| RC is right, The battery amperage capcity does not "push" the amps through the starter. The starter "draws" the amps out of the battery. If a starter is rated at 235 amps of current draw, and it connects to a battery rated at 1000 cranking amp capacity, the starter will only draw 235 amps worth of current out of the battery. And there is sort of a twist to this. The voltage of the battery is what "pushes" the amps along a conductor and the battery voltage must be near its design maximum level in order for the amp load to be conducted from battery to starter efficiently, and without damaging (overheating) the battery cables and starter motor. Low battery voltage causes amp draw to increase as the battery voltage drops. It is for that very reason the automotive industry was eager to abandon the old 6 volt electrical systems in favor of the 12 volt systems. Higher system voltage means you can transport the same amp load through a much smaller wire. That concept applies to every electrical component in the electrical system.
Smaller wires means you can build smaller 12 volt starters capable of doing the same work a much larger 6 volt starter could do.
Smaller wires means smaller alternators, smaller & lighter switches, etc. |
