Standard 40 amp 4pin relay- coil current draw?

[Mounce]

Anyone know how much current a standard relay coil draws? Google results said between 150mA to 4A...that's a pretty big gap.

Reason I'm asking, I'm planning on using a diode to trigger a relay when another one comes on to result in a 4-hi mod on a 96 z71 using a relay harness for both high and low beams.

I know for TB's little relays, a 1n4004 1A diode works fine for this purpose, would the same diode be able to run a full sized 4pin relay? After typing this I feel that it would probably handle it just fine but I'd rather double check with more intelligent minds.

 

[Blckshdw]

I grabbed one of my spare relays to test it, it's rated to pass 50A, and the coil only pulled 150mA so very little needed there.

 

[kickass audio]

Are you going to be using it with a normally open or normally closed relay? I have a 30/40a relay that has the poles for when it is de-energized it is normally closed on pin 87a but when energized, it closes on pin 87 of the coil. Also what brand coil are you going to buy? I bought the tyco/bosch relay from partsexpress and I can test that for you if you'd like.

 

[BlazingTrails]

Why are you using a diode to begin with? If it is being triggered by another relay just come off of the load side of your first relay to the coil on your second, or use the same trigger to both coils?

 

[Mounce]

I grabbed one of my spare relays to test it, it's rated to pass 50A, and the coil only pulled 150mA so very little needed there.

Thank you sir

Are you going to be using it with a normally open or normally closed relay? I have a 30/40a relay that has the poles for when it is de-energized it is normally closed on pin 87a but when energized, it closes on pin 87 of the coil. Also what brand coil are you going to buy? I bought the tyco/bosch relay from partsexpress and I can test that for you if you'd like.

Normally open

Why are you using a diode to begin with? If it is being triggered by another relay just come off of the load side of your first relay to the coil on your second, or use the same trigger to both coils?

Hadn't thought of that but the relays are in an inconvenient spot whereas the wires feeding the coils of both are easy to get to and would require a diode or you'd have full time 4-hi.


Anywho, I found a 3A diode in an old radio so I think I'm good. Just wanted to reassure myself and plus there's something about typing a public post makes me think through things like this better lol. Thanks for the input fellas.

 

[kickass audio]

I tested my relay which again was a bosch 30a closed 40a normally open relay. when I energized the coil, it pulled 130mA of current at 12.9v off my little battery backup I use for testing small electronics with. I can't imagine it would ever get near 1A of current unless the contacts were to get bad on the relay. Also, my current was slowly dropping the longer I kept the coil energized. It started at 130mA and dropped to 123mA after 10 seconds of being energized.

 

[Mounce]

Awesome, thanks for the info guys.