current = 206.6A
My battery was pap gister (het my ligte aan vergeet :oops: )
Hy het net van ry gelaai van Malmusbary tot brackenfell en vanoggend werk toe.
Batt voltage 12.5V
Battery is so 3 jaar oud en gewone lead acid Maintenance free.
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by Mud Dog »

I might be wrong, but 206A sounds a bit high to me. At 3 years, a lead acid battery is close to the end of it's life and I wonder how much lower the amps would be with a younger battery that is fully charged and reading 13.8V .... (I'm guessing it would probably be in the region of 180A).
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Re: Cranking Amps?

Post by Willem van Schalkwyk »

I guess the starter will also play a roll
Mine is 335 000km old and not been touched.

Remember this is peak amps and just for a few milliseconds. (just to get the starter and motor turning)
I recon that the current while turning would be around 140A to 180A
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