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View Poll Results: how long will the motor spin?
instant flash and popped breaker 7 50.00%
groaning noise, and hum, smoke and a popped breaker 2 14.29%
begin to spin and less than 1/2 second pop breaker 1 7.14%
5 seconds of high speed spinning, and a popped breaker 1 7.14%
insert your own prediction... 3 21.43%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1  
Old 01-05-2015, 08:41 AM
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110 volt starter?

For you electrical gurus out there: Is it possible to use a 617 turbo starter with household current for those really cold starts. If you have the block heater plugged in already, obviously you have a 110 source. So why not start it on 110 like a snowblower? Or even reverse that and use 110 for the glow plugs and start on the battery?
Just wondering if anyone has tried this.

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  #2  
Old 01-05-2015, 09:27 AM
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POOF...

don't try it.
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  #3  
Old 01-05-2015, 09:28 AM
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the starter could likely handle 24 volts for a short time, like 15 seconds max, but I'd not attempt a 10 fold increase in voltage... EVER!

instant poof. starter slag, and vaporized glow plugs... I promise.
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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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  #4  
Old 01-05-2015, 10:01 AM
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That starter would be a virtual dead short for household current. An air starter is what you want.
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  #5  
Old 01-05-2015, 12:04 PM
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AC current vs DC current. Not sure it would even rotate and as noted by others if it did - POOF!!!!

The starter is a DC motor and uses "non-reversing" current thru the brushes and into the armature. The starter is actuated by a solenoid which is a combination relay (high amperage controlled by low amperage) and linear motor (think of a magnet pulling on an arm to pull the starter drive into the flywheel). The solenoid is the reason that I question if the starter would even engage on AC current - AC switches polarity 60 times a second (think of taking your battery cables loose and switching them from post to post 60 times/second). I'm guessing that the solenoid wouldn't see the AC as it would cancel itself though I haven't tried it - and ain't gonna!

If you're really curious you might go to your local PnP and pick up a cheap used starter (an old GM is similar in design to a Mercedes with similar solenoid set-up and will be cheaper). PLEASE BE CAREFUL but you could hook it up to 120VAC (that's Volts Alternating Current - wall current) and see what happens. Have a switch in the AC line so you can kill the power quickly and fasten the starter to the bench in case it does rotate so you can control it's inertia - a big C-clamp would do it.

Interesting thought, though. I like to see guys thinkin'.

Edit: I fixed the cycles/sec.

Dan

Last edited by Dan Stokes; 01-05-2015 at 05:55 PM.
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  #6  
Old 01-05-2015, 12:07 PM
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You would need 3-phase 240 VAC current to come close to the direct power the battery puts out. AC = Alternating Current, which means the current polarity changes direction at a certain frequency. I couldn't imagine the cabling you would need to your house to equal what a 1000CCA battery puts out!

A more viable option would be an auxillary battery bank with a charger.
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Last edited by SD Blue; 01-05-2015 at 12:24 PM.
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  #7  
Old 01-05-2015, 03:06 PM
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Quote:
AC switches polarity 120 times a second
50-60 actually for most of the world

Either way this is a terrible idea, especially since the ground on cars is the chassis, so you would effectively be electrifying the shell of the car with 120v AC, which, in the right circumstances can kill you.... Just don't do it...

Your money and time is better spend wiring in a second batter as mentioned above, and running a synthetic oil (less resistance to cold starts) if your having trouble cranking over. Servicing your starter, or replacing it could also help.
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  #8  
Old 01-05-2015, 04:22 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by resto108 View Post
For you electrical gurus out there: Is it possible to use a 617 turbo starter with household current for those really cold starts. If you have the block heater plugged in already, obviously you have a 110 source. So why not start it on 110 like a snowblower? Or even reverse that and use 110 for the glow plugs and start on the battery?
Just wondering if anyone has tried this.
A properly maintained engine with block heat should start just fine at any temp Kansas would experience.
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  #9  
Old 01-05-2015, 04:49 PM
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You can go to Harbor Freight and by the big Battery Charger on Wheels that has a 200 amp Starting assist on it. The Battery Charger plugs into the AC Household Electricity.

I have had one for like 15 years. It also has a 2 amp trickle charge on it.
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  #10  
Old 01-05-2015, 05:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OM617YOTA View Post
A properly maintained engine with block heat should start just fine at any temp Kansas would experience.
Agreed. My 240D always started like a champ with the block heater, even in below zero Kansas weather. Never felt the need for additional "assistance". Ever.
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  #11  
Old 01-05-2015, 05:10 PM
dkr dkr is offline
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This is the way I read this post:

My car has been hard starting lately due to some unknown problem.

Instead of fixing the problem, I have this crazy @$$ idea to plug the starter into my wall outlet.

What could possibly go wrong?

Dkr.
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  #12  
Old 01-05-2015, 05:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dkr View Post
This is the way I read this post:

My car has been hard starting lately due to some unknown problem.

Instead of fixing the problem, I have this crazy @$$ idea to plug the starter into my wall outlet.

What could possibly go wrong?

Dkr.
Why don't you try it shoot a video? Have pop corn ready!
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  #13  
Old 01-05-2015, 05:44 PM
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Just in time for the new season of Outrageous Acts of Science...
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  #14  
Old 01-05-2015, 05:50 PM
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My apologies if my post came off as rude, didn't mean to imply the OP wasn't properly maintaining their vehicle.

I've had two starters test fine while cranking very.......v....e......r.......y...... slowly. One on my 617, one on my GTO. Or a battery on the way out.
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  #15  
Old 01-05-2015, 05:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by funola View Post
Why don't you try it shoot a video? Have pop corn ready!
That was my suggestion but I tried to set it up so the fella wouldn't kill himself or torch his car. I DO think it would be entertaining.

Dan

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