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  #1  
Old 12-11-2011, 12:37 PM
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Manual Glow Plug Control

Hey guys, my glow plug system has been giving me a lot of problems lately and with a long cold Minnesota winter ahead of me I'm trying to make my life easier. Can I run the gp's off of a toggle switch or something and just eliminate the relay? I tried doing a search on this and didn't come up with much. I think the previous owner converted my 81' to newer style plugs because I don't have that squiggly (technical term) wire running between the plugs. The light doesn't come on, except occasionally while I'm driving and I can't hear the relay "click" off. The gp's all test good. Anyways some advice would be much appreciated. I just figure the simpler the system the less can go wrong....

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Old 12-11-2011, 12:48 PM
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Many owners of the Ford pickup with the Ford/ International IDI ( Indirect injection, i.e. NOR Powerstroke) have converted to manual control. All it takes is a momentary contact push button switch on the dash, and a relay under the hood. The glow plugs draw so much current that you don't want the switch to carry that much current. Use the push button to activate the relay, and the relay to provide power to the GPs. A common relay that should be strong enough is what is generally sold to control auxiliary running lights.
If you are REALLY handy, you could use an IC 555 timer to control how long the GPS stay on when you give the button a push--no need to hold the button.
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  #3  
Old 12-11-2011, 02:15 PM
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What kind of relay are we talking about? Would one of these work? Jameco Electronics - Electronic Components Distributor
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Old 12-11-2011, 03:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ol'Smokey View Post
What kind of relay are we talking about? Would one of these work? Jameco Electronics - Electronic Components Distributor
No, we are talking a solenoid for a starter motor. Its how to get allot of amps to a device without running it through the push button switch that activates the device in this case GPs not a starter motor.

Same idea as the guys use to run over wattage (more amps) head light bulbs, the stock wiring isn't heavy enough.
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
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Old 12-11-2011, 05:09 PM
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Figure at least 25 amps per GP.
4 GPs on a 240 would be a minimum of 100Amps. That's why you don't want to run that through the switch itself.
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  #6  
Old 12-11-2011, 05:19 PM
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I saw a thread like this at BW, but Ill ask it here too.

If your stock relay is OK, could you not diode-protect the 12V source that is switched via the key, and then install a fused, protected 12V source that connects also to the relay? Then we could just use a switch to keep 12V on the relay, to keep current going to the GPs for as long as we want (a mechanical timer switch would be optimal I think).

Or am I oversimplifying it? Seems to me that this would be an optimal, easy setup if the OE relay was working.
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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)
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  #7  
Old 12-11-2011, 05:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JHZR2 View Post
I saw a thread like this at BW, but Ill ask it here too.

If your stock relay is OK, could you not diode-protect the 12V source that is switched via the key, and then install a fused, protected 12V source that connects also to the relay? Then we could just use a switch to keep 12V on the relay, to keep current going to the GPs for as long as we want (a mechanical timer switch would be optimal I think).

Or am I oversimplifying it? Seems to me that this would be an optimal, easy setup if the OE relay was working.
Theres probably lots of ways to do it. My goal was to make it simple, I can operate the button with my left hand and turn the key with my right. why use a timer switch, just hold the button longer.
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"
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  #8  
Old 12-11-2011, 06:35 PM
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Ford starter relay is a common relay used for this application. Readily available and pretty inexpensive.
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1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
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  #9  
Old 12-11-2011, 06:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevo View Post
Theres probably lots of ways to do it. My goal was to make it simple, I can operate the button with my left hand and turn the key with my right. why use a timer switch, just hold the button longer.
KISS philosophy is just to hold the button in as experience dictates. The timer idea was just if you wanted a degree of automation.
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  #10  
Old 12-11-2011, 06:41 PM
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your 81 came stock from the factory with 80006 pencil glow plugs, and a relay on the fender to control them.
I'd just change that if I were you, but the ford relay will work fine with the harness you have, just cut the end off, and link all the wires to the relay lug.
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"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

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  #11  
Old 12-11-2011, 06:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kerry View Post
Ford starter relay is a common relay used for this application. Readily available and pretty inexpensive.
I guess question is why have another relay vs replacing the NB one or using a push button? Just adds complexity.

In reality with the push button, would the MB system glow until the stock timer timed out after the last instant 12v was applied?

Or is the ford relay necessary to bypass the MB system because it is isolated once the key is in the on position?
__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)
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  #12  
Old 12-11-2011, 06:43 PM
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Homemade: Loop to pencil style glow plug conversion
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
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  #13  
Old 12-11-2011, 06:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MS Fowler View Post
KISS philosophy is just to hold the button in as experience dictates. The timer idea was just if you wanted a degree of automation.
If I wanted electronic automation, I wouldn't own old manual Mercedes diesels
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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"
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  #14  
Old 12-11-2011, 07:52 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevo View Post
If I wanted electronic automation, I wouldn't own old manual Mercedes diesels
Nothing wrong with a mechanical timer. Keeping my finger on the button when driving (I dont idle my cars long, even in the cold) is a distraction, yet a toggle switch I'd forget about, leave it on, and then have burned off GPs in my prechambers...

Thus the benefit of a mecanical timer switch...
__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)
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  #15  
Old 12-11-2011, 08:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JHZR2 View Post
Nothing wrong with a mechanical timer. Keeping my finger on the button when driving (I dont idle my cars long, even in the cold) is a distraction, yet a toggle switch I'd forget about, leave it on, and then have burned off GPs in my prechambers...

Thus the benefit of a mecanical timer switch...
Oh, yeah, driving along holding the push button in would be a pain, not enough hands to navigate safely, good use for a timer switch, but maybe I'm doing it wrong but I dont have a use for the GPs while driving I would never trust myself with just a toggle, let along other family members

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"
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