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Old May 1, 2015 | 12:09 PM
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GraphiteGhost
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From: Central South Carolina
Default Re: Auxiliary air pump

Originally Posted by ala_xfire
2 NEW relays in parallel would provide twice the contact area, therefore dropping the amp load on a given set to 1/2 of what it was.
In this way, I don't think we would ever see the contact erosion problems currently being experienced.

That being said, I am inclined to think that the best solution would be to use a 100 amp relay driven by the existing relay.
( or remove the existing relay and wire in the larger one )
This : Sales Hot Car Motor Automotive 12V 100A 100 Amp SPST Relay 5 Pin 5P Heavy Duty | eBay or
GRAINGER APPROVED Power Relay,SPST,70A,12VDC - Automotive Relays - 5ZMU5|5ZMU5 - Grainger Industrial Supply ( 70 amp, but much better than the current 40 amp one )
may even fit inside the RCM so no external wiring would need to be done.






Spot on George IF the tracks on all the RCM's are isolated from each other AND there isn't other layers involved with any of the tracks. . Simple jumpers could easily pull in that extra relay spot with the air pump relay.


One question (since I haven't taken my car's air pump system apart for any sort of testing) is, how much current does the air pump require, at idle (and say) 2000 rpm? I don't know if that pump actually kicks in at speed, I know it kicks in after deceleration to a stop, or deceleration to almost a stop (due I believe to the extra fuel residuals being sent through the cats/sensors telling the ECU to command the pump on?). Does anyone know how often that pump kicks in (say) 20mph and up during casual driving? I would think it kicks in more often if aggressive driving is present (ie speed up quickly, unload drivetrain, then reload drivetrain again repeatedly). Reason I ask, a 40 amp relay is a hefty relay unless the contacts/spring/response time aren't designed/engineered very well. I've had no reason to tear into mine yet so I haven't looked into it. Next time the hood is open, I might go ahead and remove my RCM and inspect the contacts (and see if the board has any telltale signs of it being multilayered). It'll be on my FMI 'to-do' list. Its parked right now after this mornings garage repairs and yard maintenance (I put the passenger side as far to right as I can to have added access to high traffic area in garage so the passenger side of car is inaccessible right now). So, whats that pump motor rated at, and how much is it drawing under various loads?
 

Last edited by GraphiteGhost; May 1, 2015 at 12:16 PM.
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