glow plug current draw. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

birdman3131 · #1 10-08-2014, 04:07 PM

Ok this is not exactly a true Mercedes question but I thought y'all might have a clue.

I picked up Amazon.com: PowerAll PBJS12000R Rosso Red/Black Portable Power Bank and Car Jump Starter: Automotive to take with me camping to use as a power source for my phone and what not and had the (Probably stupid) idea to hook a glow plug to it to use as a firestarter. This battery pack is rated at 10 amp constant at 12v and 400smp burst so I figure a glow plug that hits 30-60 for half a second and drops down to 15 amp should be good for 30 seconds or so.

My question is does the glowpug controller on a 84 300D (My most likely donor source) do any current restriction on the glow plug or is it entirely dependent on the glowplug as a resistor to self restrict?

Anybody know the actual current draw of one of these? Im going off of what seems to be guesses and differing results on some other threads.

Any other thoughts?

fahrvergnugen · #2 10-08-2014, 04:12 PM

Mercedes Diesel Glow Plug Repair

Someone posted this within the last few days to answer another question; perhaps it will help you.

vstech · #3 10-08-2014, 09:02 PM

Direct 12V is fine, amp draw goes from a high of around 50 amps down to around 8 or so at full temp.

Kinda a difficult tool to hold onto for fire starting, but it'd work.

Diesel911 · #4 10-08-2014, 10:15 PM

When I tested one Glow Plug it pegged the 60amp Meter I was using and as it got hot it went down to al steady 16 amps.

Diesel911 · #5 10-08-2014, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdman3131

Ok this is not exactly a true Mercedes question but I thought y'all might have a clue.

I picked up Amazon.com: PowerAll PBJS12000R Rosso Red/Black Portable Power Bank and Car Jump Starter: Automotive to take with me camping to use as a power source for my phone and what not and had the (Probably stupid) idea to hook a glow plug to it to use as a firestarter. This battery pack is rated at 10 amp constant at 12v and 400smp burst so I figure a glow plug that hits 30-60 for half a second and drops down to 15 amp should be good for 30 seconds or so.

My question is does the glowpug controller on a 84 300D (My most likely donor source) do any current restriction on the glow plug or is it entirely dependent on the glowplug as a resistor to self restrict?

Anybody know the actual current draw of one of these? Im going off of what seems to be guesses and differing results on some other threads.

Any other thoughts?

You can use Flashlight Batteries and fine Steel Wool to start a Fire. Steel Wool and what you mentioned should easily start a fire.

A single strand of Wire also should do the same.

If you use Brillo Pads as the source of Steel Wool all of the Soap need to be washed out of them and they need to be dried.

dieselbenz1 · #6 10-08-2014, 10:20 PM

The operation of glow plugs is really simple when cold each will draw about 12 amps. I=E/R I current, E voltage R resistance. as the glow plug warms up the resistance gets greater so the current drops.

vstech · #7 10-08-2014, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselbenz1

The operation of glow plugs is really simple when cold each will draw about 12 amps. I=E/R I current, E voltage R resistance. as the glow plug warms up the resistance gets greater so the current drops.

I assure you, a cold glow plug will draw a lot more than 12 amps...

dieselbenz1 · #8 10-09-2014, 06:46 AM

Ok I looked up the technical data from beru and bosch both use a 2 part resistance the heater at the tip which has different characteristics to the current limiting resistance wire which is hooked in series and as it senses heat starts cutting current. Both sites lack current information but I also recall testing a plug and pegged a 50 amp meter but once hot levelled around 15 amps but that's once the glow plug hit 900 or so degrees as outlined in the data sheets. There goes my simple theory.