Yellow wire from starter to 14-pin

[Pazuzu]

What kind of amperage does that see? As far as I can tell, it only triggers the starter solenoid at that point (it's "downstream" from the AC relay).

It can't pull much power, can it? I want to put it through a weatherpack connector which is speced at 20 amps per pin, there's no way that it goes anywhere near that, right? I'm wondering, because it's a FAT wire, but I don't understand why.

[Pazuzu]

Now that I think about it, maybe I'll use the yellow wiring entering the engine bay as a trigger for a relay (and probably a pushbutton remote switch...) and feed the starter from a spare power line I have. Then I'll just be putting relay level power through the weatherpack connector, AND putting a relay on my starter solenoid AND giving myself a remote start button.

You guys are so smart, thanks for the help

[timmy2]

Not sure what the starter solenoid draws for current, Porsche used a 14 gauge in their harnesses for early and later years. (metric equivalent)
I'm glad the forum was able to mind meld their responses to you!

[timmy2]

The other device the yellow wire normally feeds is the CSV.

[K Sykes]

I don't use a CSV anymore (EFI). I noticed the yellow wire is a very heavy guage going into the 14 pin, think due to feeding two different things - I did a new engine side harness and went with a lighter guage, don't remember exactly what. No problem so far.

[timmy2]

Sounds like Mike is going to be using it for even more things!
I added a few extras to his harness when I built it for him.

[Algernon]

So does anyone know the answer? What kind of amperage does the starter solenoid (yellow) wire draw.
I assume this is the yellow wire from the starter position on the ignition switch, and makes a good position to insert an extra switch or relay - giving remote start/anti theft mod. as Pazuzu suggests?

[Pazuzu]

I'm going to make an educated assumption here, and say that Porsche speced such a fat wire because they wanted to fight the low-voltage starter issues that we've all seen. By putting a big fat wire there, it's more likely to survive the vibrations, etc near the starter, and give a good connection to the solenoid even if the voltage starts to drop. There's just no good reason to have a wire that big for a starter solenoid and the CSV/TTS. If there was enough amps running through that to warrant a wire that big, we would all have melting ignition switches.

I do think that putting a relay on that line is just good common sense, just like putting a relay on the headlights.