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A relay is a device which uses a small amount of power to control a larger amount of power. In the case of a starter relay, you want to control the large amount of power, sometimes up to 500 amps, flowing through that large cable from the battery to the starter motor. It would not be practical to run that large cable up to the ignition switch and then back to the battery. Instead, a very liitle amount of power (less than 1/10 amp)passes through the ignition switch to the relay, where it operates an electrical magnet that pulls contacts (a switch) together. The large power cables are connected to the switch in the relay, and once the contacts are pulled together the large amount of power is connected to the starter motor to operate it.

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20y ago

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