Relay current draw

If I have a single pole double throw relay that will be activated 99% percent of time (even hen car is off) will that any amount of current that I should be concerned about? I know the FAQ says 200 milliamps but I am just not sure what that would translate too over a week of not driving.

After a week, I am 99% sure your car will be dead. What are you trying to accomplish with the relay?

I need to detect a circuit when it is broken. What I was planning on doing was a standard relay: 86 = +12 constant 85 = -switched (99% of the time on) 87 = nothing (99% of time on the relay is doing nothing) 30 = - 87a = this will go to a another relay that is waiting to activate a starter kill relay. This is for an aftermarket shifter with a safety switch. The switch breaks a circuit. The relay will send a - to the starter relay tripping the relay and breaking the starter circuit. Pretty much all I am trying to do is make this safety switch send a ground when the connection is broken. I could find a 12+ power source only when the key is being turned towards the start position. That might be the easiest thing.

Oh, and dead after 1 week? That doesn't really sound right. That would mean that every car that has an alarm would be dead if not driven after one week with the alarm activated. Because most alarms have at least one relay built in for the starter kill.

j84buick, that would be true if the coil of the relay were energized the entire time the alarm was armed, but the coil of a starter kill relay is only energized when the ignition is on and the alarm is armed or even disarmed depending on the alarm and type of starter interupt (normally open or normally closed). BTW, JWorm is correct. Your battery will be dead within a week if not a couple of days. the12volt • Support the12volt.com

Ok I follow. That makes sense. So all of these people that are making there own starter kills or backup starter kills and using relays are really just draining there batteries eh? So is there a way to do what I want to do? Wait for a circuit to open and make it send a - to another relay?

That would depend on how they are wiring their starter kill relays.

If your safety switch breaks continuity to ground, you only need one relay to prevent the vehicle from starting.

Connect the terminals of an SPDT relay as follows.

85 to one side of safety switch that opens continuity to ground86 to ignition87 to switch side of starter lead30 to motor side of stater lead

If ground is not present on terminal 85 when you attempt to start the vehicle, it will not start.

the12volt • Support the12volt.com