Control Solenoid
The control solenoid has two functions. The first is to mechanically engage the pinion in the flange/flywheel gear collar. The other is to function as a relay and to handle the greater current required to drive the starter motor when the pinion engages with the gear collar.
The control solenoid consists of the following components:
- Moving steel cores. Moved by pull-in winding in the control solenoid, slides the pinion into position and moves the moving switch towards the fixed switches
- Pull-in winding. Pull in the moving steel core. Disconnect when the moving steel core reaches the bottom position
- Hold-in winding. Holds the moving steel core in position for as long as the control solenoid is supplied
- Fixed steel cores. Stop position for the moving steel core
- Contact spring
- Fixed contacts. Closes when the moving switches reach the fixed switches
- Terminals. One for the battery and one for the DC motor
- Moving switch. Switch which closes the fixed switches
- Moving shaft. Affected by the moving steel core and connects the moving switches with the fixed switches
- Return spring. Resets the control solenoid components to the rest position when the starter motor relay is disconnected.