TRIVIA TIME: What's the fewest number of wires needed on an engine?

[Greg72]

Let's say you wanted to start an engine that was on a simple test stand.... how many wires would you need? (Not including spark plug wires)

Assume that you have a battery and don't need to charge it.

You'll need to crank the motor to start it, and it has to start and stay running.


My guess: (5)

+12V to starter
+12V to solenoid (for starter button)
+12V to coil for ignition
GND for starter (implies engine block is also grounded?)
GND for coil

Am I right? What else do you need for a simple engine run-stand?

 

[cbbr]

Do you need a starter button?

 

[pauly383]

two on conventional motor , one to coil , one to starter , and you can jump the solenoid if you want for the least amount

 

[NorCalKid]

What about the grounds, there at least needs to be somthing to the negitive termanal, I dont think the coil has to be grounded at least on hei's. So that would be 3 and jumping the solinoid

 

[Tominator II]

3 not counting ground.

1 to Dist.
1 to Starter
1 to solenoid

If you just use jumper cables and a starter switch all you need is one to the distributor. I drove my truck home with a melted harness that way once.

 

[pauly383]

What about the grounds, there at least needs to be somthing to the negitive termanal, I dont think the coil has to be grounded at least on hei's. So that would be 3 and jumping the solinoid

PUSH THE BATTERY UNTIL IT TOUCHES THE STAND

 

[Greg72]

PUSH THE BATTERY UNTIL IT TOUCHES THE STAND

I didn't ask "What's the most DANGEROUS way...."

 

[wasted wages]

NONE.....I pull start one every Saturday morning and go cut grass with it.....

 

[cbbr]

You have a belly mower on your blazer?

 

[vortec]

i guess we aren't counting spark plug wires. kind of important.

this thing needs to end with a test-run posted on youtube. who's got an engine sitting around waiting to be a test mule? about half the board, i'd guess. i'm not pulling one of mine back out, though. too lazy.

 

[Greg72]

i guess we aren't counting spark plug wires. kind of important.

Nope. The original post specifically said to ignore those....

Don't want to get into a semantic argument, just wanted to know what the practical minimum is.

From what I am reading here, it sounds like I can ground the block to the (-) side of the battery, then connect 1 wire to the coil (+12V) for spark. Another (+12V) for the power to crank the starter, and a switched (+12V) to engage the solenoid to get the whole works cranking over. It sounds like the grounds will all find their way back to the battery through the single ground strap??

 

[cybrfire]

Yep. All should ground through the strap.

 

[original balzer]

QUESTION: Are you building an engine test stand? Or are you just test running 1 engine and be done?

I think the minimum has been covered.

Balzer

 

[MNorby]

EFI or Carb to throw into the mix......

 

[Greg72]

EFI or Carb to throw into the mix......

For simplicity, let's assume a non-electric choke carb....

 

[chiggly626]

If you run a mag you wont need any wires to the ignition to get it started. That would leave two wires, one positive to the starter and one ground to the block.

 

[4X4HIGH]

No wires needed. Put a magneto in it and crank it over by hand.

 

[smalltruckbigcid]

Greg my test stand has 2 to the starter, one to the hei. The battery is grounded to the stand. Works well but its also setup for my MSD 6AL box with an electric fuel pump. For cooling you can use your engine fan or put a small box fan in front of the radiator. What are you going to use as a fuel tank?
George
I'm also using mechanical oil pressure and water temp gauges