OttoStart Installation Instructions.

[tekenaar]

Though I send these with every unit, some have lost them over time, so it's worth a post here:



. . . and the original OttoStart (different color wires):

[PROPEL]

Otto, if one were to wire this unit to a 1.1L starter, what would be the correct hookup? I think the two terminals are labeled 30 and 50.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by PROPEL Otto, if one were to wire this unit to a 1.1L starter, what would be the correct hookup? I think the two terminals are labeled 30 and 50.

They're both wired identically . . . 30 is the fat cable from the battery and is always on when the battery is connected, 50 is the "start" terminal of the ignition switch and is only powered during starting of the engine. This is the wire you remove from the solenoid male spade lug and connect to the orange OttoStart wire with the male spade lug.

[jordan]

The instructions only account for 3 wires, what about the short orange wire?

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by jordan The instructions only account for 3 wires, what about the short orange wire?

You're supposed to leave that on the relay mounting screw, AS PACKAGED, with the rubber band holding it in place! When you mount the relay, as instructed in Step 2, it becomes the relay coil ground. You will not be able to start engine without this connection in place.

Nowhere does it say to remove the short orange wire from from the relay mounting screw before mounting the relay! Guess instructions weren't as foolproof as I thought.

[jordan]

I bought the relay from another member on the board, and the screw was missing.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by jordan I bought the relay from another member on the board, and the screw was missing.

Aah Sooo, Grasshopper . . . well now at least you know.

[lkyrog]

Installed Ottostart today, took me all of 10 Minutes. Works good, scratch this off my "upgrades needed" list.
Thanks tekenaar.

[baronbors]

Originally Posted by lkyrog Installed Ottostart today, took me all of 10 Minutes. Works good, scratch this off my "upgrades needed" list. Thanks tekenaar.

10 minutes- What took you so long? 4min 25 sec start to finish. Thanks for the fast ship Otto. But my question is- How do I know that this thing is working? Everything seems the same engine starts, gauges work, no difference than before. HOW do I know???????

[namba209]

Tom, IIRC, you took the wire off the starter solenoid and ran it to the relay, then the wire from the relay went to the starter solenoid. If the engine starts, it's working. HTH.

[tekenaar]

I thought I'd transferred my 'OttoStart' schematic from 'classicopels' on Yahoo! to this site when I signed up here . . . I 'Search'ed, couldn't find it here.

Since this has never been a 'secret', here it is . . . again:

[broszzy]

Do you still need the relay if you have a push button start? My guess is yes but just want to make sure.

Thanks Pat

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by broszzy Do you still need the relay if you have a push button start? My guess is yes but just want to make sure. Thanks Pat

Since the main reason for the relay is to save the ignition, the horses are out of the barn already since it's already failed. Might make the push button last longer.

[Redskinsjbs]

So the Otto Start is 30 amps right? What if I would like to have a 100 amp alternator? Am I in danger of cooking the Otto Start?

[markandson]

Originally Posted by Redskinsjbs So the Otto Start is 30 amps right? What if I would like to have a 100 amp alternator? Am I in danger of cooking the Otto Start?

No, the relay will only see what the starter draws, not more, you could have a 1000 amp alt. and it would not matter.

Plus the alt. isn't putting out anyway when cranking, the battery is supplying the power.

[Redskinsjbs]

Originally Posted by markandson No, the relay will only see what the starter draws, not more, you could have a 1000 amp alt. and it would not matter. Plus the alt. isn't putting out anyway when cranking, the battery is supplying the power.

DOH! I should know that the alt. doesn't work if the engine isn't on! Thanks for the simple explanation; I should be able to do electrics, I built an FDM machine for Pete's sake. Oh I wonder where my brain is sometimes.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by Redskinsjbs Originally Posted by markandson Originally Posted by Redskinsjbs So the Otto Start is 30 amps right? What if I would like to have a 100 amp alternator? Am I in danger of cooking the Otto Start? No, the relay will only see what the starter draws, not more, you could have a 1000 amp alt. and it would not matter. Plus the alt. isn't putting out anyway when cranking, the battery is supplying the power. DOH! I should know that the alt. doesn't work if the engine isn't on! Thanks for the simple explanation; I should be able to do electrics, I built an FDM machine for Pete's sake. Oh I wonder where my brain is sometimes.

. . . firstly, the OttoStart relay !CONTACTS! are rated at 30/40 amps, the relay coil only "draws" a few milliamps from the ignition switch "Start" contacts! Greatly reducing the ignition switch "Start" contacts' current is the whole purpose behind the OttoStart design in the first place.

Secondly, the OttoStart contacts, which actually have that 30/40 amps rating, actually only "see/draw" the starter solenoid coil's pick/hold current, not the starter current itself! The starter current is only "seen/drawn" at the starter solenoid contacts inside the solenoid, OK?!